tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66066747384927706652024-02-19T08:43:52.907-06:00DreamlandA dancing, turning, ribbon rhyme
that's writhing through my brain
as thoughts of seasons, summer, stars
are driving me insane.Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-3346635677866949542012-04-23T15:45:00.003-05:002012-04-23T15:45:37.470-05:00Catnip and Sea Foam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">*disclaimer: this poem not based on totally real events or current feelings. But I like the allusion.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Catnip and Sea Foam<br /><br />Remember way back when?<br />When I kinda sorta thought I liked you<br />And you liked me back but just as friends<br />And I could see your pain and angst and frustration<br />But not touch<br />Touching was not allowed.<br /><br />You were catnip to my romantic heart.<br />Brokenly perfect, no confidence a'tall.<br />We danced and you gave me a rose.<br />I thought I could fix-- something in you.<br />Smooth away the creases,<br />And neaten up those corners.<br />Belle found her Beast--<br />Outer beauty hiding a treacherous heart,<br />To be revealed by that one right girl.<br />I loved you.<br />I still do, sometimes.<br /><br />You loved my voice; I saved you from drowning.<br />You liked that I liked you, a bit much maybe.<br />We wrote- and texted-- talked.<br />I hid my disagreements and jettisoned my ideas to conform.<br />I pretended to agree, and we were great friends, I thought.<br />But the other girl came.<br />The princess, pretty and perfect,<br />She caught your eye and your mind left me.<br />She could sing, too.<br />And you wondered if she was the one who actually could pull you from the deep.<br />If she was the one who would make you happy?<br />I lost my voice to walk with you.<br />But you loved she who sang.<br />And I was just seafoam after all. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-36051627116455436982012-04-16T11:07:00.000-05:002012-04-16T11:07:35.580-05:00Bring a Friend to Bordertown<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Hey James, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you! I know I never wanted to go to pen and ink and stamps with these letters, but now I’m glad you insisted on it—computers and technology are really dicey here, even if you can pay in high quality coffee. (Also, thanks for sticking those tea bags in my pack with your letter—tea is frightfully expensive here and I miss it too.) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">There’s this meld of life and dreams here, Jam. All those things I used to talk about when we walked around campus; when I pretended we were in Narnia or Middle Earth or just Elsewhere—well, I’ve found elsewhere. And you might actually like it here. It’s so much better than Star Trek! I know I used to debate about the good of technology and Facebook and texting, but I mostly did that to annoy you. Here, there really isn’t all that stuff. People actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">talk</i> to one another. They sit on porches and in little cafes and just exist in the same space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there’s so much going on! Like how, at Scarborough, they had all the merchant and food stalls and performers and people in costumes—well Border Town is kinda like that but more modern. It’s bookstores and clubs, street musicians and artists and dodgy hot dog sellers and life and vibrancy and color! Words fail me. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">History is alive here, in a way it was in England almost, but more so. I’ve been exploring and marveled at the architecture and the sculptures. I would tell Neil and Rachel to come, but they’d have to get to the States first. And that’s really my main aim here. I want you to come to Bordertown. It’s life here. Life in a way we couldn’t find on that stuffy campus. Life like my small town and your city suburb can’t contain. Trains running, people walking and dancing, elves (real elves! I haven’t talked to one yet—they don’t all like people very much. Remember when you used to ask me what I would say if I met a fantastic creature? I still have no idea). The fashion is thrift-store chic, but thrift stores from the beginning of time. You could wear your cap and pocket watch and waistcoat. And just wear them because it’s Monday. And no one would blink twice at your silly toe-shoes (well, except me).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Come to Bordertown. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">I know you get it now, living. I know you long for something other than the world we grew up in. But nostalgia doesn’t go anywhere, and it just makes you miss what you never had. Bordertown is different. Different rules. Different life-style. I think it would suit you. I’ll address all our on-going topics of debate when you get here over the free beer at the Dancing Ferret (Look, free beer! I hear it’s good too, even if I don’t drink it. Too bad no one hands out free champagne…) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">So come on!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">Cait<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">PS I’m thinking about starting a school. Or seeing if there’s one that’ll let me teach<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;">PPS: check out this website! <a href="http://bordertownseries.com/city.html">http://bordertownseries.com/city.html</a> And bring as much coffee as you can carry!</span><o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment--></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-14142593769773472052011-10-25T11:47:00.001-05:002011-10-25T11:47:20.857-05:00Four Season(Most of this was my impression as I walked through the exhibit-- forgive any confusing construction. Also, be warned, spoilers ahead.)<br />
<br />
I saw this really interesting bit of art in Lincoln. It was two pieces of a four piece story called Autumn and Winter, part of Four Seasons by several local artists. Apparently Spring and Summer are the story of a girl as she is born, grows up, and gets married. Then Autumn comes. Her husband has left and the oak tree which symbolizes their relationship is dead. There is a scene set out and you look at it while radios around set turn on and tell the story. Each corner represents a room in state of disarray with trees growing through them. Leaves are scattered over the ground and cardboard trees grow up through the furniture. A large old car is the center piece. The story told is one of an estranged man and wife and how they have fallen apart. Mr. Penn is a world renown pianist and she is the wife he leaves at home. The card board trees were covered in sheet music.It was the sort of thing to see with someone. I wished you were here. <br />
<br />
Winter is next-- a walk trough display with headphones triggered by the first doorway. The first room is a hospital room with eye test charts that tells of an old woman found all at frozen in a park. Fake snow is scattered through the room. Through the doorway, I see a Christmas room, a tree and a table set for two. Also, the instruction say wait but now I'm bored. The head phones just have breathing and winter wind noises. <br />
<br />
Next room-- decorated for Christmas with snow everywhere. Fabric chains match that of curtains from the hospital room. Music everywhere. Sheets, fabrics, piano, baby piano. A record player and White Christmas record. A tree decorated with tin foil balls, blue lights, santas, jingle bells, a homemade angel. On the headphones, we here the woman, driven to distraction by a tv news piece about her ex husband. A barometer on the wall is broken. She remembers a Christmas with him, where the day began so perfect and happy but then he abandoned her to write a song. Piano music plays you to the next room as she talks. <br />
<br />
The next room represents a park. Benches, astro turf, lightposts. There is picnic on the snowbank and a news stand: man on southbank still playing piano. <br />
<br />
The next room is dim, white tulle every where. Four snowshoes with paper cities sit on glowing pedestals. <br />
In each city, a paper penguin plays a piano. Paris. New York. London. Rome. Paper Angels also stand by a christmas tree-- sadly. They are also in the Christmas room. A paper penguin with a paper piano is also on each city-- just like a little penguin decoration from the Christmas room. She tells of finding solace in making and selling snow globes. <br />
<br />
Next is a music room. Stands with coffee-stained, marked up music, on pedestals. And in the middle is a small scene-- a piano in a snow bank, broken and filled with snow. Broken instruments litter the ground around. We hear her story, how why she went into the snow in her night gown. <br />
<br />
Now a forest made from blue plastic on the walls. Four pedestals hold crafty bits frozen in plastic. Buttons, tape measurers, stamps, and bits. Further in the room is a hospital bed in a stand of pines sparkling with fairy lights. White lilies are on her hospital table and a small radio. A card-- it's the song he began on the Christmas he left. "Finally finished" reads the handwriting. There is a red ball on the bed. And the radio forecasts an early spring.<br />
<br />
Spring and summer were good but not at poignant as Autumn and Winter. Sprig is a young girl's garden, embellished with childish fantasies. The bees get together and sing while the mushy peas swap endearments and the stone gnomes argue matrimonially. A pet cemetery is cheerfully dour. Polly's play house has dolls' furniture set up exactly like Autumn and the shed leading to the garden has a tiny version of the hospital room from Winter. Phones and headphones narrate as Polly, the owner, calls radio stations and her neighbors to chat about gardening. One old man, Mr. Penn, apparently plays a sad song in the winter to "remind someone special that she isn't forgotten." it's the song from Winter. <br />
<br />
Summer is the most abstract. An iron bedstead is in one corner (like the one from autumn) with a tree of red balls on it. We hear a dream-story: a woman woke up in her iron bed and reached for the little baby at the foot of the bed. She took the baby and began to walk through the woods and before long, the little girl was walking, then running along side her mother. She spotted a red ball and raced after it; as the mother lost site of the little girl, she panicked. She came out of the woods and saw a beach-- a young couple strode along hand and hand in the waves. The lady walks to the edge of the sea and weeps for her lost little girl. Before long, the sun is setting and years have past. The daughter walks to her mother, a vibrant young woman, and the mother realizes she has gray in her own hair. Hand in hand, they walk back through the forest and the daughter helps her mother into the bed and the old woman falls asleep. We heard this same story on the radio in Autumn and Polly chased a red ball through her garden and found a hiding place in her hedges, which is the passage to Summer. The Summer room next has you talk to a fortune teller (via headphones) and hear Pollu (now a young woman) talk about a trip to the beach with her beau where she saw a precious little girl running around an a sad sad old lady on the beach. All he saw were the waves and he heard their song. The next corner is the Christmas scene from Winter-- tree with tinfoil decorations and a large old radio that plays Polly's narration of the Christmas he forgot her for the piano. The piano is in the next corner, surrounded by music stands and scores flying away into the ocean. The last stop of summer is back to the fortune teller, then on to trail lined by tree stumps and littered with leaves...<br />
