Thursday, June 30, 2011

Ode to the Word


Put pen to paper;
Spell out words.
How lucky we are to be able to compose
Lyrics and verses
And stories and rhymes
And tales tall and fanciful that live on through time.
Yes pen and keyboard,
If small and quite discreet,
Like hammer and chisle  
Are tools mighty indeed
That carve out the great figures
Of which we now boast,
Who on the tides of history
Might have foundered and been lost
Had it not been for the word,
Written and transposed
Then passed on and revived
So their legacy could be kept alive.
Yes, how blessed we are
As inheritors who
Are privileged to receive and add to
A wealth of experiences:
Of victories and defeats,
Of loves lost and found,
Of highs and lows,
Of infamy and renown.
And so,
To your quills, your pads and computers,
If your hearts be so stirred,
As we celebrate the life and times
Of the written word.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Overweight


A jaunty saunter,
And saucy swagger
Up to the checkout desk
Belies nagging doubt
About what the scales will read
Under the weight of all my baggage.

It really wasn’t my fault.
You see,
What had happened was
I had so many important things to bring along:

My knowledge for starters,
Such wealth as I possess,
Then there was pride and self confidence
(Packed a little extra in my carry-on too),
Oh, and there are those residual hurts
Mementos from obscure episodes in my past,
Of course, I had to make space for complacency and doubt,
My talent, my ingenuity,
Self pity, helpless feelings and anxieties-
No way I could leave those behind!

So I bussed it,
Hoofed it,
Hobbled and taxied
All the way here
And now my bags are starting to tell:
There are some broken straps and handles,
Not to mention a couple of busted zippers
But dammit I made it!

But passing through
the million and one security checks along the way,
(Damn those bloody terrorists!)
I find I’m forced to sort through my affairs
And leave little odds and ends behind:
A mask here,
A worn out excuse there,
Old padding and protections,
Scarves and coats I’d taken as a precaution
But most likely won’t need at my destination.

Still,
Even after all these checks
My bags are still so loaded
I can barely drag them along.

I fear that between check-in
And the remaining security stations,
I’ll have no choice
But to cast more and more stuff aside,
So that by the time I reach the gate for boarding
They’ll have me stripped down to nothing
But the bare essentials
Cause this airline don’t give you no allowance for overweight.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Apologetica

With every choice,
There comes the consequence.
For every risk,
There is a cost
And even not to choose
Becomes itself a choice.
And not to risk,
Is to run a risk:
The risk of being wrong,
The risk of missing out,
The risk of stagnating,
The risk of failing to grow
And being left behind.

I’ve failed you I’m afraid.
I thought I did you justice
I thought I helped you learn,
I thought I nourished you
When in fact
I stifled your creativity,
Your free spirit.
My help, my correction,
Was abuse
And my brand of justice
The most atrocious of
Injustices
And now I’ve spoilt
What could have been
A beautiful painting;
I’ve thrown out of harmony
A melody that should have
Gone platinum
Many times over.
My selfishness, my fear, my ego
Have marred the tapestry of our lives…

This is my apologetica.

The weight of regret
That lies on my shoulders
Presses down on me
More and more
With each passing day.
I wish
I could turn back the clock
With the knowledge
I now have
And then just maybe…

But how to change?
How to make things right?
How can I rewrite the role
That I have created for
Myself?
How to break free
Of this image of perfection,
Of innocence, responsibility
And saintliness?
A role produced by others
Before I could yet
Understand
Its repercussions
But one which I accepted
And learned to play
With dexterity
And convincing
Improvisations

But this is my apologetica…

I just want you to understand…

…and maybe one day
We can forgive me.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Wepa! Gloria's back

With all the new music coming around this summer, how could I not mention the Latin queen Gloria Estefan? Being a child of the 80s myself, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine rank high among my earliest memories of music and that, if nothing else, is one of the reasons I get really excited when I hear about any new music from this particular artist. 

That said, I have to confess that I was more than a little disappointed when I heard this track for the first time. I can't explain why, but it just didn't strike that chord with me the way listening to her music usually does. However, after a couple of consecutive playings, I have to say it has grown on me. It's catchy and fun to dance to. Guess there is some truth to the line from the song that says the rhythm will make you wanna move it like they do in South Beach

Comments on Youtube expressed mixed feelings about the tune. Like some of the commenters, I didn't quite recognise Gloria at first, but, upon further listening I realised she has remained true to form: the track draws from traditional Latino-Caribbean rhythms with an added modern edge, making for a potentially great party song. And, even though I still have some reservations about the song (don't ask me why), I'm not ready to write it off as a bad tune just yet (maybe it's just my language nerd side being flim flammed by the use of three languages in the lyrics? Dunno). 

