artemis53

artemis53: I thank all that thought of myself during the hurricane. I will return tonight to work and hope I can keep it together.

artemis53: Well. I think I'm off my chain after what I composed at 3 in the morning. This one ain't gonna be good for the classicists.

artemis53: Oh, my. I finally got my firworks...Kaboom. This one has been quite an arduous trip.

artemis53: i am exhausted. My Son is searching for flights to see him in Texas before he deploys. I most certainly didn't sign up for this but I'm here and just need to get over it. This is quite a strange world.

artemis53: My youngest Son will be deployed for the 3rd time with an initial MOS to Germanny. I must have been extremely STUPID when I marched against Vietnam and for equal rights for women. Perhaps I was just not reading the fine lines. BTW. He knows this song since I was at high school and drove to Kent when after the shootings the guard would still come to campus.

artemis53: I crossed a boundary today, It's not my personal boundary but one set to limit the scope of my writing. I went into politics (OMG, how could you do that) :-0 I've been around the block a few times and can catch what is in the wind so I put my thoughts down (How dare you) ;o Take it or leave it. It's just an opinion and we are free to voice ours on this site, right???

artemis53: I must resign myself to the fact that I truly cannot win a ribbon no matter how I try. It's just not in the cards and entering a contest is the kiss of death for me. I'm grateful for my writers ribbon and of course for my trophy on my vanity in my bedroom. Was I born too early or much too late? I wonder.

artemis53: I am going to be gone (off the radar) for a few days so forgive me if I don't get back to you immediately. I will answer all when I am back. Sorry for the inconveniece!

artemis53: Nice version and...I'm already gone...

artemis53: Joan was right about the blue eyes. Ask Steve. He also was once more "Tangled up in Blue."

Ask Steve. He was once "tangled up in Blue."

artemis53: Ive always loved this song and know I used it for another poem but that's WAY too tough for me to wander through all of my writings.

artemis53: The other day I put in a question to the forum re: free (form) verse. Julia and Michael were kind enough to give me some insight. Perhaps it's "Just the Season of the Witch" but all that seems to be coming out of me are these streams of consciousness sometimes held together by a single string but I feel it still counts.
I guess I'm still within parameters but don't think I would be contest material. You really should try it. It's fun and I remember being encouraged by Gungalo to go with it!

artemis53:

Can't get over this song from the other night.

artemis53: Just went to the forum re: Michael Cahill's comment on the 5 trophies for poet and don't see what the problem is by bringing it to 10. Is it exclusivity? "Top Ten" is pretty much a standard. Why only top 5 when the inordinate differences between novelists and poets is so obvious?

artemis53: Once upon a time I worked when I pleased.
I guess this would make the ultimate fairy tale.

artemis53: A good morning to all as we gather together on this earth. I am off to the gym and Yoga to start my day. It feels rather good to be back.
NAMASTE

FanStory wrote to artemis53: Congratulations! My Petals of Remembrance won the contest "Valentines Poetry Contest"

artemis53: Way too busy to be putting my time into writing. I'm in the middle of online education along with everything else imaginable!

artemis53: Back to being a critical care nurse again (nights of course). I wasn't around for a month due to some pretty intensive re-training and will be back sporadically. It is completely different after having the years as a Psych nurse in between. Seems I'm always reading something into a situation. On the other hand, it's easier to just brush some things off. OOOhhhh! Valentine song.

artemis53: My last poem is called "Contemplation." This year was not the easiest for me and life seemed to be "slapping me around quite a bit" never quite knowing when the next shoe would drop. I have been blessed with a friend of over 20 years who has seen it all and is a wonderful listener. After the last difficult incident, I finally said to her that I've known worse. She agreed with me. I guess that's what the poem is about. I could only make it through the present times of hell and quite honestly, injustice if I hadn't been through the fires before.

artemis53: Monty Python and the Bridge of Death. To get the most from this piece, please review the first posted Monty Python r/t the "Coconut Scene" excerpt on my poem to both enjoy and understand this very harrowing encounter.

artemis53: "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

artemis53: The 'Leg Lamp'..."A Major Award!"

artemis53: a Christmas Story with the ritual and "nuance"

artemis53: The French taunt of "English Pig Dogs....

artemis53: And as to the government...

artemis53: Throughout the movie the question of a bird being able to carry a coconut is woven through. See if you can see anything in this scene.