<br />
I wouldn't go into so much detail but this isn't something you can pop down to see in the Dallas Museum of Art. It was crafted for and in Lincoln and already left the Drill Hall. The story is sweet, poignant, and sad. It's all a cycle though and element like the red ball and the Christmas son weave in and out of the separate rooms. It's a bit of a dream, a hint of fairy tale, and wholly mesmerizing. Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-70961755760950548932011-10-07T08:00:00.000-05:002011-10-07T08:00:22.041-05:00Jitters?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A waking dream. She is standing in a white room with gold accents. Very pretty, rather French in her home-grown opinion. The mirror in front of her is edged in gold and reflects the white dress back into the white room. Smooth satin white satin encases her-- simply designed and classically cut, the dress is beyond expensive while remaining demure. Pearl buttons run down her back and cap sleeves keep her arms from bare. The shoes are too big, plain white pumps that someone lent her. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">She descends the staircase with difficulty, only just keeping the shoes on. Pause for breath at the door and...enter. The room is small, again in the pretty, delicate, gold-laced style of the dressing room. A back room, more used to meetings than tiny weddings. Four steps take her down the aisle and then she is by him. She doesn't really know why-- she scarcely knows him. But he asked. And she said yes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Suddenly the dreamy feeling is gone and she looks around this small room with the plush chairs and sprays of flowers carefully squeezed into the corners. She looks at his two sisters at the front in pink satin tea-dresses and the sober face of the pastor, words droning into the half-awake crowd. Then she runs. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">There is a small white scooter outside-- the getaway car-- and she shakes off the silly shoes while hiking up the simple gown before racing away into the daylight. The scooter takes her away from the posh hotel, straight through the diners on the lawn, and into the streets of the city. Dodging in and out of traffic, riding alongside vendors, then the river, she shakes her hair lose as she goes. No one is coming after her; she races in freedom.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">She ponders the day as she goes-- why is she here, marrying this man she barely knows, just because she wants to be married. How ludicrous! How stupid... Colors fly by and people shout but she ignores them all.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Eventually she is stopped by a flight of steps, back at the venue. Tempted to take the bike down the steps and into the perfectly manicured garden, she pauses. She should go in, tell them it's over. <i>He didn't even come after her! </i>for pete's sake... Or she could just go! And be gone. That's what they all think happened anyways. <i>Just go</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The groomsmen are there suddenly, one gripping the bike handles, the other two helping her off. One gives her a bashful grin but there is censure in his face too. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">"He really loves you, you know. I've never seen him so happy, but now..." She nods, feelings like a dream is overtaking her again. The dress is mussed, she thinks, and my hair is a mess. With the dirty-edged gown trailing on the ground, she descends another staircase, this time the stone cold on her bare feet. He waits there, watching. No smiles-- he isn't really the spontaneous smiler-- but all kinds of angst wait for her in that garden. But he holds out his hand and it's warm and familiar and just <i>right</i> somehow. Neither of them speak but the walk into the garden, hand in hand, as a light breeze pulls away the last of her pin-perfect curls and his shoulders are sloped forward, not a happy man. She leans in, he pulls away and laughs before pulling her close and leading her into a dance in time with the breeze. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The groomsmen go inside and tell everyone to wait a bit. She is back.</span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-51970807216957267632011-05-25T13:52:00.000-05:002011-05-25T13:52:49.924-05:00Perilous<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tip-toeing across this perilous precipice,<br />
Dancing in the farmer's meadow at midnight.<br />
Quick step across the moor and hit every rock right,<br />
Step on the stone just so,<br />
Or sink.<br />
Get caught.<br />
Fall down down down.<br />
<br />
Each step one second closer<br />
To the wild wild wind<br />
Whirling and whipping and drawing me in<br />
Each shift a step closer to the dangerous waves that call...<br />
<br />
The color of your eyes, those waves;<br />
The dangerous pull you wield, the wind;<br />
The fire that dances and entrances and bites--<br />
Mine own heart,<br />
Bitter betrayer it is.<br />
<br />
We two are too too alike--<br />
Longing for the quiet-- and the stars!-- of the deep Texas prairie.<br />
Hopelessly romantic and hopelessly devoted to that one who ne'er turns 'round.<br />
Please turn around.<br />
<br />
Temper pulsing, a swift blaze, you flare for the slightest breeze<br />
My father's daughter, I can stand your singe.<br />
Though I may perhaps burn myself.<br />
<br />
But your world spins for you,<br />
Only. King of your universe--<br />
arrogant and proud,<br />
Exclusive and cocky,<br />
Lost and lonely,<br />
Don't really know at all.<br />
<br />
But let me dance and draw you out of your world!<br />
Come see the enchantment of this very land.<br />
Rest with me here--<br />
forget those cares that belong to God anyways.<br />
I can remind you of why you matter,<br />
Why you are perfect just as you are<br />
I think so.<br />
<br />
Even without those eyes.<br />
Those bright blue eyes,<br />
entrancing--<br />
Mine own tricks turned against me.<br />
Mine own heart turned traitor from sense.<br />
Just because it beats in time with you. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, arial, 'nimbus sans l', sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-33434464851227741322011-04-16T14:03:00.002-05:002011-04-16T14:03:40.987-05:00Non-Fiction, First place!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="center" class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Of Camelot<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Caitlin Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I fell in love when I was twelve. Not yet sporting the braces and spectacles that mark adolescence, I had every hope in the world of attracting this young Arthur, this boy who seemed the very epitome of Camelot. Growing up, I read fairy tales, watched Disney movies, and convinced myself that life has a happily ever after; my career aspirations moved from being a princess through mere-dreams still softly bubbling and landed in the range of dolphin trainer/glamourous actress/small business owner. And then my prince walked into the classroom. My heart stopped, my eyes fixed on his perfect sixth-grade self, and I felt the universe shift. This was love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Being the new girl in a school with less than sixty people in the grade means everyone knows your name first. And who you like second. I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>tried</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to ask his name discreetly, I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>tried<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>not to memorize his birthday on the birthday chart, and I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>tried</i> to not instantly find him in whatever room we both were in. I failed miserably. Still, he was the very essence of a school-girl-worthy crush. Tall and handsome, he towered over the other boys (he even shaved! In sixth grade! He <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shaved…</i>) He had laughing blue eyes,<span class="apple-converted-space"> Matthew-Mcconaughey-</span><span class="yshortcuts">curly blonde hair</span>, and an infectious grin. Good at school and better at sports, he was a prince among peers. Alas, Arthur does not love Nimue. Instead he found a Guinevere—willowy, blue-eyed, blonde, and beautiful, as talented an athlete as he and sweet on the side. After three years of sighing, giggling, spying, and convincing my friends to ask him to ask me to dance (ah, the bliss of junior high dances), I picked my weary heart off the ground and turned to other interests.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A squire and a page courted me later, and I learned to ignore the prince and became my own vibrant lady. But one can hardly be distracted by squires and pages when one has loved a prince! And so I set out for college, leaving junior high dreams and high school distractions behind, embarking on a journey to become mistress of my future! To learn, to grow, to forget about boys until I fully reached my potential! (Or if God brought the right one along, of course.) Until I met him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Merlinus Ambrosius, a towering paragon of perfection in my mental Logres. A scholar and an actor, devoted to the good of mankind with all the wit and cleverness I could ask. Tall, dashing, and brilliant, he began simply as a friend and comrade. Before long, though, I found myself drawn to him—his complete adoration of God, his wisdom, his cleverness, his open laugh, and his dapper air. I languished, living for one more chance to make him laugh, one more day to see the bright green eyes. I was certain this was the epic romance I longed for. No boy-king could add up to the tall, proud figure of my Merlin and what kind of Merlin would he be to not be enamored by his faithful Nimue?