There once was an artist, Bohemian,
Who thought himself quite the comedian.
Peers thought he lacked heart,
& didn't suffer for his art,
But they suffered the farts of that Bohemian comedian.
Bohemian Limerick
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Brittle Metal Kettle [Lyric Poem]
What a brittle metal
That poor, old forge did make.
He made a little kettle,
But about the spout did break.
And water spilled on fire,
And clouds of steam did rise,
And I felt I must inquire
If he'd felt it was wise
To settle for a kettle
Made of such brittle metal?
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“Strong” [Poetry Style #8] by Sikong Tu [w/ Audio]
Walk with a mind that's clear and unburdened,
With life force that flares -n- flows like rainbows,
Traversing the witch's gorge through the mountains --
Among the floating clouds and blowing winds.
Drink up the spiritual; dine on the real;
Let them ever build up in your body.
Emulate the health and might of the gods,
Preserve your energy through harmony.
Be one with Heaven, be one with the Earth.
See in yourself divine transformations.
Know all this to the utmost -- be all this,
And hold on to it 'til the bitter end.
NOTE: The late Tang Dynasty poet, Sikong Tu (a.k.a. Ssŭ-k‘ung T‘u,) wrote an ars poetica entitled Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry. It presents twenty-four poems that are each in a different tone, reflecting varied concepts from Taoist philosophy and aesthetics. Above is a translation of the eighth of the twenty-four poems.
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BOOKS: “Captain America: Winter Soldier, Vol. 1” by Ed Brubaker
Captain America: Winter Soldier, Vol. 1 by Ed BrubakerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
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This is a tale of cloak and dagger intrigue, modern-day intrigue rooted in post-Cold War intrigue rooted in Cold War intrigue rooted in Second World War intrigue. It’s intrigue all the way down, and the book uses flashbacks to gradually fill in the reader on the necessary background.
I liked that Brubaker shows us a Captain America that’s a bit beaten down and jaded. Not beaten down in the physical sense, but in the sense of not being able to maintain his preternatural positivity and virtue in the face of all he’s seen and been through. It makes for a more interesting and textured Captain America.
In issue one of this seven issue collection, the Red Skull is found dead, and the bulk of the remainder of the book is a detective story of political intrigue. [Except the final issue which wraps up a secondary plot point from an earlier issue by telling us the tale of Jack Monroe. Which shows us a darker, grittier side of super-soldiery.]
I enjoyed reading this volume. It was a compelling story arc with plenty of action but also a bit of mystery. If you’re a Marvel comics reader, it’s must-read.
View all my reviews
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“The Hayloft” by Robert Louis Stevenson [w/ Audio]
Through all the pleasant meadow-side
The grass grew shoulder-high,
Till the shining scythes went far and wide
And cut it down to dry.
These green and sweetly smelling crops
They led in wagons home;
And they piled them here in mountain tops
For mountaineers to roam.
Here is Mount Clear, Mount Rusty-Nail,
Mount Eagle and Mount High --
The mice that in these mountains dwell,
No happier are than I!
O what a joy to clamber there,
O what a place for play,
With the sweet, the dim, the dusty air,
The happy hills of hay!
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Mountain Forest [Haiku]
a cave-like forest:
then valley and sun align,
and one ‘s outside-in.
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DAILY PHOTO: Covered Bridge, Pai
Fishing by Feel [Haiku]
After the Rain [Haiku]
streets are glistening,
and trees are dripping on the
riverside shrine's roof.
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Rough & Tumble [Lyric Poem]
Oh, no, no! Don’t you get your gun.
It’s not that kind of wicked fun.
It’s just that rough and tumble stuff
Where one can say, “Enough ‘s enough!”
And go your separate ways, knowing
That the fight is still ongoing,
And it’ll never really be done
‘Cause it’d never truly begun.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 