of marble towers and Albany rain....

this is where we meet in castled dreams of billionaires that had visions of all that could be best and bright and fair
here am I in the humble confines and listening to the soft rain above me, warm rain and welcome, like your smile
as I imagine your kisses to be, soft and fine and shoring me
where I feel I'll fail
and those eyes such pleasure I find in them even though in memory of a thousand competing thoughts of hungry business alluding me and pulling from their simple fire
what a surprise to find you here so far from what I know
it is what was meant for this day
assuredly
I want to build from you as you, in your way,
constructed me
by your nonchalance
made me feel bigger than I am
a monument
a statue
edified
but not for me, for who we could be
if only if only
perfect here
and now
in simple rain
a monument to you and your crooked, delightful smile
I see you affixed easily in memory

~~~ or ~~~

"Llama Roja"

llama roja
los incendios tienden a mí seducir por la noche
incluso en la distancia
más allá de las oscuras colinas y hierba seca, que es abundante aquí
eres como una estrella en el horizonte
sentado tan bien en el firmamento de color púrpura

sus ojos son de un rico topacio
y no hay nada carente de sus pensamientos
tu sonrisa me enriquece
como una madre que hará un día
y su mano regordeta se agarra a que el pelo liso de los suyos
como usted lo lleva a través del campo para jugar

su sonrisa se dobla
pero sólo aumenta mi deseo para ti
Quiero envolverá y te tengo cerca
Quiero oír que usted ríe nerviosamente con deleite mientras mi más profundo deseo es complacerte
una y otra vez
hasta que la llama se incrementa
y estoy satisfecho

~~~ as ~~~

"The Red Flame"

red flame
the fires tend to allure me at night
even in the distance
beyond the dark hills and dry grass that is abundant here
you are like a star on the horizon
seated so well in the purple firmament

your eyes are of a rich topaz
and there is nothing lacking in your thoughts
your smile enriches me
like a mother that you will become one day
and his chubby hand will grab at that straight hair of yours
as you carry him across the field to play

your smile is bent
but it only increases my desire for you
I want to envelop you and hold you near
I want to hear you giggle in delight as I my deepest desire is to please you
over and over again
until your flame increases
and I am satisfied

...Writing? Songs Sublime Regarding Alcoholism...10july14...

Listen to all as a YouTube playlist or individually below....


Neil Diamond - Red Red Wine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeJ55sUacPM

Sia - Chandelier - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DS-h67qEiY

The Streets - Blinded By the Light - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik0f_WUg5M0

Modest Mouse - The Good Times Are Killing Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL1cRSRUUZQ

Blink 182 - Man Overboard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u38TqU5rAyk&feature=kp

Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2Cg3ArHJ8

Webb Pierce - There Stands the Glass - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5YEHNGB0rA

Henry Mancini/Andy Williams - Days of Wine and Roses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB0GkgHpJLY

Frank Sinatra - Drinking Again - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeZfl45GHvo

Eagles - Tequila Sunrise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKLucjUmJN0

Elbow - Powder Blue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u15JygmXM8


Rehab - Sittin' at the Bar - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_0pw-LeloU

Sublime - What Happened - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV3fYlhRBwI

Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-I2s5zRbHg

Johnny Cash - Hurt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aF9AJm0RFc

...America...the Excerpts of Phillis Wheatley and Jupiter Hammon...04jul14...

Contemplating early African American poets of the Revolutionary Age this Fourth of July

Phillis Wheatley's "On Imagination" (1767~73) Excerpts - Full Text Here

"Thy various works, imperial queen, we see,
How bright their forms! how deck'd with pomp by thee!
Thy wond'rous acts in beauteous order stand,
And all attest how potent is thine hand.

From star to star the mental optics rove,
Measure the skies, and range the realms above.
There in one view we grasp the mighty whole,
Or with new worlds amaze th' unbounded soul.

Though Winter frowns to Fancy's raptur'd eyes
The fields may flourish, and gay scenes arise;
The frozen deeps may break their iron bands,
And bid their waters murmur o'er the sands.

Before thy throne the subject-passions bow,
Of subject-passions sov'reign ruler Thou,
At thy command joy rushes on the heart,
And through the glowing veins the spirits dart."

Jupiter Hammon's "An Address to Ms. Phillis Wheatley" (1778) 
Excerpts - Full Text Here

"O, come you pious youth: adore
The wisdom of thy God.
In bringing thee from distant shore,
To learn His holy word.

While thousands tossed by the sea,
And others settled down,
God's tender mercy set thee free,
From dangers still unknown.

Come you, Phillis, now aspire,
And seek the living God,
So step by step thou mayst go higher,
Till perfect in the word.

The humble soul shall fly to God,
And leave the things of time,
Start forth as 'twere at the first word,
To taste things more divine."

Journey of a Slave 1863 - Library of Congress

...Bargain Books Bookmarks...24jun14...