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I straightened my hair for him, found cute outfits, and made sure to always bring witty repartee along when I knew he would be about. Dedicated to God, he was the only one to remove his mortar-board hat for the prayer at graduation and my heart completely abondened my chest. He once wore green—just the color of his eyes—specifically because I asked why green was his chosen color. I knew he was the perfect man. And I just knew that deep down he liked me too…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="yiv1882372227yiv1806399419msonormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alas, Merlin learned the last time around. Nimue was not, apparently, the ultimate good for him. Or maybe I am not Nimue. As I reflect upon my two great loves, those that wrenched my heart from me with a mere glance, those whom I dreamt about, languished for, giggled in front of, and generally fell to pieces over when they did not return my passions, I wonder if I was wrong from the beginning. In this grand tale, another woman strides forward, one who is alone and watching, always watching. I think I know how she felt, though perhaps I can find her redemption. What if Morgan were remembered not for her rage and jealousy, not for her utter lonliness, but for another great love? A greater love? Perhaps I can supersede my celestial dreams with a heavenly reality. Then mayhap I can embrace the name I knew to be mine even in the days when I dreamed of being a princess, of wearing floaty dresses and high heels—though I spent more time arranging things behind the scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I embrace a destiny entirely of my own? Not tied up to any love other than that Supernatural Force, the Supreme King of the Universe, the most Holy Heavenly being, but submitted to the one highest power? For I am<span class="apple-converted-space"> more of </span><span class="yshortcuts">Morgan le Fay</span>. Fata Morgana. Morgan, the Fate. And the future awaits. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-83700688880972753532011-03-16T18:14:00.012-05:002011-03-17T15:17:12.741-05:00First Two Poems...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am entering this contest... it involves my poetry. But I have to pick and chose from all my wonderful streams of concious... so help me pick please? (More coming, just rate these three-- first, second, third!) Some of these are old, some new, some shared, some making their debut. If you want to know the story behind, ask and I <em>might</em> tell you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Serenity </u></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Serenity </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A smooth pond </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Fed by quiet fount. </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Pretty lilies stand by just so, </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As a light breeze sends </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Daisy-clouds skittering across </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The pale blue sky which </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Turns slowly dark as </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Swifter swirls of cumulonimbus gather </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And urge on the whipping wind which </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Pulls and yanks the frail flowers </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Standing by the roiling waves of the fount </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The pond swift becoming a cauldron of </span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Rage </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>How to… </u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Wait ‘till the day is mysty magical </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And stars glint in the solstice light </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Walk alone in the dark dancing woods </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Amble through the open prairie </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When you see the ring </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Halt! </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Time moves strangely here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Take a step </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Toe carefully into the ring</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Take care not to muss the grass </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Trip a stone or crush a </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Toadstool. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">They did dance here </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Some seconds ago </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Turn slowly—windershins of course </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Seconds stop and hours race along. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Some one—thing—will take your hand </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Step with it, into Their land. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The wind will catch in your hair </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And the stars shine brighter here— </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This underground world. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A hall will dazzle your senses. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Look—and see all your eyes can taste </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Hear the music that haunts and frenzies </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Lilting waterfalls, pipes, drums, storms, and spring </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Don’t Dance! </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Time twists strangely here. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">They will dazzle you with </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Their brilliant smiles and </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The way They move through air, </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The beat pulling Them along. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">See those like me and like you </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Who caught the rhythm, to never be free </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Blink! </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Time stops for no mouse. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Do not touch the drink </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Sparkling ambrosia that Midas could not scorn. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Do not! taste the fare </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Sweet tarts and dainty bits will hold you </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Stronger than iron. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But what wonders that hold underground </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Shubert and Mozart collaborate in a corner while </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Buddy Holly strums with Elvis. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Selena sings the east while </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Behind poets declaim and </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Star-bound Van Gogh paints </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Those take by the Muse. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Remember the world from whence you come </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Of love and warmth, war and fire, </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Remind yourself of trees and streams and home </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Of a mother’s lullaby, sweet and tame </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Recall what Time is… </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Close your eyes again. <br />
Turn against the windershins.</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And step. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When you return to the world, they will have been looking </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A day </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A month </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A year </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">They thought you lost. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Taken </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Not gone of your own accord. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You will not correct them </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Nor remember all your self. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Time moves differently here. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It will be forgotten </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In a year </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A month </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">No one will understand. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But you. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And me. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And those other in between. </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">That there is a gleam in the velvet night </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And a sparkling darkness within the dew </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">That there is a place where Time bends to </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Another force—a wilder dance. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You know </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And I know </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And others in between </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Of a place of danger, peril, and desire </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And a time that moves strangely here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-14173298138883461522011-03-16T18:14:00.011-05:002011-03-17T15:16:59.305-05:00Poems Set Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Ratings and how these compare to the poems above please?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Happiness from Monday</u></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The sun pulls warm fingers through my hair and my smile comes quick as the light</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You're here too, tangled in my thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Bliss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Charybdis </u></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Pulling and spinning and dragging me down </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">--The Sirens’ call at my back— </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Dunking, grasping, hoping to drown; </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Only ice will survive. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Every spark extinquished </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Every flame spent </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The white hot rage smothered </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">By cold salt water </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Leaving only Ice. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A twisting vortex of emotion </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Anger, betrayal, rage, infatuation, and pain beyond your kin. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">No smile remains tucked in that corner </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Not even for you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Pick her. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I can freeze. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Or drown trying. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Perilous</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tip-toeing across this perilous precipice,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Dancing in the farmer's meadow at midnight. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Quick step across the moor and hit every rock right,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Step on the stone just so,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Or sink. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Get caught. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Fall down down down. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Each step one second closer </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">To the wild wild wind</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Whirling and whipping and drawing me in</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Each shift a step closer to the dangerous waves that call...</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The color of your eyes, those waves;</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The dangerous pull you wield, the wind;</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The fire that dances and entrances and bites--</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mine own heart,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Bitter betrayer it is. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We two are too too alike--</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Longing for the quiet-- and the stars!-- of the deep Texas prairie. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Hopelessly romantic and hopelessly devoted to that one who ne'er turns 'round. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Please turn around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Temper pulsing, a swift blaze, you flare for the slightest breeze </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My father's daughter, I can stand your singe.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Though I may perhaps burn myself. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But your world spins for you,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Only. King of your universe-- </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Arrogant and proud,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Exclusive and cocky, </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Lost and lonely,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Don't really know at all. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But let me dance and draw you out of your world! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Come see the enchantment of this very land. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Rest with me here-- </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">forget those cares that belong to God anyways. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I can remind you of why you matter,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Why you are perfect just as you are</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I think so.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Even without those eyes. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Those bright blue eyes,</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">entrancing--</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mine own tricks turned against me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mine own heart turned traitor from sense. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Just because it beats in time with you. .</span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-83328392915410797642011-03-16T18:14:00.010-05:002011-03-17T15:16:47.996-05:00Poems Set Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thoughts on this last set would be much appreciated and rewarded with actual, amazing cookies.... for real! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Tuning</span></u><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I offered you:</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The moon and stars</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The wide prairie and dancing with the dawn</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Peace</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Calm</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Enchantment</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">She held out:</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Bright city lights</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Dancing and going always on the move</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The world through an amber glass</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Excitement</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But who can see the moon and stars for the city lights?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I tried to stay visible</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">To be there where you would want me</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I agonized and poetized</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And sung outside your window</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Certain you were the hero of my fairy story,</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Convinced we sing the same song. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We still might. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In different tunes. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But you aren't worth tuning for. </span><br />
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<a href="http://ellakkat.blogspot.com/2010/09/ode-upon-imagination.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">An Ode Upon Imagination</span></a><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">(this one is a link to the poem, previously posted)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-48957287332792710402011-03-06T16:19:00.000-06:002011-03-06T16:19:19.990-06:00The Space Trilogy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lanternhollow.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/c-s-lewis-space-trilogy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://lanternhollow.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/c-s-lewis-space-trilogy.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">These books completely changed how I think. Lewis took phenomenal concepts about the Fall of man, redemption, and even higher powers (we call them angels and demons, they are here known as eldila) and wove them in to a fantastic science fiction. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The writing is a bit hard to stick with, the style found in Narnia a little more grown-up and long explanations. But the story is fantastic. Traveling from Earth (Thulcandra), a linguistic's professor, Ransom, is thrust into the world of Mars (Malacandra) where frightening giant otter-beaver-creatures roam as do classic, skinny and scary aliens. He learns much about their world, civilization, and our world there. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In the second book, Ransom again finds himself in space, traveling to Perelandra (Venus), a planet new born facing sin for the first time. In the final book, Ransom bands together with other believers to attempt to save our own Earth from an institutionalized threat. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Lewis deftly weaves together Christianity, Greek mythology, and Logres (Camelot) in this series. Elements of Narnia show up and Lewis' famously well-thought out doctrine colors the tale while his vivid imagination takes it beyond anything in this world.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Life on Thulcandra will never be the same.</span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-32997703202097286892011-02-25T13:42:00.000-06:002011-02-25T13:42:02.678-06:00Only the Beginning of an Adventure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">After reading <i><a href="http://ellakkat.blogspot.com/2011/02/oxford-chronicles.html">these</a> </i>and <i>these </i>and watching <i><a href="http://ellakkat.blogspot.com/2010/12/voyage-spoilers.html">this</a></i>, I needed to return home to Narnia. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/Narnia/images/NarniaMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://www.danielreeve.co.nz/Narnia/images/NarniaMap.jpg" width="640" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">Reading the Narnia books again is like coming home. I was overjoyed to again meet Tumnus and Lucy, the Beavers and Centaurs and most of all: Aslan. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">These books are a beautiful addition to the world of Faerie, to that classic Fairy Tale cannon that Lewis so admired. The stories flow along as easy as water and each new character is a delight or nightmare. Or simply silly, but they are necessary too. In Narnia, the world is not always beautiful and the people are never perfect but Aslan redeems all that is allowed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">Narnia is still a delightful world were there are animals and Animals (who talk), creatures of mythology and fantasy, and nothing is the same for long. Still, darkness and evil threaten the world Aslan created and even the beginning of the world is marred by man and witch. The main four we all know and love were different this time for me, and as Aslan says, they are bigger because I am older. There are new facets revealed by these books everything I read them. This time I learned a lot about myself and my willingness to serve God.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">While that story is for another post, I encourage you to read these books, especially if you've read them before. Experience a world where magic exists, adventures are journeys, and life is possible with a new imagination. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;">But Aslan is not a Tame Lion.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.catholicsupply.com/books/88976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.catholicsupply.com/books/88976.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-37590615150451848132011-02-10T10:31:00.000-06:002011-02-10T10:31:12.103-06:0010 Things I Hate about You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">While “Ten Things I Hate about You” veers pretty sharply from Shakespeare’s play “The Taming of the Shrew,” the movie cleverly captures the spirit of the Bard with its quick banter, strong female lead, and unpredictable antics. Heath Ledger gives an excellent performance as Patrick Verona (Petrucio), the dangerous senior with a reputation for eating ducks and selling organs on the black market. Julia Stiles makes the prickly Kat (Katerina) into a likable, relatable character for the audience while retaining Katerina’s trademark contrariness and difficultness in her world. The two clash in a love story both heartwarming and funny and you just can’t help hoping that they will be together in the end.