artemis53: Take off on "Coconut Scene with Cats." Yes. Stupid but not that bad. Take note that the oatmeal boxes are fashioned into turrets ;)

artemis53: The knights and the shubbery. "Hard economic times...for a 'shrubber."

artemis53: Success!!!!

artemis53: Time to get some joy and laughter in all of the darkness we have seen lately. Sorry! I couldn't edit out the ad.

artemis53: Just great to hear this one again.

artemis53: This one is by Oozer and I think it's terrific!!!!

sans pretence by oozer


"this senryu does not
intend to masquerade as
in-depth masterpiece"

artemis53: Let's not forget!

artemis53: Just had to post this. You forget how beautifully aligned The Beach Boys voices were. I found this one A Capella and it's a stunning example of their precision. I think that Brian Wilson and Mike Love (cousins) are the only one's left. Thing is, Brian kinda left a long time ago.

artemis53: Something to think about...

artemis53: Still so relative today!

artemis53: My Father came from a Catholic, European background being first born generation in the United States. He kept to his chosen faith and never held it against me when I broke away. He was in his last year when Pope John Paul died and we watched much of the television coverage together. When I told him who the new pope was, he shook his head and said "They're being too careful."
That scene came to mind as I was reading this article today. I am very strong in my personal Faith and absolutely believe in the words of this Cardinal. Too bad the bureaucrats in Rome didn't give him the chance.


In final interview, liberal Cardinal says Church '200 years out of date'
"The Church must admit its mistakes and begin a radical change," said Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini two weeks before his death

ROME (Reuters) - The former archbishop of Milan and papal candidate Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini said the Catholic Church as "200 years out of date" in his final interview before his death, published on Saturday.

Martini, once favored by Vatican progressives to succeed Pope John Paul II and a prominent voice in the church until his death at the age of 85 on Friday, gave a scathing portrayal of a pompous and bureaucratic church failing to move with the times.

"Our culture has aged, our churches are big and empty and the church bureaucracy rises up, our rituals and our cassocks are pompous," Martini said in the interview published in Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

"The Church must admit its mistakes and begin a radical change, starting from the pope and the bishops. The pedophilia scandals oblige us to take a journey of transformation," he said in the interview.

In the last decade the Church has been accused of failing to fully address a series of child abuse scandals which have undermined its status as a moral arbiter, though it has paid many millions in compensation settlements worldwide.

Martini, famous for comments that the use of condoms could be acceptable in some cases, told interviewers the Church should open up to new kinds of families or risk losing its flock.

"A woman is abandoned by her husband and finds a new companion to look after her and her children. A second love succeeds. If this family is discriminated against, not just the mother will be cut off but also her children."
In this way "the Church loses the future generation", Martini said in the interview, made a fortnight before he died. The Vatican opposes divorce and forbids contraception in favor of fidelity within marriage and abstinence without.

A liberal voice in the church, Martini's chances of becoming pope were damaged when he revealed he was suffering from a rare form of Parkinson's disease and he retired in 2002.

Pope John Paul II was instead succeeded in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI, a hero of Catholic conservatives who is known by such critical epithets as "God's rottweiler" because of his stern stand on theological issues.

Martini's final message to Pope Benedict was to begin a shake up of the Catholic church without delay.

"The church is 200 years out of date. Why don't we rouse ourselves? Are we afraid?"

Martini was much loved and thousands paid their respects at his coffin in Milan cathedral on Saturday.
The church doesn't need a "rottweiler." They need to open their gates and let the people back in.

artemis53: I am behind on my reviews and will get to them as quickly as I can. Once more, I have painted myself into a corner with my multi-tasking and will have one free day for reviews on Sunday.

artemis53: S saw them in concert and brilliant is not close enough to the word that could be used for their performance. I love this song of looking and knowing there IS someone out there, Just open your mind!

artemis53: Well, "Rhyming" received an "All Time Best." I most certainly wasn't sure of that one. What I really need is a vacation.

artemis53: What a relief to write and put out that poem called "Rhyming." I swear I've been beside my self lately hitting just the right notes and keeping within the framing. It felt so good to just be free and carefree, kinda Southern Style ;)

artemis53: I am a bit upset regarding the reactions to my write, "What God Does Not." As a rule I have ALWAYS let the reader interpret the poem. I've read enough reviews that I could see a pattern appearing in which the readers were setting up battle lines (subtly).
For the first time I put a very clear plea to read the author's notes first. I have set down concrete statements as what the poem is and is not. Remember that many parts of writing are metaphorical and what one sees may not necessarily the correct interpretation.

artemis53: 'Don't cry, don't raise your eye. It's only teenage wasteland!"

artemis53: I can't believe I missed this one.

