Poem #30

Warrior

Life is a journey

Learn one step at a time

Your failures will teach you

You successes will pride you

You will strengthen in time

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free verse

Blog #25

The movie Apocalypto is about the decline of the Mayan Kingdom. The rulers believe the key to prosperity is to build more pyramids and human sacrifice. Jaguar Claw is captured when his village is raided. He quickly lowers his family into a whole before he is captured trying to fight for his village. Which shows his caretaker archetype, because he is putting his family and village before his own safety. His innocent archetype is reflected upon his tribes belief of peace. Though a noble belief to live by, it can mean certain danger for others who do not respect peace. I think that his dominant archetype is the warior because his surroundings are constantly challenging his life. He has to hunt for food to survive and provide for his family. He is forced to fight back at the end when he realizes what his dad said to him, “I didn’t raise my son to be afraid.”  He uses the hunting trap to kill one guy, he runs away from the black pander leading it right into the leaders, he shot a dart at one and fights the last one. He proves his strength and smarts through his warrior archetype.

An excert from Raised to Be Lowered by Saul Williams
To manifest your dreams before you manifest your fears. To navigate beyond the treachery of self despair. To find the balance between all you sense and all you see. To find the patience and the strength it takes to let it be. To stand amongst the crowd and have the strength to hold your own. To throw away the pen and pad and simply be the poem. To rise above hatred to love through seeming contradiction. To seldom take a side and learn to compliment the friction. To bring about the change within that we can’t live without. To shift and re-arrange ideals and learn to deal with doubt. To voice the victory and unlearn ways of self-defeat. To learn the value of, “yo, fuck the words just ride the beat”. To leave the comfort zones of all you know to all you feel. To step beyond the void and realize the unknown is real. To re-imagine every obstacle as just means of honing craft and learn to laugh at failures funny dream.

Rocky Mountain High-John Denver

He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin’ home to a place he’d never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
On the road and hangin’ by a song
But the string’s already broken and he doesn’t really care
It keeps changin’ fast and it don’t last for long

But the Colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye
Rocky mountain high

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept his memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high

Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear
Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more
More people, more scars upon the land

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
I know he’d be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky mountain high

It’s Colorado rocky mountain high
I’ve seen it rainin’ fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody’s high
Rocky mountain high

Blog #24

Opposing forces of change in the universe

I decided to critically analyze the Master of Two Worlds through the Chinese principal of Ying and Yang. Then to further look at the ideology behind gender roles possessed by Ying and Yang through the feminist theory.

 The legalist of the Han Dynasty attempted to standardize culture and philosophy, which led Han thinkers to try and unify all the rival schools of thought. This was known as the Han synthesis, which explained the metaphysical of the universe. The essentials of Ying and Yang say that the universe is run by a single principle, Great Ultimate. The principle is divided into two opposing principals Ying and Yang. Both produce one another and over come one another. Yang is the principals of male, sun creation, heat, light, heaven and dominance. Ying is the female principals, moon, completion, cold, dark, material forms and submission. Ying and Yang exist constantly, each opposition creates the other; no one principal continually dominates the other or determines the other. Since no one principal dominates, all conditions are subject to change in their opposites. Ying and Yang are opposing forces of change in the universe, which means: Forces change into their opposites in an eternal cycle of reversal. One principal produces the other, all forces have within them the seeds of their opposite state. Even though an opposite may not be present, since one principal produces the other, no force is completely devoid of its opposite state.

Master of Two Worlds: Once the hero crosses the threshold, he comes to realize that there really is nothing separating his home from the new world. He now understands the differences and the balance between the comfortable safety of his home and the new world. With this understanding, he has also balanced his character and mind.

The Monomyth stage of Master of Two Worlds in parallel to Ying and Yang are about finding an understanding of the current universe. The Master of Two Worlds has to find a balance between his home and new world. With this enlightenment comes a balanced character and mind. Who one was in the past made one who one is in the present. The Two Worlds are each other’s opposites; one produces a duel identity in the new world. Understanding the Ying and Yang between the Two Worlds reflects the changes that have come and the balance that was achieved.

Ying and Yang is about understanding the balance between the two principals. One cannot exist without the other; you couldn’t be who you are without your past. The symbolism of sun and the moon, in parallel to old world and new world. Change comes about from the opposite, with change comes time, over time we all change. Change in our immediate universe is produced from our current opposite force in which we are confronted with. Understanding that changes are brought about from an opposite force shows inner balance and understanding of the universe.

Critically analyzing Ying and Yang through the Feminist Theory raises a strong debate. Why is Yang principal of maleness represented through sun, creation, heat, light, heaven and dominance? Ying the principal of femaleness is represented through the moon, completion, cold, dark, material forms and submission. Yang male qualities are all very strong qualities implying success and DOMINANCE. Whereas females are personified through dark, cold and submission adjectives that imply failure and inferior.

poem #29

I long to be accepted

While still being true

I long to be perfected

As my inner being grew

I began to understand

I no longer needed your rescue

My understanding started to expand

My mind was timeworn

Life was unplanned

My old self I mourn

My new self was born

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Terza Rima:aba, bcb, cdc, dd.