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The premise of the movie is similar to the play: there is the beautiful Bianca (played by Larisa Oleynik) who cannot date or be wooed until her shrewish sister Kat goes on a date (or is married in the play). A smitten boy Cameron (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls hard for Bianca on the first day in his new school. Along with his new friend Michael, Cameron pulls together a plot to pay the scariest guy in school to take out Kat while he befriends Bianca by posing as her French tutor. A stuck-up model boy, Joey, comes into the story both as the financial backer to pay Patrick and as a rival for Bianca’s love. While many of Shakespeare’s lesser characters are not visible in any form, several lines from the Bard are clearly distinguishable in the movie. Also, Kat’s best friend, Mandella, is a hopeless Shakespeare fan-girl, which adds some Elizabethan flavor to the movie. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The quick, funny story skips through the Bard’s plot and through high school. Stereotypes are well-represented and mocked but in the breaking of such stereotypes lies the heart of the tale. Well-written, well-acted, and well-produced, this movie was a favorite of mine long before I ever heard of “The Taming of the Shrew.” It may not last as long as Shakespeare but “Ten Things I Hate about You” has proven a classic teen movie for all of us who did not find high school the best years ever. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://wendyrode.com/dressy/images/2009-02-05-10-things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://wendyrode.com/dressy/images/2009-02-05-10-things.jpg" width="285" /></a></div></div></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-83312158033562078342011-02-05T15:10:00.002-06:002011-04-09T12:47:12.182-05:00Tigerheart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever longed to fly away to Neverland? To join in adventures against Pirates? Wage war alongside the Indians? Or hear the chiming song of fairies in flight? Peter David takes us away to Anyplace in:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0345501608.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0345501608.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This is a story about The Boy and about Paul. Paul is forced to become the man of the house and he doesn't know how to go about it. The Boy, a mischievous Pan, teaches Paul how to be a child for a bit more while Anyplace teaches him how to grow up-- and it's okay.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The book was strange at first, all the Peter Pan elements had me expecting Peter, Tink, Hook, and the gang rather than the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastiche">pastiche</a> characters of The Boy, Fiddlefix, Hack, and the Vagabonds. (I didn't know what pastiche was until I read the author's note but it's the word that best fits.) I didn't like how it was so similar to Peter Pan and used the characters without it being PAN who was there. But it worked out. Because this is Paul's story and Peter cannot be in any story that is not his own.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The story was brilliant, beautiful, and fantastical. It broke my heart several times and mended it back together, bigger and better to dream. Almost as drawing as Narnia, David's anyplace is a lush paradise while his characters make you forget about any hesitation to grow up and the fact that people do consider you a grown up. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A tale about the glories of growing up and never losing yourself, <i>Tigerheart</i> took my heart along with it. </span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-88185886694525767582011-02-04T12:31:00.000-06:002011-02-04T12:31:36.627-06:00The Oxford Chronicles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JAGFFHB7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JAGFFHB7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yay for legit Christian fiction!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This series was a really interesting imagining of Oxford in the early 60's. C.S. (Jack) Lewis has just passed away and one of his close students is beginning his teaching career as an Oxford don. Introduce Kate, a pretty young American looking for adventure in England for a semester. You know what happens, but it was a fun book anyways.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Melanie Jeschke is a talented author who takes a tired-Christian-romance story form and inflates it with lovely British style. The obstacles to the young lovers are immense and really different from my western's dilemmas. And everything has such a fine flavor-- fine English tea you could say. Her details are spot on and actually made me more interested in Oxford (master's degree?). And of course, you cannot go to Oxford without encountering the Inklings.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The whole series is slathered with Lewis quotes and references, as well as a dash of J.R.R. Tolkien. I loved it!These books actually inspired me to read more of Lewis. His ideas are so eloquent and his theology very sound. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Oxford Chronicles make a great read for winter-y days. They sparkle at you as you read and draw you to this foggy, tea-drinking world where Jack Lewis created Narnia and Tolkien dreamed up Middle Earth. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Only now I'm more homesick for England than ever!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J11Q7K4JL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51J11Q7K4JL._SL500_.jpg" width="205" /></a></div></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-58685200825727056872011-01-08T17:52:00.000-06:002011-01-08T17:52:47.769-06:00Season of the Blech<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Season-of-the-Witch-movie-clips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Season-of-the-Witch-movie-clips.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Okay, so "The Season of the Witch" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">wasn't that bad. But it wasn't that great either. I pretty much only went to spend time with my roommates. The movie itself was fairly predictable-- a knight grows tired of killing innocents in the crusades and ends up being re-conscripted to take an accused witch to be tried by a monastery; a monastery that contains the only remaining text used to destroy witches and demons and the like. He picks up some companions, the girl seems innocent, and the priest seems like the more likely candidate for evil and witch-hood. People die along the way. There is a big confrontation between good and evil in the end. la la la.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I am not a fan of horror movies and when half the previews were for horror movies, I began to get a little suspicious. For the most part, though, it kept the action/adventure/witchcraft formula. Most of the creepy pop-ups were easily anticipated with the Pirate-of-the-Caribbean knock off music. There was a fairly nasty plague that left people looking more like zombies and a fair share of gore during sword fights and confrontations with the witch. A hint of werewolves perked me up half way through the dragging tale but the story line was never pursued than and I went back to guessing who would die next.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The story line was predictable and the writing sub-par (along with some of the acting...). Though a Nicolas Cage is one of my favorite odd-movie actors, this was Not the movie for him. His sidekick, played by Ron Perlman, actually made the show work much better than the script did. Still, the campy humor and anachronistic dialog made the script slow and annoying as the setting tried to remain true to the gritty, pseudo-medieval time period. Cage tried to pull of his dry wit but it didn't really fit the character and the jokes fell flat. Clair Foy did well playing the accused witch-- sufficiently creepy and innocent; I was guessing at her place until the last battle. Robert Sheehan was a cute, flat knight-in-training who pulled out some mad skills at the end.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">It was a passable 98 minutes but not particularly uplifting or inspiring. My imagination and logic are slightly piqued without being actively engaged but the movie did initiate an interesting debate among me and my roommates. Still, barring any nightmares that creep into my over-active imagination, this is not a movie I will return to.</span><br />
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</div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-54114474510521951952010-12-24T18:35:00.000-06:002010-12-24T18:35:29.624-06:00The Help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/the_help_book_cover_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/the_help_book_cover_01.jpg" width="263" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When a friend recomneded</span> this book, I didn't think much about it. She said it was good, I figured I would get to it eventurally. Honestly, I had this misplaced idea that it was about India, from the cover art. I actually never read the jacket brief or asked her what it was about....</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Then I read it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>The</em> <em>Help</em>, by Kathryn Stockett, is a novel about three women who speak out durring the turbulent 60's in Mississippi. Skeeter, a young white woman just home from college, suddenly discovers that like in Jacksonville is so much less than she wants. And with the disappearence of the woman who raised her, the black maid Constantine, Skeeter begins to comprehend the deadly spires her society is built upon. Aibileen, a stong black maid raising her seventeenth white child, works for Skeeter's friend-- raising a little girl that will likely never outgrow the system that produced her. Pulling in Minny, Aibileen's best friend and the most smart-mouthed maid in the West, Skeeter and Aibileen conspire to tell their stories to a world in desperate need of change.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I could not put this book down-- go read it and see what else gets done while you do. The civil rights issues where interesting, but I've heard about them before, studied them in depth. What really caught my attention were the people <em>living</em> it. The black maids treated like an inferior species, called dirty and dishonesty though they were the cleanest, hardest working, most admirable ladies I think I have ever read about. The Hitler-like Hilly terrified me as did the testement to a white woman's way of dealing with insult from a black servant. Skeeter, so out of place and "modern" in her ideals, became another of my literary heroes as I read. But it is Aibilean who I hope I can be more like. This strong, dedicated, wise, loving, faithful, and challanging woman inspires me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The prose is beautiful, the 450 page book sliding along like a Southern dream. Stockett's voice is near pitch-perfect. She writes in the vernacular without using strange spellings or weird regional words. Each character has a disinct voice and a deep dream. With real motivations, far-from perfect lives, and a strange sympathy for those on the other side of societal lines, these ladies manage to change their world, one word at a time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><em>The Help</em>, read it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-42614797116463415082010-12-18T13:49:00.002-06:002010-12-18T13:53:45.544-06:00A Sad Day for Avalon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2Mb1EVyEDIFkmscwQNxabOWLe5Y6jnIN5tllPX3IqyFU2IHogjPIsv-cAlUeZjJ8TdJm7ku-TbEIGInXsxAjcZ1kjlS2-YCrrUq-0ShdNEl9awMqAQuBr-76wsdg-PWNWggWTkDZ5Vjn/s1600/avalon+high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2Mb1EVyEDIFkmscwQNxabOWLe5Y6jnIN5tllPX3IqyFU2IHogjPIsv-cAlUeZjJ8TdJm7ku-TbEIGInXsxAjcZ1kjlS2-YCrrUq-0ShdNEl9awMqAQuBr-76wsdg-PWNWggWTkDZ5Vjn/s400/avalon+high.jpg" width="265" /></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Meg Cabot wrote this awesome book</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">about a school called Avalon where characters from the Arthur legend seemed strangely reincarnated in high school students. With a smart, interesting, slightly misfit heroine and a text book, golden boy hero, the book was predictable to a point but with plenty to keep a reader involved and guessing to the very end. While it deviated slightly from the known Arthur legend, it does a good job of remaining true to the stories, as close as any Arthurian tale can. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Then Disney decided to make a movie for their Disney Channel Original Movies series and I am pretty sure I shrieked with excitement. I knew it would be altered and just reading the character bios on the Disney site ratcheted my excitement down a notch or two, but I still retained high hopes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Then I watched it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The movie began well-- some deviations of course, but I expected that. It was fun to watch and I knew where things were going. The characters were interesting and I really did care what happened. The movie turned about turned about about average for a Disney Channel Movie. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> Allie was a fun, spunky heroine who managed to make friends with the in-crowd the first day in a new school (Avalon High) and still befriend the nerdy Miles. She soon finds that things are not all they seem in her new school, though, and it seems like it's Allie's new job to protect Will-- aforementioned golden boy and quarterback-- from his evil stepbrother, dark secrets about Jen and Lance (Will's girlfriend and best friend), and his own lack of self confidence as college scouts come to the play off football game soon coming up. In the meantime, Allie also makes the track team and pairs up with Miles for a research project about King Arthur. Her parents, medieval scholars, are thrilled about how well she is settling in and about her sudden interest in the Arthur legend. Miles easily stole the show and he wasn't even in the book. With his quick wit and snarky personality, he projected a Sheldon-esque anit-mainstream vibe but still seemed to see himself as a loser. Still, not a bad movie and decently in keeping with the book. Many of the little things the characters did had little impact on the movie, but represented struggles and thoughts faced by the characters in the book.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Then came the finale... *spoilers below the picture*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.disneydreaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Disney-Avalon-High-Soundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://www.disneydreaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Disney-Avalon-High-Soundtrack.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The first misstep was having the teacher Mr. More be Mordred instead of Will's half brother Marco. In the book, Mr. More was Mr. Morton, a member of the Order of the Bear and swore to protect Arthur. He is a Merlin figure. In the movie, Merlin is Miles, so Morton doesn't need to play that role. But still, changing More to Mordred made it too silly. Marco took the role of the Order of the Bear member bent on protecting Arthur, though he has been an overbearing jerk for the whole movie. So his sudden interest in Arthur's well-fare is rather jarring. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The Absolute WORST part was when Arthur was actually manifested over one of the characters. In the book, Jenn was Guinevere, Lance was Lancelot, and Will was Arthur. Allie-- whose name was Ellie (Elaine)-- was mistaken for Elaine de Astolet, Lancelot's wife. In the end Ellie turned out to be the Lady of the Lake, who gave Arthur a sword (which became Excalibur) that allowed him to defeat the forces of darkness (led by Morderd/Marco). In the movie, Allie turned out to be Arthur.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Really.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yeah.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Anywho, this leaves Will without a part at all and reinforces that idea that girls are not good enough as girls. Not cool Disney, not cool at all. Apparently the Lady of the Lake is not a cool enough, well-known enough, powerful enough character for a Disney girl to portray. Instead, she has to be a masculine character, ruling in Armor and surrounded by knights. Perhaps my offense partially come from the fact that the Lady of the Lake (Nimue, Vivianne, etc.) is my very favorite Arthurian character. Or that I really like this book and expected Disney to do great things with it. Alas, Disney did not find the story written by Meg Cabot good enough. The Lady of the Lake good enough. And the traditions of Arthur good enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">So after an average movie with an awful ending, I am sadly disappointed in Disney. This book deserves a real movie with a much better story line. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-64324732053401332972010-12-18T13:01:00.000-06:002010-12-18T13:01:42.468-06:00A Voyage *spoilers*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photogallery.filmofilia.com/data/media/669/the_chronicles_of_narnia_3_poster_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://photogallery.filmofilia.com/data/media/669/the_chronicles_of_narnia_3_poster_04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span id="goog_444344939"></span><span id="goog_444344940"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>When the simple previews for this movie made me ache with homesickness, I knew it would be good. Always a fairy-tale princess more than a modern girl, I was instantly captured by the Narnia movies. What so intrigued me about Narnia that other fantasy stories did not have, though, was one Lion and his relationship to his people. I truly believe his words to Lucy at the end of the movie, "This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there." I know Christ better through Aslan, through my longing for a more beautiful, more noble world. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader returned me to that world and continued its excellent tradition.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">The actors were superb, Eustace being a particularly well-casted part. He went from this obnoxious, namby-pamby, nancy boy to being worthy to be cousin to kings and queens of Narnia. Very rarely can children actors pull off this kind of character turn around but Will Poulter did so perfectly.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Georgie Henley wonderfully reprised her role as Lucy. A pretty girl, she still convinced me that she needed to be beautiful—something I struggle with myself. This movie made me rethink my own thoughts of unworthyness and how God does see me as wonderful and indespensible—the way Aslan showed to Lucy that she was. The entire temptation of Lucy was very well written, acted, and heart wrenchingly close to home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Skander seemed a little lack-luster. Though I admire him in the first movie, he has lost some gumption and failed to lose that arrogance. In every movie, it seems we have to watch Edmund get over himself again. Admitedly, Skander does play the easily-offended young king very well. I think the Witches appearance for him was far more nerver-wracking than the serpent. I wish they had made his temptation more in her direction, but his fear and his batter with that fear were very well scripted, screened, and acted.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Ben Barnes proved much more likable here than in Prince Caspian and seems to have become a stronger actor, and in that a stronger king. He did drop the Spanish-tinted accent of the Telemarines in favor of the Narnian-sudo-British, a slightly jarring little detail. Still, he commands the screen and the ship beautifully. I would follow this king to the end of the earth as well.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Reepicheep (voiced by Simon Pegg) was a splendid blend of sensitive rodent and warm friend. I especially like how he interacted with Eustace (who did amazingly with the CG work, by the way!). The relationship between the two is so very real and poignant.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Aslan returns, though sparingly, throughout the film, and I teared up every time. This magnificent lion is voiced spot-on by Liam Neeson. Watchful, fierce, merciful, protecting, and very much not tame, he is so much more than I expect every time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">I loved the cameos by Peter and Susan (William Mosely and Anna Popplewell) and the other actors played their parts to perfection. For a long time, I completely forgot that I was not actually on-board the Dawn Treader with real sea-farers.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Costuming was sparce, but it fit with the ocean-bound crew. Lucy did not need a beautiful skirt or Edmund a fancy doublet. The simple tunic, breeches, and sashes worn by everyone unified the crew and made the film more adventurous.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">The cinamatography pulled me back to my homeland, per say, as it swooped over sea and island, ship and crew. There were a few more gratuitous shots of the ship than needed and a misplaced warning from a sprite on the way to Ramandu’s island confused me a bit.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">The islands themselves were splendid trips into Lewis’s mind. Each had a vivid landscape, interesting characters, and a specific purpose in moving the story forward. The writers did an excellent job of tying the adventures into a continuous ribbon rather than several loosely connected stops, which I felt was an actual improvement on the book.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">The story kept many of the spiritual aspects that have been overlooked or cut from previous movies, which pleased me greatly. Reepicheep’s final adventure was filled with meaning and it filled me with longing to be there with him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">This movie creates such a real, poignant world that I cannot wait to return. I long to be there, the poorest peasent even, and I look forward to when I too can move on to Aslan’s country. Narnia lets me live in this fallen world with hope for mankinds potential and joy in the eternal promise awainting me. The Dawn Treader takes me back again. And that is all I can ask from this movie.