Hamilton Books - the website isn't going to ignite your passions for collecting, but sign up for their periodic catalog.  I find a lot of my military history and graphic novels from Hamilton.

Barnes & Noble Bargain - rarely do I hit the full retail tagged sections than I wander the offerings of the remainder section.  Some are online, and if it is not readily available, they will ship store to store for free and put it on hold for ya.

http://bookoutlet.com/ - haven't him them directly yet, but they do have a lot of children's books on sale.

Scholastic Sales - their book sales have been around since I was a tyke, by my reckoning, nigh on a hundred years ago.  Great books, some are special runs just for Scholastic, so they are sometimes cheaper than other retail.

Amazon Sale - when I absolutely am missing something, this is my go to site naturally.

Ebay

The Works (UK) - some books can only be found across the pond.

HA Auctions - the inventory changes constantly, but if you are an aficionado...as is:
Abe Books - ditto as above

Library of Congress Preservation - some helpful tips on how you store.  I'm awful.  I need to get better at it.

Anaheim Public Library - support your local library and buy remainder books there - you improve the situation for the ailing library and build up your own.

Bedros Tourian "What Are You, Love?" (~1860)

A tragic life of Bedros Tourian, born in poverty and died of tuberculous at 21, his poems are a testament to his passions and unrequited loves.  (Some of his poetry available on Amazon for Kindle.)

WHAT are you, love? A flame from heaven?     Ինչ դուք, սեր? A բոց երկնքից.
A radiant smile are you?                                   Դուք պայծառ ժպիտը.
The heaven has not your eyes’ bright gleams,     Երկինք չունի ձեր աչքերը 'վառ վառած լույսերով,
The heaven has not their blue.                            Երկինք չունի իր կապույտ.

The rose has not your snowy breast;                  Վարդի չունի ձեր ձնառատ կրծքի;
In the moon’s face we seek                               Լուսնի դեմքը, մենք ձգտում
In vain the rosy flush that dyes                           Իզուր վարդագույն լցվել է ներկերի
Your soft and blushing cheek.                            Ձեր փափուկ եւ տաքացման դեմքը

By night you smile upon the stars,                       Գիշերով ժպտալ վրա աստղերի,
And on the amorous moon,                               Իսկ սիրող լուսնի,
By day upon the waves, the flowers —              Օր հետո ալիքների, ծաղիկները -
Why not on one alone?                                      Ինչու մեկի վրա մենակ.

But, though I pray to you with tears,                   Բայց, չնայած ես աղոթում եմ ձեզ արցունքով,
With tears and bitter sighs,                                 Արցունքով ու դառը խնդիր
You will not deign me yet one glance                  Դուք չեք բարեհաճել ինձ դեռ մեկ հայացք
Cast by your shining eyes.                                  Դերերում ձեր փայլուն աչքերը.

Gohar Gasparyan

O love, are you a mortal maid,                           O սեր, դու մի մահկանացու աղախին,
Or angel formed of light?                                   Կամ հրեշտակ ձեւավորվել լույսի.
The spring rose and the radiant moon                 գարնան վարդ ու պայծառ լուսին
Envy your beauty bright;                                    Նախանձում ձեր գեղեցկությունը վառ.

And when your sweet and thrilling voice             Եվ երբ քո քաղցր եւ հուզիչ ձայն
Is heard upon the air,                                         Լսում են օդում,
In cypress depths the nightingale                       Ի նոճի խորությունների սոխակ
Is silent in despair.                                             Լռում հուսահատ.

Would I, a zephyr, might caress                         Ցանկանում եմ, որ հզոր քամի, կարող է շոյել
Your bright brow’s dreams in sleep,                   Ձեր պայծառ ունք ի երազներ է քնելու,
Breathe gently on your lips, and dry                   Շնչել նրբորեն ձեր շուրթերին, եւ չոր
Your tears, if you should weep!                         Ձեր արցունքները, եթե դուք պետք է լաց լինել.

Or would that in your garden fair                       Կամ էլ, որ ձեր պարտեզի տոնավաճառին
A weeping rose I grew;                                     լալիս վարդ ես մեծացել.
And when you came resplendent there               Եվ երբ դուք գալիս փայլուն են
At morning with the dew,                                   Ին առավոտյան Ցողի,

Example of Armenian Calligraphy

I’d give fresh color to your cheek                      Ես կցանկանայի, որ նոր գույն ձեր անամոթություն
That makes the rose look pale,                          Դա ստիպում է վարդերի նայում գունատ,
Shed on your breast my dew, and there             Թափել ձեր կուրծքը իմ ցող, եւ այնտեղ
My latest breath exhale.                                    Իմ վերջին շունչ ցնդել.

Oh, would I were a limpid brook!                     որ ես մի թափանցիկ հոսք.
If softly you drew nigh,                                     Եթե ​​մեղմ դուք մօտեցաւ,
And smiled into my mirror clear,                       Եւ ժպտաց իմ հայելին պարզ է,
My blue waves would run dry.                          Իմ կապույտ ալիքների վազում չոր.

