Ok, so someone chooses to go to my website and chooses not to read what is at the top of the page, the item I had actually pointed people to with a notice on FaceBook. This someone chooses to search my website and finds a poem. He reads the poem and it pisses him off. Which is really okay.
Sometimes, poetry SHOULD piss you off.
But, next thing I know, I get email from this person who is ranting and raving about my poetry and how it upset his day. "To that, I say YAY! The poem you read was intended to upset your day and the days of many people." (I also offer the suggestion that maybe you should not play seek and find on any poet's website if you are so emotionally delicate that the words of a mere poet could ruin your mood and your day. I mean, cripes, get a life.)
Art is not supposed to make you feel all comfy cozy, warm and gooey inside all the damned time. Art is supposed to get under your skin and make you fucking THINK. If art that makes you think pisses you off, maybe you would be happier looking at pictures of playful kittens and reading Hallmark cards. Notice I did not say you would be better off. There is a difference between nice and good, people. If that is the only lesson I teach my child, I will have done pretty well. There is also a huge difference between comfort and truth. If I manage to teach her that too, I will consider myself an exceedingly successful parent.
I hope the person who felt the need to actually tell me my little poem had wrecked his day learns two things from this experience. First off, if you are too wimpy to play in my ballgame, don't come in my yard. Secondly, if you do come into my yard, your crap is fair game for writing material.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dream Sequence, September 28, 2011
Dream Sequence, September 28, 2011
by Stephanie Mesler
Crashing through darkness,
pinprick lights in peripheral view.
Leafless, lifeless trees folding in submission
to rain pelting your head,
gale wind blowing, frantic.
It is following you,
nameless it, your nightmare nemesis.
You would run, if you could,
like Uncle Johnny’s old dog, Jeb, chasing dream rabbits.
You would run far away and fast,
out of these woods,
out of your sleep,
away from your life
chasing you now with phantasmic tenacity.
It grows larger as you speed.
It pants at your back.
one bony hand scraping your spine.
You are almost awake now,
aware of your lover’s hand on your shoulder,
calling you up
and out
away from It.
Sleep holds you
bound but not gagged.
Tears flood your cheeks.
You talk to it,
telling it NO in a long ago voice
(little girl who really means NO
even though no is never no when grown-up men want yes).
It reaches across the chasm,
sleep to waking,
grasps your collar,
pulls you away from the edge
deep into swamp.
Quicksand up to the small of your back,
pink nightgown floating.
Tentacled it tugs at your toes,
clasps your fingers.
It will end now with lungs full of slime,
in the shade of mangroves,
surrounded by bones of those who ran ahead.
Down,
murky down,
muddy down.
Cold
and silent,
dormant,
down.
by Stephanie Mesler
Crashing through darkness,
pinprick lights in peripheral view.
Leafless, lifeless trees folding in submission
to rain pelting your head,
gale wind blowing, frantic.
It is following you,
nameless it, your nightmare nemesis.
You would run, if you could,
like Uncle Johnny’s old dog, Jeb, chasing dream rabbits.
You would run far away and fast,
out of these woods,
out of your sleep,
away from your life
chasing you now with phantasmic tenacity.
It grows larger as you speed.
It pants at your back.
one bony hand scraping your spine.
You are almost awake now,
aware of your lover’s hand on your shoulder,
calling you up
and out
away from It.
Sleep holds you
bound but not gagged.
Tears flood your cheeks.
You talk to it,
telling it NO in a long ago voice
(little girl who really means NO
even though no is never no when grown-up men want yes).
It reaches across the chasm,
sleep to waking,
grasps your collar,
pulls you away from the edge
deep into swamp.
Quicksand up to the small of your back,
pink nightgown floating.
Tentacled it tugs at your toes,
clasps your fingers.
It will end now with lungs full of slime,
in the shade of mangroves,
surrounded by bones of those who ran ahead.
Down,
murky down,
muddy down.
Cold
and silent,
dormant,
down.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Second Life Samhain Festival
Please note that my schedule for the Samhain Fest has changed and I will be reading at 5 PM SLT instead of 7. Corrected by Steph on 9-29-2011
Waterfall Meditation
Waterfall Meditation
by Stephanie Mesler
by Stephanie Mesler
Thank you for joining us tonight for this guided meditation with music.
I will be leading the meditation in voice and music will be playing. Please adjust your settings so that you can hear both voice and music.
The script for the meditation will also be running in local chat, so that you can read along if you like.
Enjoy the music and allow yourself to relax as we prepare to begin the guided meditation.
Be sure you are in a comfortable place and position in your solid world. We will begin the guided meditation in a few moments.
Let’s begin by taking a few deep breaths. Inhale slowly and smoothly; hold the breath for a few seconds; then exhale, blowing the air out with a whoosh.
Focus on how it feels as the air enters your body. How does it feel passing through your mouth and don your throat?
Your abdomen should expand as you inhale, like a balloon being filled with air.
And, as you exhale, the balloon should slowly deflate.
