Writing Prompt

In Capstone Class last night we had writing prompt.  We had to focus on something normal and come about it in an absurd way...

How Not To Live Forever

Don't dream about the horseshoe of the Carpathian Mountains.

Don't attempt to believe you would understand the land-sea of superstition there.

Don't go to Transylvania.

Don't become mesmerized by the depths of those beautiful eyes.

Don't fall in love with his drafty Gothic mansion.

Don't wonder what's in the moat - the Vistula can't be kayaked either.

Don't hike under the moon in the Hoia-Baciu forest.

Don't trust the wine - God knows what it is, keep your mind on the Eucharist.

.

Don't tell him his pet bat is cute.

Don't kiss his neck.

Don't let him kiss yours.

Don't make love, the coffin isn't big enough and violaceous silk will stain.

Don't increase his numbers - he wants a baby.

Don't have his baby - that is eternity.

You aren't ready to live forever.

Put It Out There

Something strange has been happening.  I've long been a student of life and the human condition, both within myself and in my observation of others.  I have seen many forces at work and I find validity in all of them.  I've read countless 'odd' (I prefer cosmically fascinating!) books.  Why just yesterday a new book arrived called Ley Lines and Energy Meridians (focusing on Celts and the islands around Scotland!  I was also given a book called Science Set Free!  All seem to deal with that intangible but very real energy that surrounds us all.  So how does this pertain to my current condition of graduating and trying to formulate how to get this all going?  

Intention.

People are winding up in my path.  I don't believe it is a coincidence.  

Yesterday at work - seemingly a world away from the academic career I'm striving for  -three teachers came in at various times.  Coincidence perhaps.  But here's the kick - I have never been able to really talk about myself or my achievements - it feels obtuse? self centered?  Until lately...

It went something like this - "Oh I see you're a teacher, I'm graduating in 2 weeks and am hoping to find an alternate route position - anything in a classroom...."

And that led to...

"Here's my email!  Give me yours - I have a ton of info and tips of things to focus on!  I'm so happy for you - we need passionate teachers!! You're going to be great!"

"Oh you definitely need to try my district - they will hire, you may have to coach or run a club and it may not be tenure, but it's experience!"

"Check this website out - it's great it lists all the positions currently open everywhere - it's how I got my position and I'm alternate route!!"

Desire doesn't hurt, intention helps, a positive attitude and belief is key - it opens doors where you never even saw them.

I've also seen it at work with my professors

ME: "Hi, listen I feel very uncomfortable asking you this but the Masters Program requires two letters of recommendation and I was wondering if you would be willing to write one?  You can say No -  I won't be offended and I'm actually embarrassed to ask but..."

PROF "Oh Christine I was going to ask you if you needed one."

Things are working out, and I used to be afraid of that because, well, didn't it mean that something would eventually go wrong? 

I'm choosing to rewrite that belief - we all should.

Hope for the best.  Believe in the best.  Be pleasantly surprised.  Things will go wrong, but there are forces greater than ourselves working to try to make them right and we should work with them.

God once said to my heart 'Do all you can and I will do the rest'

Pray - Believe - Imagine - Intend - Hope - Keep Going

Namaste

An Honor

Words cannot express how much this meant to me.  Up until they called my name I was certain it was an error.  My Linguistics prof from last semester spotted me in the seating and came over to shake my hand and congratulate me.  He said it was an achievement.  I believed him. 

When I was younger I was just far too immature to understand any of this.  The words the scholars would say when they addressed the room...I always felt they were supposed to say those things, paid to say those things, they never really believed any of those things did they?  They do.  And now so do I.  I hung on every word.  I let the words burn into me, rewriting the damaging words that had been there.  I deserve this.  I worked very hard for this.  It is an achievement.  I can do this.  There's still a shadow of doubt in me, I suppose there always will be - it's part of who I am.

I was a bit emotional.  I think I still am.  I cried most of the way home.  When I showed my son he got a bit emotional and said 'Mom, I'm so proud of you - I remember when you started going back to school, I remember the books you read...I remember you reading Beowulf.  Not everyone gets that paper Mom, Not everyone can do that." Then I hugged him  This is so real.

But honestly the one thing that really got me (of all things!) Was the bookmark.  It brought me right back to a high school classroom, long ago, when I fell in love with Literature as I understand it now.

"High sparks of honour in thee have I seen."

Shakespeare (Richard 11.5 vi 29)

Keep Going

Namaste

The Taking-

Readying schoolwork for my final writing portfolio - due next week.  The following is a prose poem that I had written for a Writing Capstone class.  We were told to take risks...apparently this was a bit too risque...

The best feedback I received was from a fellow student who work-shopped the poem, "I felt completely violated...and I enjoyed it."

The Taking

Your tenor eyes match a voice like the wet sand that the spice ships slice into at dawn.  Your Mediterranean skin is smooth like avocado flesh.  Your body: sinew under culture.  I could bite that lower lip.  But where would I stop?  When would I stop?  I could tug at it with teeth as your eyes roll in ecstasy to an azure heaven where the angels spin their robes of white.  Your mouth is delicate and pliable like red wine with a second core hint of fruit.  It is to be waited for.

Beneath your collar lies you cosmic rhythm.  It is distracting, lush, and unguarded.  I could languidly move from your mouth to your neck, to your low lying lobe; where you will hear only my breath, your pulse.  Would I consume you?  Perhaps.

You taste like a guttural moment.

Like the vessels on the edge of storm, I would release that sail; your hand-stitched Moroccan shirt. Then lick the salt from your wounds and seek harbor in your shadows.  My desire is not one of creation.  My desire is one of satiety.

I will not offer you life beyond your own.  I can only offer you the air that caresses the nightshades with all its terrifying uncaring comfort.  I can only suggest to you the marble steps and writhing in full view of your ancestors - for this is the spark of living that civilization can barely recall.  Perhaps I will offer you nothing.  Perhaps I am only here to take.

It is just a thought.  It is just a moment.  It is just upon us.

Convention be Damned - Take Risks

Namaste