cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

When you see this, post a bit of poetry. Pretty harmless and beautiful as memes go.

(courtesy of ladysprite )

Come buy, come buy.”

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Letting What Enters Enter

Even in January rains
the blossoms open --
absence and longing
are also the plum-fragrant spring.
As the woman with her sign and cart of rags is spring,
beside the highway, stepping slowly
through the undimmed flower of her life.
"What I now most want to happen
in my raving heart, make it happen --"
Sappho's cry to the goddess.
Who knows if that prayer was answered?
Each part holds the rest in the chill
spring rain and the silence; let one animal
eat from your hand and the whole herd comes.
but the woman was not beautiful
or whole in her heart's raving,
and she forgave me nothing that I love.

- Jane Hirshfield

I should remember to write about my coat adventures and the new toy I have. But first, it is time to resurrect my favorite meme of all time:

Friday Poetry Meme - when you see this, post a bit of poetry in your journal

They All Want To Play Hamlet

They all want to play Hamlet.
They have not exactly seen their fathers killed
Nor their mothers in a frame-up to kill,
Nor an Ophelia dying with a dust gagging the heart,
Not exactly the spinning circles of singing golden spiders,
Not exactly this have they got at nor the meaning of flowers - O flowers,
     flowers slung by a dancing girl - in the saddest play the
     inkfish, Shakespeare, ever wrote;
Yet they all want to play Hamlet because it is sad like all actors are sad
     and to stand by an open grave with a joker's skull in the hand and
     then to say over slow and say over slow wise, keen, beautiful words
     masking a heart that's breaking, breaking,
This is something that calls and calls to their blood.
They are acting when they talk about it and they know it is acting to be
     particular about it and yet: They all want to play Hamlet.

Carl Sandburg

Today is the birthday of Erwin Schrodinger. If you've never had the opportunity to study quantum mechanics, you should really give it a try sometime: the sound of your brain recoiling from the warped logic necessary to understand this field is something quite rare and worthy of cherishing.

And, apparently, I'm very wordy after a bowl of oatmeal laced with hot chocolate mix. Whee!

In tribute to Dr Schrodinger, I now present The Ballad of Schrodinger's Cat. I will take questions at the end of the performance. Thank you.
( The Ballad of Schrodinger's Cat )

A while ago I saw a card at the bookstore. It had Waterhouse's Lady of Shallot on the front and the inside message read "Cheer up! Good things are right around the corner!". Tonight I took a bath with a Romance in a Stone bath bomb from Lush. The love poem inside had the fourth through seventh stanzas of Keats's La Belle Dame Sans Merci.

Am I the only one who finds these things deeply disturbing?

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Got it from silmaril: When you see this on a friend's journal, quote Shakespeare in your own.

There's the respect that makes calamity of so long life.
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time?
The oppressors' wrongs, the proud man's contumely,
the pangs of disprized love, the law's delay,
the insolence of office, the spurns that patient
merit of the unworthy takes, when he himself might
his quietus make with a bare bodkin? 
But that the dread of something after death,
the undiscovered country from whose bourne
no traveler returns, puzzles the will and makes us
rather bear those ills we have than fly to those we know not of.
Thus, conscience does make cowards of us all,
and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er
and enterprises of great pith and moment in this regard
their currents turn awry and lose the name of action!

Yep, it's Friday. That means that it's time to do the bit-o-poetry thing. I've got two snippets this time.

( Song lyrics )

( Classic silliness )

So, what's been bouncing around your head?

This is way too amusing. Lifted from the pages of photosexual this morning, I have been thoroughly entertained. Blessed are we who are easily amused for we shall...ooh! shiny!

Haiku by sabine791110

we are given free will as a prerequisite for being human

Username: Haiku! by Hutta.

( More haiku behind the cut )