Inhale again to a count of four - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Continue breathing in this fashion as we let the music wash over us. As you breathe deeply, allow your body to begin to relax.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
By now, you should feel your heart rate slowing and your muscles unkinking. Just breathing deeply can go a long way toward relieving any stress you are carrying with you.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Now, let’s intentionally relax our bodies. Starting at the top of your head, imagine that someone with just the right touch --
neither too light nor more forceful -- is starting to give you a gentle massage.
Fingers caress your scalp and move down the back of your head to your neck.
While we are focused on your neck, tilt your head back as far as you can. Then, slowly tilt it forward til your chin touches your chest.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Feel firm hands rubbing your shoulders. You can tense and relax your shoulders several times to achieve relaxation there.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Hands slide down your spine slowly, pressing in slightly.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Tense and relax the muscles in your buttocks, as you imagine this expert masseuse firmly massaging them.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Feel her hands grasping the muscles in your thighs and moving over your knees down to your calves.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Stretch out your legs and point your toes. Hold that position a moment before relaxing.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Your feet are rubbed firmly for a few moments as you continue to breathe smoothly and slowly.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Now, you should be feeling physically relaxed and, hopefully, your mind has become a blank tablet on which we can paint the images of the guided meditation.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
It is a sunny day and you are walking along a trail in a forest.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You are not entirely sure where you are. You know only that you are headed west, away from the rising sun.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
On either side of the trail, there are tall trees, odiferous pines and shady oaks.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Pine needles and moss cover the forest floor. You can see only a few feet into the thick woods. There are centuries worth of fallen limbs on the ground.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
The path itself is a dark dirt. It is lined with tiny wild flowers of orange and purple and white.
Their scent wafts up from the ever damp ground.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You carry a light pack on your back and a bedroll.
A water bottle, a chocolate bar, binoculars, and a small camera occupy the space in your fanny pack.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
As you walk you can hear birds fluttering and, from time to time, singing in the forest.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
If you look straight up, you can see clear, blue sky cutting a line between the trees on either side of the trail.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
There are large birds soaring in the sky way above the forest. From this distance, they look like turkey vultures. Their wingspans are broad and they appear to float effortlessly above.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
There are crawling critters in the forest too. Sometimes, you hear their mews and purrs in the dark.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
The sounds of creatures moving around you fill your mind. You imagine you can hear animals deep in the woods.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
After a while of walking, breathing in rhythm with your steps, you hear something new. Is it rain?
You look straight up and the sky is still blue.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
As you continue moving forward, the sound becomes clearer.
It is definitely water, something louder than a rainstorm.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Now, you look ahead on the trail and see blue in front of you.
Not too far ahead, the forest will clear.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Your pace quickens as anticipation increases. What lies ahead?
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
As you walk onward toward the blue sky, the sound of water grows louder.
You recognize what you are hearing now, a waterfall.
You realize you must have walked farther than you planned. You have made it to the river.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
As the trail ends, you walk out of the forest into an open field. It is not wide, only a few yards.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
High grass brushes against your legs as you move across the field.
You can see now that the birds you saw were not vultures but eagles.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You reach the other side of the field and stop short.
You are standing on a rocky precipice that juts out over the river, which flows 30 feet below you.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
To the south the river widens enough to accommodate large boats.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
To the north, your right, about 100 yards from where you stand, the river is at ground level with you.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
It cascades over rocks, much like those on which you stand, forming a magnificent waterfall, before flowing on southward.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You walk closer to the fall.
As you do, a flock of geese rise from the field, clearing the path for you to pass.
You hear them honk as they depart.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You are as close to the water fall as you can safely go.
You feel its mist on your bare face and arms.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You have not had lunch and the afternoon sun has grown long.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
You spread a blanket out on the ground just far enough from the waterfall to stay dry.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
There, you feast on goodies you have packed for yourself.
You have included all of your favorites.
Enjoy this private feast.
Then, sit quietly in the afternoon sun and take in all the sights and sounds that surround you here.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
What do you see? The river flowing over the side of the land on which you stand.
Blue sky with fluffy clouds.
Soft grass bending in the breeze.
Birds passing over head and landing near the water’s edge.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
What sounds do you hear?
Rushing water.
Wind.
Birdsong.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Take your time here to enjoy the quiet solitude.
While you are here, know that you are part of all you see, one with nature, a part of a wholeness too great to contemplate.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Continue breathing, now, slowly and smoothly.
Let the sounds of the water and wind embrace you.
Rest a while, knowing there is no perfect way to meditate.
Let your mind go where it will. Let sleep take you, if it must.
(Pause for as long as feels right and good.)
Realizing that the sun is now setting across the river, beyond distant mountains, you reach into your pack for your camera.
Inhale - 2 - 3 - 4; hold the breath; and then exhale - 2 - 3 - 4
Snap pictures of this beautiful scene and save them so that you can remember this place and this time always.
Take one last deep breath now. Inhale slowly; hold it; and blow it out with a whoosh.
You may stay here, enjoying the music for as long as you like. Or you may choose now to return to your regularly scheduled life.