Blog #23

I watched the movie Transamerica. The movie did a good job getting the idea across of searching for one’s identity. Throughout life we are all searching for our own identity. Stanley went from being a man his whole life to realizing he was a women. He found peace and happiness in being Bre. His family fought him with his decision to change his identity. I is very hard for people to accept a huge change in something that they have known their whole life. Transgender is a hard topic for a lot of people to understand. I can say that it wasn’t till this class that I have become so understanding and accepting of sexuality and identity. I have always thought of myself as open minded and understanding of difference, but in a way I didn’t completely understand the ideology behind it. I can really relate with Bre and her fear of being accepted by the one’s she loves. I recently have came out to my friends and sister about being bi courious. It took a lot for me to adknowledge the subject. It was something I have always felt, but didn’t completely understand it. I lived a lot of my teenage years trying to be ‘normal’, whatever the hell that is. Critically analyzing these works of literature has taught me that there will always be hardships, but they can only make you stronger. You can’t fear the unknown because it hasn’t happened yet. The people who truly matter in life will never abandon you. It may take time for them to come to an understanding. Just like Stanley’s son and parents.

People’s Differences by by Denis Vogt

Too many times; people Believe our “Differences” Separate us,
Driving an Invisible, (yet Permanent) Wedge between us,
Doing more Harm than Good,
And somehow “Keeping” us from Existing as “People,”

They Fall in to the trap of Hype; the “Sensation” of the Moment,
Hearing only Half the story before making up their Minds,
And once they’ve Done that,
No amount of Truth can Ever find its way in to their Souls,

Using their own Fears and Trepidations,
They Lump an entire group of people Together in the Guise of a Label,
Using their Fears and Misunderstanding to Encourage their Anger,
Blindly Thrusting their Swords of Hatred into Anyone “not like Them,”

What they Fail to Realize- the Point they Always seem to Miss,
Is that None of Us are “Similar;” None of us are Created the “Same,”
We All come from completely different Molds,
And None of us were Designed to “Match” anyone Else,

They use our Differences as Nothing but an Excuse to Hate,
A Springboard to Launch their Own agendas, and Abuses,
Fearing the Most- while Understanding the Least,
And Convincing themselves they have the “Right” to spew their Aggression,

I don’t Want to be “Like” Anyone Else,
I would Never “Choose” to be a Duplicate, or a Clone,
I Appreciate what Makes me Different,
And I Adore the Differences in All of us that make us Human,

If we All operated on the same Wavelength,
If Each and every One of us Had no Differences,
Then I Imagine this World would be a very Cold, Desolate world, Indeed,
So- (to All of you)- Thank you for making a “Difference…”

Poem #28

I must find my center

To be reborn

I must accept my flaws

To be reborn

I must find love in myself, to find love in others

To be reborn

 I must let go

To be reborn

I must let others in

To be reborn

I must accept who I am

To be reborn

Its Okay-Land of Talk

It’s Okay,
I don’t even cry
all I think about is a memory
in that dream when you kissed my arm
as I look away, don’t hear
what I say

That maybe when I die
I get to be a car
driving in the night
lighting up the dark.
something in your voice
sparks a little hope
I’ll wait up for that noise
your voice becomes my home

Long way round, don’t care what I find
A little thunder’s good, I thought maybe you would
but it’s okay, we all feel left out
sometimes growing up, it can get you down.

I give you some thing that no one’s gonna to give you
my sleepin’ skin and my heart deep down in you
I’ll never tell you, but you’re my little scar
Goodbyes are hard and they’re hard and they’re hard

Maybe when I die
I get to be a car
driving in the night
Lighting up the dark
Something in your voice,
sparks a little hope
Ill wait up for that noise
your voice become my home

Shaddowed Rescue from Without

-FILTERING THE HATE-

You act as though I need you

As you spit on who I am

A mere being of waste, you said

Who will save you from yourself?

-

Time has killed us

We are living our fated death

Our love once strong

You said, Now the ugliest of loves

-

The words you spit, in vengeance

Fuck you

You pussy

You cunt

You fucking hippi

You wasted ass bitch

Life will bring you nothing

As you struggle in the dirt

-

Your disguise is off

I am no longer fooled

Your blue eyes are full of shit

Fade out

I am filtering the hate

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Poem #27: free verse

Blog #22

We have all reached a time in our life when we have felt completely helpless. A point in time where you reach the darkest depth of a hole and cannot climb out. We all have people we depend on during these times. It is these people who help us move forward on our journey to achieve bliss. No matter what you go through in your life, we are creatures of habit we need support. Just knowing that someone is there to back us up and stand behind whatever it is we choose to do keeps us going.

In my journey through life my family has always been there for me. They are the backbone of my journey and the roots of who I am. Without them every hardship along the way would have felt ten times heavier. I know that they are always there no matter what. I am so lucky to have been blessed with such a good life. The love they have instilled in me will float on. They are good people who have taught me to be the same.

“Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, whos never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone”

 

This verse of Wide Open Spaces reminds me so much of my family. We use to listen to Dixie chicks on the long drive to Florida. I am in the days of my life where it is about striking out and learning from my mistakes. I got my head in the clouds, but a foundation of stone.

Rescue from Without: While on the return journey, the hero may need to be rescued from death or from a state of helplessness and bliss.

Wide Open Spaces- Dixie Chicks

 

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, whos never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes

She traveled this road as a child
Wideeyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

She needs wide open spaces
Room to make a big mistake
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes

As her folks drive away her dad yells, Check the oil!
Mom stares out the window and says,
I'm leaving my girl.
She said It didn't seem like that long ago
When she stood there and let her own folks know
She needed

Wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the highest stakes,
She knows the highest stakes,
She knows the highest stakes