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_FSUjTGQDsquxs7k3wEawYa860h2wLJvYAJJ0CJDFnrTZc4qgS8Lq105koiWOC2yK_vIbDZsV6QooEAXAIniGhnd9_HMaJktfiyfS18zbDLOxUuI2BNlaa2VLje5tYlws2gBqKiSE4hp/s800/narnia+dawn+treader+movie+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_FSUjTGQDsquxs7k3wEawYa860h2wLJvYAJJ0CJDFnrTZc4qgS8Lq105koiWOC2yK_vIbDZsV6QooEAXAIniGhnd9_HMaJktfiyfS18zbDLOxUuI2BNlaa2VLje5tYlws2gBqKiSE4hp/s320/narnia+dawn+treader+movie+poster.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-18398517270680094232010-11-11T18:12:00.000-06:002010-11-11T18:12:03.254-06:00The Lost Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/The_Lost_Hero_210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/The_Lost_Hero_210.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How I missed reading for fun! I still have plenty to do here at school and too much homework to really have free time, but ever so often, we must carve out a moment of quiet and fantasy and wonder, to simply survive in this harsh land of ours. So I read "The Lost Hero" and was enchanted.</span></div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This book goes back to Camp Half Blood the winter after the Percy Jackson books end. A new cast of heroes have come to the camp, looking for their destiny and haunted by strange visions, dreams, and pasts-- or lack thereof in one case. Jason is a serious soldier, trying to figure out where he came from. He almost-girl-friend Pipper has a criminal record and startlingly pretty eyes. Meanwhile, Leo can't keep still-- unless he has something mechanical to fiddle with. Arriving to find Mt. Olympus closed to the demigods, the three must figure out what is wrong with the gods-- and how to fix it.</span></div><div style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Quick pacing, interesting and relatable characters coupled with the fantasticness of Greek and Roman mythology make this large-ish book into a harry-potter-speed read. </span></span>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-82959212491419318122010-09-27T19:51:00.000-05:002010-09-27T19:51:04.056-05:00An Ode Upon Imagination<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="2049"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I went to a writing conference last weekend (not the one that just passed but before that). The conference was phenomenal, I learned a lot a lot a lot, </span><span>networked a bit, and won a contest-- with this poem! Enjoy.</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span>An Ode upon Imagination</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span>By Caitlin Smith</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>{</span></i><i><span>Written upon the midnight hour</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>As I lay me down to rest in my bower.</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Yawning, I dimmed the lights</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Then words assailed me in the night!</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>I leapt from my bed and grabbed a pen,</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Turned up the oil, then I began</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>On a journey of syllables, this I was bound</span></i></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>And here is the song I found.}</span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am lost</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- In a crush</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- In a thought</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>-- In a dream</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am caught</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the wonder</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of the Muses’ silken stream.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Swept—by the grandeur.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Held—by a spark.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Caught—dinna plan to</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet in Imagining I am lost</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where glorious tale to morals are told,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Where spark of genius begins,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Where time—finally—has no bound,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Where love doth ne’er end.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Oh, Imagination, take me away</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>To thy middling world.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>There twilight is eminent,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Evening always falls.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Existing upon the place where</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The moons shadow strikes the sun.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>There everything is great</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Everything is pure</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Every story matters</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Catch me in thy wings, oh Muse</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Bear me swiftly thither.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Alas, Ambrosia I want no more.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>For without thy dream-wine I wither.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A Tyger burning bright</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>In the forest of the night</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>As fairies dance delight.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, a fairy dances on the breeze;</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She sings a song of melodies</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And whispers in the wind.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>History told a thousand ways</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>All dreamed to save a queen.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Shahrazad and I, </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Sisters we two do be.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Sweet Eleanor de Aquitaine,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Morgan le Fay, and Nimue of the deep</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Belle and Beauty, a fairytale</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Princess may I be.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Here we may chat, and listen, and dream</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A while in my fancied bower.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A life more real, an interview more true</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Held at tea, by the moon’s hour.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>I find—Beauty and her Beast.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>I fly—East, forever East.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>I cry—please do not leave. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>I try to remember a dream.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A tale as old as the clover’s leaf</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>As new as Father Time;</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Cronus yawning, stretching, sleeping</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Giving me his rhyme.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Here I am a secret sorceress,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Here my paramours dwell,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Here I am maid or temptress,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A fay, an author, an El-</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>lesian princess, a painter, </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A singer, a dreamer, here I be.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>“No” not heard for this is</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The very realms of possibility.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span></span> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Petal lights, I dance the dawn that dare would dash my dream.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Here light come from the stars</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>From hope</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>From in-between.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The cracks of life have caught much</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>And here, this domain, I find</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>All that’s been lost to me </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Hindered only by my</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Imagination.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A dream.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A different dream.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Each night, no two the same</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Each day a journey, a life, a sleep</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>All true, all pure, all me </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>A fate, a fancy, a fantasy</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>My life in every hue.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Imagined, dreamed, held, and safe</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>In the hands of you.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>So now I lay me down to sleep</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>Imagination! Take wing!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>For here the moon rules,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>The sun is gone,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span>I live just to dream.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-14144772461355671012010-09-23T21:40:00.000-05:002010-09-23T21:40:20.942-05:00Cool AutumnThe moon suspends the clouds in her cooling light and a breeze tugs on my braid as is cools my face and a lilting folksy melody brings lyrics along in the night. A guy randomly playing chords on a guitar would fit well in this scene. <br />
<br />
There's a warm summer moon<br />
rising in the night.<br />
Floating on wispy clouds<br />
time with be all right.<br />
I just sit and smile<br />
thinking of the days<br />
when you were here<br />
just like yesterday.<br />
<br />
With warm summer moon<br />
drifting on the trees<br />
And a cool autumn night<br />
stirring up the breeze.<br />
Just some clouds in sight<br />
the star shines down on me.<br />
And my warm summer moon<br />
whispers of dreams.<br />
<br />
There's a sweet autumn breeze<br />
singing in the night.<br />
Kissing the trees<br />
rippling water light.<br />
And I sing of things<br />
rather left unsaid.<br />
On a cool autumn night<br />
Life inside my head.<br />
<br />
And a warm summer moon's<br />
drifting on the trees<br />
As a cool autumn night<br />
stirs up the breeze.<br />
With Just some clouds in sight<br />
the star shines down on me.<br />
And my warm summer moon<br />