Oh, would I were a sunbeam bright,                  որ ես մի Արեւի լույսը վառ,
To make you seem more fair,                            Որպեսզի դուք, կարծես, ավելի արդար,
Touching your face, and dying soon                  Անդրադառնալով ձեր դեմքը, եւ ներկում շուտով
Amid your fragrant hair!                                   Պայմաններում քո անուշահոտ մազերով.

But, if you love another,                                   Սակայն, եթե դուք սիրեք միմյանց,
His gravestone may I be!                                  Նրա տապանաքար կարող եմ լինել.
Then you would linger near me,                        Ապա դուք պետք է դանդաղել մոտ է ինձ,
Your tears would fall on me ;                           Ձեր արցունքները կընկներ ինձ վրա.

Your sighs would wander o’er me,                  Ձեր շունչը չէր թափառել է ինձ,
Sighs for his early doom.                                 գալիս իր վաղ մահվան.
To touch you, O beloved,                               Դիպչել քեզ, ով սիրելի,
I must become a tomb!                                   Ես պետք է դառնա գերեզմանը.

Bedros Tourian Grave

...Kickstarter Reading Rainbow...Call to Give...

Not that it's 'new' news, but LeVar Burton is attempting to raise 5 million dollars to bring back Reading Rainbow. The obvious, wondrous thing about Reading Rainbow is that it encourages children not only read, but to interact with books, and most importantly, share those stories. For me, as a child, it was a utopia of what the experience of being a reader is like.  We tell stories, we share stories, we live stories.  And, LeVar was the perfect host and his love of books is unquestionable.

Refreshing looking back, it is odd to have a world where children's television was apolitical.  There was a shield of sorts that allowed kids to enjoy and consume without the harangue of adults and their agenda, whatever that may be.  These were great stories, pure and simple and without the adornment of fashion and opinion.  It'll be interesting to see how LeVar can navigate in today's highly (overly) politicized environment.

There was also a learning experience in the format of RR.  They had lessons and values and trips to places you may not know about.

Sadly, despite it being on youtube for a year, the amount of hits is anemic.  It's hard to compete with drivel and sensationalism, then taking a moment, taking a breath, taking a break and opening a book.

http://www.readingrainbow.com/ 

...Literary Devices You Can Still Get Today for Dear Old Dad...

My father is dead. Oh, it's ok: it will be seven years this September. It doesn't mean that I don't think what I would have bought the man for Father's Day.  Much like muscle memory, Christmas and Father's Day come up and those deep-rooted instincts kicks in. I simply give him a kind thought and visualize what I would have got him.

As a child of the Depression, Dad didn't need much. Point of fact: he actually despised if I got anything that didn't hold some intrinsic value. It would have been a 'waste'. As a discerning young child, I did get it after some years, learning to dig deep into the myelin for an answer. A Walt Whitman book. Premium steaks. A Nintendo DS. [Of all things, a Nintendo DS did the trick. It felt right getting it despite his inclinations. Hooked him up with a classic arcade cartridge and he used that thing for years.]

Anyhoo, Father's Day is coming up and men are known to like literary things. That's what the catalogs tell me as they arrive. I guess I like coin collecting, bric-a-brac, military history, soft-core porn, and literary goods. Granted, they are right - those emotionless analytical machines doing what they were designed to do.

1. Manual Typewriter - Amazon - about $140 - there's nothing like the tapping noise of a typewriter, so much different then the flat spring dullness of the modern keyboard.  Listen to your Dad type his manifesto in style.

2. Casio Calculator Watch - Amazon - about $16 - still nothing cooler than where form and function collide in some serious hardware that you wear on your risk.  He'll be a true "player", whilst at the tennis or the courtroom.

3. Vintage Book Cover Posters - All Posters - various prices - easy-peasy and oh so cheap.  All men love a good poster.

4. Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions - buy 1 get 1 at $10 - these editions are an easy buy and I have several myself.  They feel good, smell good and look awfully great next to the heaving naked body of a beautiful Swede.


5. Non Firing Historical Replica Gun - starts at $65 - follow all of your literary heroes, as most hunted for sport or killed a person or two.  No kidding, read their biographies.  Either a way, a man of a certain type will adore these absolutely non-firing historical guns.  They just look great next to the typewriter and a bottle of Jack.

6. Bottle of Jack - various - Kei$ha approved.

7. The TWSBI 580 at Goulet Pens - $70 - for those distinguishing fellows that need a solid writing instrument that uses ink...mysterious and dark.

8. Farber Nude Books - beautiful studies of the nude body, you know, the female nude body.  The one that counts.

9. Classic Cufflinks (or Tie Bars) - simply classy

10. Handwritten Chinese Calligraphy - one of a kind

11. Antique Unused Journal

12. Used Antique Journal - it is rather fascinating

13. Small Marble Statue of the Three Graces - silky silky now