The children are sitting
At peace on the lawn
While havoc rains down
Before sun brings the dawn.

A country of freedom
Torn clearly apart
For battles still raging
Held deep in each heart

For which one will say
Who's to win or to lose
In this newest of eras
They don the same shoes.

Stand with me Lord for I may stumble and Fall.

artemis53: Just got this from a friend, Red Skelton was a comedian who started in Vaudeville and was one of the few that survived to make it onto TV. He always came up with characters that he would take on during his show and he was very popular with my parent's generation. Since today is Independence Day, I'm posting this because I CAN!

artemis53: I also loved this one in the morning by Joni. The "Ladies of the Canyon" is one of my favorite compositions by her.

artemis53: Woke up this morning and it was beautiful. I've had "Chelsea Morning" going through my head for hours! I do believe that Chelsea Clinton was named after this song but Hillary will have to verify that ;)

artemis53: I have been back and forth between two houses trying to make it through the flood waters to to 'dog sit' for my best friends. I will finish the poem to my parents when I get back to the other computer in an hour (it was inadvertently posted before I was finished with it). I have put off writing on this subject because it is still so painful to me and I loved spending time with them after quite a fiery youth (Am just like my Mother). If you care, I wrote a short story on this site called "Planting Cannas" when I first came here. It is about my Father's last year of life in which I had the privilege of being with Him. Mother held on but was gone a few years after progressing into dementia. I was blessed because she always recognized me up until she passed.

artemis53: I just had to post this remastered version of Grace Slick at Woodstock. Is it exactly like the recorded version? No. Of course she was up all night and probably pretty blown away but never missed a beat or flattened a note that morning.

artemis53: My sister and brother introduced me early on to Peter, Paul and Mary. I was too little and antsy to sit and listen to their songs but learned them flawlessly and we all sang them together in harmony. Years later, this song was written. To this day i think that it's one of the best songs that can ever be played at a wedding. Paul Stookey leads the stage.

artemis53: This is Judy's version. it's all in the voice.

artemis53: This song is very special in my family. Not only did we sing and play it when we were young but it became a part of celebrations from weddings to anniversaries. It sums up a lot about life and we've lost some along the way but, there still here. This is the Beatles version obviously. I am also going to post the version by Judy Collins in her beautiful voice.

artemis53: I knew that posting my last poem about the South in the actual dialect would be controversial. The written word is not the spoken word. I have an acute precision with English if need be and can be as erudite as the next but that is a choice. My piece was written in the thickest of the vernacular that is not used all of the time here. Rather, we have a softer sound to our words than many but can hop right into those thick, yet clipped words whenever the situation warrants. It is about simplicity, courtesy and a well honed respect for consideration that can be found in all small towns within this country.

artemis53: This is a long video but Lynard Skynard has been an amazing band having reformed after many were killed in a plane crash. They gathered members from other bands and found a renewal. One of the lead guitarists was from "The Outlaws" and name was Huey. He lived in my little town and was the neighbor of a close friend and I saw him often at friends or even shopping at the grocery store. this is my favorite song from them.

artemis53: This is the original of Stevie Nicks in concert. Towards the end you can see the guitarist "tear up." My eldest son said this song reminded him of me and how much he loved it. I'm really not that surprised. At his wedding, the song that I chose for our dance was Lynard Skynards "Simple Kind of Man."

artemis53: Now that I'm on the subject of today's women in music I'll say that I love the Dixie Chicks with their purest of harmonies. They are the ONLY one's that can get close to the feelings in Stevie Nicks' "Landslide." This may have an add on it but wait it out. It's well worth it.

artemis53: Tracy Chapman is one of the most deep hearts of music that I've seen come out in the millennium. "Finally the tables are starting to turn...talking about a Revolution." And the line "Crying at those doors of the Army of Salvation." Her songs are deeply rooted in the '60's of change, revolution, hope and despair.

artemis53: This is another version. I recognize many of the picture from my picture library. I will be getting all of those cd's by these women. Phenomenal and humbling!

