Monday, October 31, 2005

Scene 5

Hello there everyone. It's been a slow posting month, but it's been a great month of creating. Hence, you get to experience the last 3 weeks of worth all in the past 2 or 3 days. I hope that you're all liking what I'm posting.

Scene 5 from Simon's screenplay "Like Augustine" is also up and posted. Let him know what you think! He needs the hits on his blog and profile, along with the feedback on the movie script!

Peace....

Images and Impressions (an Ode to Gabriel)

Eyes, blue as skies o'er our heads
Hair, golden as wheat 'round our feet
Smile, wide as a river through our fields
Spirit, full as the world about us.

We thank you for your presence.
We love you for your love.
You inhabit our lives as we fill up yours.


APN
Copyright 10/30/2005

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Friday Night at the Toyota Center

I thought long and hard about writing this post. I wondered how I could ever compose a post concerning the concert experience I underwent without sounding like a totally retarded, totally fawning, totally dorky fan. I'm just not sure it's possible. It really isn't. Granted, had this been the 3rd or 4th time I had seen them, things might be different -- I would be able to have a great concert experience, love the songs, compare this show with the last one I'd seen, and been generally a bit more discerning. But not with this show...

I saw U2 in concert Friday night. It was one of the best concerts that I've ever been to, even though our seats were behind the stage in Sections 432 & 433 at the Toyota Center in Houston. It could have been MUCH worse. We could have been in the 400's facing the stage at the FAR FAR other end of the arena. Our seats allowed us a cat-bird type seat right on top of the back of the stage. I really couldn't complain at all. The only thing I could do is to get my OWN seat/place to stand in the Pit/General Admission area for the next time they come through the area. Minor things....

They played nearly every hit possible, within the constraints of time, as they did play for nearly 2 1/2 hours. Bono/Edge/Adam/Larry played 7 out of 11 songs from the new album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" as well as a string of their best songs from their 25 year history. Here are the songs that they did NOT play, but I wish they had. I think that this is better than posting the songs they DID play.

1) "Bad" from "The Unforgettable Fire"
2) "New Year's Day" from "War"
3) "Out of Control" from "Boy"
4) "Gloria" from "October"
5) ANYTHING from "Achtung Baby" (though they did play "One", one of my fave songs of theirs
6) "Stay (Faraway and So Close)" from "Zooropa"
7) "Please" from "Pop"
8) "Wake Up, Dead Man" from "Pop"
9) "Kite" from "All That You Can't Leave Behind"

All said, it was a great night. All 4 men played to the crowd, though few frontmen could ever DREAM to lead a crowd like Bono can. One of my highlights of the night was when he pulled a random woman out from the crowd and slow-danced/cradled her while singing "With or Without You". Beautiful. Simply beautiful.... Other highlights include Edge's solo during "Bullet the Blue Sky" and Joe's reaction when the band burst out with "I Will Follow" about 1/3 into the show. It was great seeing my friend that happy.

I might write more later, but I don't want to seem to silly and ridiculous. Oh well, it was U2 and I am so happy right now. It has been such a great weekend. BTW, in honor of Bono's plea/request, go visit One and look around.

Peace.

Sheol

Swallowed
Enfolded
Darkness followed me
and captured my heart,
my eyes,
my soul,
my life.

Unearthed
Unfurled
Light has come
and brightened my steps,
my thoughts,
my feelings,
myself

Eastward to Nod

I am disobedient,
beyond reproach,
knowing the right,
but doing the wrong.

I am selfish,
without compassion,
pleasing myself,
and forsaking others.

I am resentful,
unable to appreciate
the gifts I'm given,
throwing it all back.

I am forgiven,
impossibly broken,
impressively sinning,
but allowed
yet
another
chance.


APN
Copyright 10/16/2005

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Rilke and I compare notes once again

Reflections on Tragedy

Earth and sky
Height and depth
Destruction and desolation
Salvation and redemption

Though it's all in pieces
Though we do not see you
Though we do not understand you
Though we do not know you

Though it's all in pieces
We thank you for being there
We thank you for being sovereign
We thank you that you do know

Peace you bring (Help thou their loss)
Peace we need (Help thou my unbelief)


APN
Copyright 10/10/2005


Du, der du weist, und weites Wissen

You who know, and whose vast knowing
is born of poverty, abundance of poverty --

make it so the poor are no longer
despised and thrown away.

Look at them standing about --
like wildflowers, which have nowhere else to grow.


Rilke
Book III, 19


Nur numm sie wieder aus der Stadte Schuld

Only retrieve them from the cities' guilt,
where everything for them is anger and confusion,
and wounded patience sucks them dry.

Has the earth, then, no room for them?
Whom does the wind seek? For whom
is the wet glistening of streams?

Is there by the banks
of the pond's deep dreaming
nowhere they can see their faces reflected?

They need only, as a tree does,
a little space in which to grow.


Rilke,
Book III, 29

Contrasts Illumined

Strength in placement
Location
Location
Location
Belonging results from recognizing that
You are longed for and that
You long for a place, any space

Strength in movement
Motion
Motion
Motion
Journeys towards our longing
To the object of our affection
Are promises perpetually being
Fulfilled
Even when we cannot see or feel

Our home
Our path
Paradoxically in tandem
Light them
Please.


APN
Copyright 10/03/2005

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

The Fifth of Trinity

Skies streaked with stars
Darkness crackled with light
You came to life
You came to your family
You came and were welcomed
You are here and are loved
And we wish blessings
Upon you today
For all of your tomorrows


APN
Copyright 10/05/2005

Victorian Garden

Disclaimer:

Forgive me, my dear regular readers, for having morphed my blog recently into a forum for my poetry. I just really feel inspired to write in this vein these days, and, since this IS my blog, I don't feel guilty for posting my work. I just hope that you like what I'm sharing. I do appreciate all of your comments.


I think about what's important
And I come to realize
That everyone is.

Everyone.

I wonder about what's essential
And I come to realize
That not much is.

Not really much.

But great harmony arises when
Importance versus difference
Is balanced.

I do not solve the paradox.
I do not solve the mystery.
I live in them
I struggle with them.
I search with them
As they search and struggle with me.

And if I can try to involve
All who are important
In the few things that are essential,
Then I might make the impossible
A bit more possible,
The improbable a bit more probable.


APN
Copyright 10/01/2005