Give it a listen and let me know what you think.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Ultimatum


I tried to call you but I couldn't get through.
Tell me, what the hell do you expect me to do,
When all I do is run around
And waste all my time tryin' to track you down?
You must think I'm some kinda clown,
A form of disposable entertainment you can cast aside
Then pick up again whenever you decide;
Or maybe you think this is all a big joke
And that I'll hang about doting on every word you spoke, 
Or that I'm simply too dumb to see through the smoke
Of the cigar you keep puffin' on,
While the time keep draggin' on
With me still singin' the same old song:
Telling myself you might be the one
And that one day soon you'll change from a frog
Into the person I read about in the prologue
Of your autobiography, 
A work of fiction designed only to entrap me.
But the truth is you just a damn disgrace-
Have me hunting for you all over the place
Like some stupid cat and mouse chase.
And the way I see it, you got a choice to make:
Either get in line
Or get the hell outta my face!

Music from Israel: Harel Skaat

As the years go by, I find myself becoming more critical of pop music and less into the traditional romantic power ballads and so on. However there's something about this Israeli singer that caught my ear. I had no idea who Harel Skaat was until I heard him perform at Eurovision 2010. And while I'm not familiar with all of his music, I'd like to share a couple of the tracks that I've been enjoying so far.


The song Milim (Words) was the song Israel chose to go with at last year's Eurovision contest. A beautiful number and a good choice in my opinion. I've heard versions of the song in French and English but I'm going with the Hebrew (which I assume to be the original) because for me it's the most touching of the three. Check out the others and let me know what you think. Also please correct me if I'm wrong about the language in this video, but mostly, as always, I hope you enjoy the music.




And speaking of Israeli music, India Arie is collaborating with Idan Raichel on her forthcoming album Open Door and I've been waiting impatiently for it since late Spring/early summer 2010, but does anyone know when the record is set to drop? 

Friday, June 3, 2011

Aviary Revolution


No more dark thoughts of dread
Like thunder pounding in my head.

No more long nights lying awake
In fear of the searching light of daybreak.

No more of the excuses that I once wore
Like dirty bandages over putrid sores.

No more cringing at the stares I've borne
From soulless children of the corn.

Content no more with the crusts of bread
That keep me little more than dead.

No more! I say. Nay, I cry!
While from mountain peaks that touch the sky
My soul, unfettered from the earth,
Takes wing and soars amidst the mirth
Of freedom's wind and bliss' rain
Far from the dying echoes of pain.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

China Doll Lover



You don't have to hold my hand in public;
I can cross the street on my own.
And you don't always have to keep an eye on me
Because as you can see I am full grown.

I don't need constant reassurances
To help me sleep at night.
And I certainly won't ask for careless whispers
To tell me that we're alright.

It's just because when it comes to us
I am not held down by anxiety.
I choose to trust the guiding Hand
That moves our destiny.

So all I ask is that you see me
As more than just a catch; 
I am more than just a prize or shiny trophy
You must keep safe with key and latch.

Though fragile at times, I am also strong-
 I can fight just as hard as you.
Don't forget that you are built of mortal clay
And sometimes you need protecting too.


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Letter from the Cocoon (The Admiral's Letter)


An enigma.

That's what you are:
A bristling, boiling, churning mass of contradictions,
Sending mixed signals
That leave me confused,
Perplexed, just a little distressed.

Your shifting polarity
Attracts me,
Draws me into you,
Makes me want to hold
And be held by you,
Then sends me hurtling away,
Flying from you at light speed-
Pulling me in and pushing me away
In the same movement
So that I'm...

Breathless.
When I'm near you
The sound of your voice
Makes my heart skip a beat.
Your eyes,
Set my cheeks aflame
In a cherry-chocolate flush.

I'm giddy-headed
Like a lad of twelve,
Losing the feigned maturity
Of this Twenty-something shell.
The walls I've built to shield myself
Seem to melt away
And all of a sudden I want to throw caution aside
And run to you.


Looking at my past,
Some might say
I don't deserve you.

Or that you're not good enough-
I mean, you have been around a bit-
But despite their snooty looks,
Their boo-hooing
And naysaying
There are some things I'm certain of:

You anchor me.
You ground me.
And while I know I could live
A life of
Perfect contentment without you,
I also know that you help complete me.


I want us to live in perfect symbiosis,
Harmonious trophobiosis,
Catalysing each other's metamorphosis.

I want to help you grow;
I want to see you flourish at my side.
You are my monarch;
I fly beside you.
And with all the things you do to me,
For me,
With me,
You make me strive for better.

...I just thought you should know.

Sincerely,

Your Admiral