whispers of dreams.<br />
<br />
With a warm summer moon<br />
and a cool autumn breeze,<br />
life happens<br />
to me.<br />
Wishing on the star<br />
you were here.<br />
Wishing on the star.<br />
Does you hear?<br />
<br />
And a warm summer moon's<br />
drifting on the trees<br />
As a cool autumn night<br />
stirs up the breeze.<br />
Just some clouds in sight<br />
the star shines down on me.<br />
And my warm summer moon<br />
whispers of dreams.Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-18634852136877033382010-04-19T19:57:00.000-05:002010-04-19T19:57:25.019-05:00The Dragon Book<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51k2E%2BbTHfL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51k2E%2BbTHfL.jpg" width="215" /> </a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">This book was AWESOME!!! In case you don't know me, I go on 'kicks' shall we say? I like dragons immensely right now. Partially because the amazing movie <i>How to Train Your Dragon</i> but also because I just like dragons.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">So I bought this book.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">And it is GREAT.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">The book is a collection of short stories-- perfect for thirty minutes before bed, reading over a cup of tea, or one between classes on Tuesday/Thursday with music classes throwing your schedule off-kilter. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">First, I saw some of my old favorite authors, new favorite authors, and writers I am just coming to recognize. Then there are nineteen stories with dragons and dragon mythology from all over the world. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Tamora Pierce continues the Daine saga with a story about Sky Song. Gregory Macguire's offering is surprisingly kid-friendly and tame while Jonathan Stroud provides a creepy dragon-mystery. Jane Yolan explores the introduction of dragons to the Russian Revolution. Meanwhile Garth Nix, Diana Wynne Jones, Bruce Coville, and a host of new talent are also featured on the bill. </span></b></span><br />
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</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">I was starting to get bored with the find-a-baby-dragon, tame-a-baby-dragon, get-to-know-the-dragon routine that most books follow. Other either feature dragons as creatures with human wisdom and comprehension or dragons who are hurt-- people never interact with them just as healthy, capable animals unless the humans are trying to kill them. This book blew all the preconceptions out of the water. A wily dragon waited to be freed from a puzzle. A boy discovers that he can turn into a dragon. A girl misses being a dragon. A baby dragon saves the life of a vulnerable human.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">The writing is tight, the stories are fluid, and the arrangement even sings. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in dragons. Or just interested in reading. </span></b></span>Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-8344896530969985142010-04-19T18:59:00.000-05:002010-04-19T18:59:39.824-05:00M is for MagicI just finished reading "M is for Magic," a collection of stories by Neil Gaiman. While fascinating and imaginative, they were a little on the creepy side, even for my fantastical senses. The book was marketed at children's fiction but I really think this belongs in the teen or adult fiction section. Just because the book has children as most of the maid characters does not make it suitable. I would not give this to anyone under 13. Still, Gaiman is a master of his craft and the book was a really intersting read.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/images/MIsforMagic_Hardcover_1185590156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/images/MIsforMagic_Hardcover_1185590156.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Three Stars out of FiveCaitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-22628048592491613682010-03-27T23:40:00.000-05:002010-03-27T23:40:38.593-05:00DragonsDragons<br />
<br />
Doesn't the word just make you shiver?<br />
<br />
I looove dragons-- books, comics, drawings, and now movies.<br />
<br />
Specifically, <i>How to Train Your Dragon</i>, the newest DreamWorks movie-- This is better than any other DreamWorks movie I have ever seen! It beats Shrek, Over the Hedge, Madagascar, etc.<br />
I honestly almost cried in the middle. And at the end.<br />
And now I really really want a dragon.<br />
<br />
My poor boyfriend has been informed that I am leaving him for Hiccough the Horrible, So he may be trying to find a dragon this weekend.<br />
<br />
I was amazed at how much I really really wanted to live in that village and ride a dragon-- it's an animated movie! These powerful, intelligent, glorious creatures were so enthralling, even though they were animated lizards (Thanks for nothing, you useless reptile... ). The story was wonderful, the script and dialog perfection, and the voice talent spot-on. Add that to beautiful 3-D animation (I don't much care for 3-D but I forgot it wasn't a regular movie) with water drops, licks of fire, and perfect wind effects.... wow. And the music near to broke my heart-- it was beautiful.<br />
I was sad the movie was over.<br />
I seriously have a crush on Hiccough.<br />
Great Movie, go see.Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606674738492770665.post-9762594451204354592010-03-17T23:14:00.000-05:002017-04-26T11:20:18.524-05:00Last Poem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ok, so this one is different-- a sort of mock epic, whirlwind rhyming style.<br />
Dr. Seausicalish<br />
<br />
When Sara sings the world is shook<br />
Divas stop and Baritones look <br />
to see who makes such gracious sounds<br />
so far beyond their measly rounds<br />
Sara sings rarely now, her powers to move beyond <br />
her control sing that fateful day<br />
When fate Ordained<br />
What Sara would sing.<br />
If began as a lilting bit, sung as she walked to the fair<br />
she loved the way the birds joined in<br />
and a breeze tousled her hair<br />
A Patron of the arts, so smart<br />
and dashing was he, heard her singing and grabbed her arm and towed her<br />
to the jubilee<br />
A bit confused, the lass followed, still humming that sweet little tune<br />
and soon enough what had been a cloudy day could now belong to June<br />
He took her to the stage, told the Soprano to Step Aside<br />
all eyes where on the Patron, all eyes opened Wide<br />
He shoved her forward into the light<br />
"Your voice is heaven,my dear.<br />
Now sing for the entire world, <br />
this is a joy that All should hear."<br />
Sara gave a nervous smile--what's a peasant girl to do<br />
When forced to perform like so?<br />
She opened her mouth and complied, singing a little tune<br />
No words had she, never had a single syllable form from her tongue<br />
Only Melody but that is enough<br />
The Crowd grew silent, the Orchestra stopped<br />
Even the Soprano shut her mouth<br />
The breeze stilled, the people stood, and birds slowly gathered round<br />
as the notes reached a soaring height and then all teh songs birds joined<br />
as before the peoples' very eyes, a glorious scene was formed<br />
The audience gasped as one, when a castle Swam into view<br />
set in a landscape of Cliffs and Waterfalls, a fallow deer or two<br />
and a dizzying array of notes fell from our dear girls tongue<br />
while small frogs joined the chorus, pipping and rum-tum-tum<br />
A cricked added her contribution as well-water obligingly trickles<br />
A brook moved closer to join the symphony as the branches picked up a rattle<br />
The wind was eager to join the World that Sara so obligingly sang<br />
and she began to dance and twirl around the girl and o'er again<br />
The waters moved in closer, most the fair was wet<br />
The creatures moved up higher, their part was not done yet<br />
Dear Sara, her eyes still shut, let the music move on through<br />
as the wind began a spirited gavotte that took hats and umbrellas too<br />
The wind began to whip and whirl<br />
and still Sara sang as a storm began to grow as the notes turned deeper in<br />
The waters roes, the wind did howl, clouds rolled up from Calais<br />
Still Sara sang her song on that fateful day<br />
The spell-bound audience was awakened<br />
by a torrent of rain<br />
splashing merely, its own little tune<br />
soon would turn more grim<br />
The people ran for cover, then moved to higher ground<br />
as they watched Sara's song taking o'er the town<br />
For fateful hours it seemed they stood<br />
until on poor lad asked<br />
"What of the Singing Girl?<br />
Is she still in the mess?"<br />
The people gasped as they realized--<br />
they still heard her Voice<br />
Sara still sang below<br />
While all of Nature had joined the chorus<br />
A brave lad said "I'll rescue her!"<br />
His mother said "Shut up!"<br />
They all looked to the Patron<br />
Who had forced the singer up<br />
on them. "A witch!" he exclaimed with some regret<br />
"She should be fine-- just a little wet."<br />
"She's no witch! She has a gift, a song all want to hear!<br />
And it seems till now she hid is well, singing far from ears!"<br />
The people were in confusion-- should they let the singer drown?<br />
Or risk any one their own in the slowly sinking town?<br />
Just as sudden, the storm stopped and one pure sound held through<br />
A delicate, simply melody cut the silence in two<br />
as the clouds rolled our and the waters moved<br />
back to their rightful places<br />
The birds settled down on the now silent trees<br />
amazement bright on the peoples faces<br />
They crept down to the ruined fair<br />
to see if the maiden still stood<br />
And there she was, hardly mussed hair<br />
thinking "Did I sing good?"<br />
She had not seen the clouds<br />
The winds barely kissed her<br />
So deep had Sara gone<br />
lost in eternal bliss<br />
of heaven's true song<br />
They stared and started and nervously hummed<br />
as she slowly oped her eyes<br />
to see all the destruction<br />
"What happened!" she longed to cry<br />
A kindly matron took the maid<br />
gently off the stage<br />
off behind a toppled tent <br />
and quietly explained<br />
Sara understaood<br />
she knew the power in a song<br />
She promised, best she could<br />
to keep quiet from now on<br />
The lady sighed with relief<br />
told the girl no to worry<br />
that she was free to go, this wasn't her fault<br />
but that Sara might want to hurry<br />
Sara nodded, opened her mouth, then shut it at the matron's gasp<br />
Instead of singing for her horse, Sara merely gestured to ask<br />
The horse was brought and Sara rode<br />
fourth from the jubilee<br />
The people sighed and went to work<br />
cleaning the debris<br />
The Patron was duely embarrassed<br />
he paid much for his impulsive act<br />
And Sara still came occasionally to town<br />
wearing a broad and hiding hat<br />
She still sings for the woods<br />
the birds do love her sound<br />
But Sara never sings where human ears abound<br />
She has a gift, a story<br />
that no words could e'er express<br />
And so when Sara sings<br />
only she knows the Rest.</div>
Caitlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423661121266695979noreply@blogger.com0