Either way, I thank you for joining us tonight for this guided meditation.. Please watch the Second Life Events Guide and notices from Freda’s Place for future events.
In just a moment, I will send out invitations to join Freda’s Place. If you are so inclined, please do so.
This is the easiest way to stay in touch with me in second life and to know of events happening here.
Feel free to visit me in the solid world at http://apoetsprogrogress.blogspot.com/
Also please know that you are invited to explore and enjoy the region as you wish. UUtopia has four sims all of which are open to the public.
Anything on the ground or in the water is there for your use. Also anything in the sky and connected to the ground by the tp pads you will find all over the region.
The one on this platform is the brown disc on the floor. Click on it for a menu of travel options.
Not all TP pads in the region, access all locations in the region. You may want to click a few and see where they take you.
Again, thank you for being here. Have a great time today and please come back again.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
SL Boofest 2011
Next Sunday at 4:30 PM SLT (which is Pacific time), I will be presenting a new horror story, tentatively titled, "A Diva Scorned." at the festival mentioned here.http://storyfestsl2011.blogspo
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Willow and Ivy
Gnarled and bending, Willow weeps
a chill and whining wind sweeps
up lane. On foot, beggars creep,
hoping sweet rewards to reap.
Beside them in this shadow time,
as carillon night time's seven chimes,
before full sunset’s in it’s prime,
Ivy up a stone wall climbs
They do not hear the night time fall
or hearken to maternal calls.
Through alleys pitch and drear they crawl,
beguiled, in sweetness’ sticky thrall.
A moon ascends the midnight blue.
Willow moans right on cue.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys come for you and you.”
“Tiptoe home, urchin scamps:
mummies, witches, goblins, vamps!
Pull your blinds and light your lamps!
Risen bones sleepers clamp.”
Heed they not these warning words.
See they not scavenger birds,
gathered near in waiting herds,
soon to sup on beggars' curds.
Belief in immortality
erases elders' clarity.
Impish youth can never see
in the end all pay the fee.
From demon bogeys of the sky
beggars cannot buy a by.
Willow cries and Ivy sighs
"Urchins, homeward safely hie!"
A moon crowns the midnight blue.
Willow moans right on through.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys come for you and you.”
As carillon sounds eleven bongs,
beggars hear a bogey song.
Candy lust led them wrong,
held them in the night too long.
To their beds, now, they run,
hoping bogeys cannot cun
the paths they choose one by one,
denying risen bones their fun.
Beggars' selves and sweets secure,
in their homes, safe and sure.
From quilted safety can endure
bogeys seductive night time lure.
A moon descends the midnight blue.
Willow's moans terror renew.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys come for you and you.”
As carillon dawn's seven chimes,
Beggars vanish for all time.
Mothers wale and losses pine,
their children succumbed to bogeys' rhymes.
Gnarled and bending, Willow weeps
a chill and whining wind sweeps
up lane. Ghostly children silent creep,
their mothers' broken hearts to reap.
A sun ascends the mourning blue.
Willow's silent, no warnings due.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys came for you and you.”
a chill and whining wind sweeps
up lane. On foot, beggars creep,
hoping sweet rewards to reap.
Beside them in this shadow time,
as carillon night time's seven chimes,
before full sunset’s in it’s prime,
Ivy up a stone wall climbs
They do not hear the night time fall
or hearken to maternal calls.
Through alleys pitch and drear they crawl,
beguiled, in sweetness’ sticky thrall.
A moon ascends the midnight blue.
Willow moans right on cue.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys come for you and you.”
“Tiptoe home, urchin scamps:
mummies, witches, goblins, vamps!
Pull your blinds and light your lamps!
Risen bones sleepers clamp.”
Heed they not these warning words.
See they not scavenger birds,
gathered near in waiting herds,
soon to sup on beggars' curds.
Belief in immortality
erases elders' clarity.
Impish youth can never see
in the end all pay the fee.
From demon bogeys of the sky
beggars cannot buy a by.
Willow cries and Ivy sighs
"Urchins, homeward safely hie!"
A moon crowns the midnight blue.
Willow moans right on through.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys come for you and you.”
As carillon sounds eleven bongs,
beggars hear a bogey song.
Candy lust led them wrong,
held them in the night too long.
To their beds, now, they run,
hoping bogeys cannot cun
the paths they choose one by one,
denying risen bones their fun.
Beggars' selves and sweets secure,
in their homes, safe and sure.
From quilted safety can endure
bogeys seductive night time lure.
A moon descends the midnight blue.
Willow's moans terror renew.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys come for you and you.”
As carillon dawn's seven chimes,
Beggars vanish for all time.
Mothers wale and losses pine,
their children succumbed to bogeys' rhymes.
Gnarled and bending, Willow weeps
a chill and whining wind sweeps
up lane. Ghostly children silent creep,
their mothers' broken hearts to reap.
A sun ascends the mourning blue.
Willow's silent, no warnings due.
Scaling Ivy whispers too,
“The bogeys came for you and you.”
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