artemis53: Did some searching on my Mother's side of the family (the crazy Irish side) and found her surname to go back to the earliest areas of Celtic civilization in County Sligo. It made sense since County Mayo is a part of that area and my grandfather's family came from there. seems that the family was pretty powerful (probably a bunch of brigands) and held the County Seat (manor) since ancient times (Sounds like savages to me). The family name was associated with the descendents of a Niall who was supposed to be "One of the nine hostages" (need some clarification here). Niall was the 4th century High King of Ireland so I guess that I'm duly impressed. Got the info from a genealogy site. Even though my Grandfather was born at the turn of the 20th century, he was an impressive height of 6'3" and my Mother was 5'5" when most women were 5"2" at the max so I figure that my ancestors must've been pretty, darned big (and probably ruthless). The family motto is roughly translated into an honor for their land.
I guess that's where I get the warrior princess themes in my poems. This song is So incredible by the Celtic Women of Song and called "The Voice." It's a fantastic presentation.

artemis53: Grace Slick was not the first female singer in Jefferson Airplane but she was the right one. Her voice was powerful and commanded attention...and she got it. This clip is from morning at Woodstock and "Somebody to Love." This one she was out of control with but simmered down into her mystical place by the time it came to do "White Rabbit."

artemis53: This I believe was from "Gaucho" an amazing album by Steely Dan. "Time out of Mind" was a 'driving song' for me. Top down and wind in my hair blasting out the words, my right hand in the air and singing "Tonight we might touch the Dragon." Yep. And that silver DID turn to gold. This isn't the best video but I wanted to hear each precious word.

artemis53: One of my favorite bands was "Steely Dan." I believe I still had everything they made. I've chosen "Babylon Sisters' because it's not as well known as "Deacon Blues. Aja or Katy Lied." There songs always were about missing that one chance, always coming in second place or how do we get ourselves out of this one. their musicians were always flawless!

artemis53: Janis Ian was another one of those strong spirits in the '70's. She put down a different side that wasn't about love. It was about insecurities and societal hierarchies that left many in personal turmoil. This is the best video of this song that I've seen. "At Seventeen" was a touchstone for many.

artemis53: Once more I'll go onto the strong women of music. Joan Baez actually took Bob Dylan under her wing and helped to promote him. "Diamonds and Rust" is one of the most phenomenal 'break-up' songs ever written..."speaking strictly for me we both could've died then and there" speaks volumes. She still lives in California, one of the original "Ladies of the Canyon."

artemis53: This is the full version of what we know is "Find the Cost of Freedom" Which is "Daylight Again". Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young could put gems down that brought you to your knees. Many songs of this type were from the Civil War and different versions can be found to this day.

artemis53: Over 15 years after the fact, I wrote my 6,000 words on the shootings at Kent State University. I also traveled to the campus and could still see the bullet hole in the sculpture outside of Taylor Hall, the College of Architecture. The campus is beautiful with proud sandstone buildings set on rolling hills with sidewalks lined by lilacs. If history is forgotten, this can happen again. The bars on Water street off campus still kept this song on it. I wonder if it's played anymore or even there still.

artemis53: I have this as an illuminated lithograph from the early twentieth century in the original frame with the copyright of 1910 by Doubleday. I'd often read it to my sons but also for myself to keep perspective. It still stands today as far as I'm concerned.

Rudyard Kipling
If

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

artemis53: Though this song was attributed to 'The Sparrow', Judy Collins," it was penned by Sandy Denny from "Fairport Convention." This is her own accoustic version. I'll put up Judy later on.

artemis53: I don't know how many know of Phoebe Snow but just listen to her!

artemis53: always talk about strong women. It's time for me to put down a few ;)

artemis53:

artemis53: I'm just going to put something down here so that the ribbon doesn't keep jumping off of the page at me ;)

FanStory wrote to artemis53: Congratulations! The March winner of the Recognized Writer reward.

artemis53: How do I embed youtube into these spots/ Any takers?

artemis53: An icon that one can always find their soul within. Joni Mitchell.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmzN1p5q2sY

artemis53: I'm Off to work this evening as my 12 hour shift awaits me. Nursing is said to be a 'demanding' profession. For myself, I couldn't have imagined a more fulfilling career.

artemis53: Today was exquisite with a warm, intermittent breeze blowing and the Florida sky a vivid blue. I took my camera and went searching for the architectural personalities of my quaint, southern, antebellum town. The light was on my side and I walked from brick street to brick street allowing the warmth of the sun to caress my shoulders and the glory of those cherished edifices to fill my lens. The day was productive and only reinforced the love of this place that I am privileged to call home.