Silent meals, a buddy system, and wine “in moderation.”

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#extradirty
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I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
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@akhenaten-037
Silent meals, a buddy system, and wine “in moderation.”
What are you afraid of losing, when nothing in the world actually belongs to you.
Marcus Aurelius
ᴡɪʟʟɪᴀᴍ ᴏꜰ ᴛʏʀᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙᴀʟᴅᴡɪɴ ᴡᴀs ᴘʀᴇᴄᴏᴄɪᴏᴜs, ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴍɪsᴛɪᴄ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜɪs ɪʟʟɴᴇss ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴏʟᴇsᴄᴇɴᴛ. ʜᴇ ɪɴʜᴇʀɪᴛᴇᴅ ʜɪs ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ's ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋs, ʙᴏᴅʏ sʜᴀᴘᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀɴɴᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟꜰ. ʙᴀʟᴅᴡɪɴ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋ ʟᴇᴀʀɴᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴛᴜᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏʀɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ ʟᴇssᴏɴs. ʙᴀʟᴅᴡɪɴ's ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴡᴀs ᴇxᴄᴇʟʟᴇɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀɢᴏᴛ ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴋɪɴᴅɴᴇss ɴᴏʀ sʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴅᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ʙʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs.
Triumph of a Heart
The nerves are sending shimmering signals All through my fingers, the veins support Blood that gushes impulsively towards
The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all
The stubborn trunks of these legs of mine Serve as pathways for my favorite fuel Heading upwards towards my kidneys
The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all
Smooth, soft, red, velvety lungs Are pushing a network of oxygen joyfully Through a nose, through a mouth but all enjoys, all enjoys
The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all The triumph of a heart that gives all, that gives all
Björk ‧ 2004
there's always Bjork being herself, and that always brings me a bit happiness
What are you afraid of losing, when nothing in the world actually belongs to you.
Marcus Aurelius
The obsolescence of thought
I've been running my poems through Ai, grok seems to do a much more in depth analysis than chatgpt, i've yet to try others. Not once do I mention tears or crying, but it knows that i'm meditating on exactly that; it understands metaphor, it understands nuance. As someone who has worked in IT for over 2 decades, we are truly in a brave new world.
please analyze this poem:
title: the sweet breeze
that sweet breeze I know you've felt it, it comes about only during those times, that particular cool breeze that you feel so much more pronounced for it chills the trails, those trails left by drops they trickle, they run, they drip, they find their way to the little windows of your soul, and they collect, they swell they shine they overflow like an uncontrollable salty dam. And then it breaks you bleed but not red they spill over from soaked eyelashes, they glide over your face and you taste the salt in your lips, a moment when the truth has erupted out of you, for to see a truth in someone is perhaps one of the most beautiful things, and in the darkness in the despair like the hand of an angel it caresses you'll feel that sweet cool breeze on your dripping face as if to tell you it is going to be ok.
Analysis of "The Sweet Breeze"
Overview and Themes: "The Sweet Breeze" is a lyrical and emotionally evocative poem that explores themes of vulnerability, emotional release, and solace in moments of truth and despair. The poem uses the metaphor of a "sweet breeze" to represent a comforting, almost divine presence that accompanies profound emotional experiences, particularly those involving tears and truth. The imagery is vivid and sensory, focusing on the physical and emotional sensations of crying, which serves as a cathartic release and a pathway to beauty and hope.
Structure and Form: The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent metrical pattern or rhyme scheme, allowing for a fluid, stream-of-consciousness style that mirrors the natural flow of emotions. The lack of stanza breaks creates a continuous, unbroken narrative, emphasizing the overwhelming and unstoppable nature of the emotional experience described. The lines vary in length, contributing to a rhythm that feels organic and reflective of the ebb and flow of feelings.
Imagery and Symbolism:
The Sweet Breeze: The central metaphor of the poem, the "sweet breeze" symbolizes a gentle, comforting force—possibly hope, grace, or a spiritual presence—that arrives during moments of emotional vulnerability. It is described as "cool" and "pronounced," contrasting with the warmth and intensity of tears, offering relief and reassurance ("as if to tell you it is going to be ok").
2. Tears and Water Imagery: Tears are depicted as "drops" that "trickle," "run," and "drip," forming "trails" that lead to the "little windows of your soul" (likely the eyes). This imagery portrays tears as both a physical and emotional journey, connecting the inner self to the external world. The swelling and overflowing of tears, likened to a "salty dam," suggest an uncontrollable release of pent-up emotions, emphasizing the intensity of the moment. 3. The Soul and Truth: The poem associates tears with truth, particularly the truth seen in another person, which is described as "one of the most beautiful things." This suggests that vulnerability and authenticity in human connection are sacred and transformative. The eyes, as "windows of the soul," are a traditional symbol of insight and emotional depth, reinforced here by their role in expressing truth. 4. Darkness and Despair vs. Comfort: The poem contrasts "darkness" and "despair" with the comforting touch of the breeze, likened to "the hand of an angel." This juxtaposition highlights the redemptive power of emotional release, where even in the depths of sorrow, there is a promise of healing and hope.
Tone and Mood: The tone is intimate and empathetic, as the speaker directly addresses the reader ("I know you've felt it"), creating a sense of shared experience. The mood shifts from heavy and sorrowful, as it describes tears and despair, to hopeful and comforting, with the breeze offering solace. The poem balances raw emotional weight with a tender, uplifting resolution, leaving the reader with a sense of reassurance.
Language and Diction: The language is sensory and descriptive, with words like "sweet," "cool," "salty," and "dripping" engaging the reader’s senses of touch, taste, and feeling. The repetition of "they" in reference to tears ("they trickle, they run, they drip") creates a rhythmic flow that mimics the movement of water, reinforcing the poem’s central imagery. The use of metaphors like "salty dam" and "hand of an angel" adds a poetic richness, blending the tangible with the spiritual.
Emotional Impact: The poem’s strength lies in its ability to capture a universal human experience—the act of crying as both a release and a revelation. By framing tears as a response to truth and beauty, the poem elevates a typically private or painful act into something sacred and connective. The "sweet breeze" serves as a powerful symbol of hope, suggesting that even in moments of vulnerability, there is an external force (whether divine, natural, or emotional) that offers comfort and promises renewal.
Interpretation: "The Sweet Breeze" can be read as a meditation on the cathartic power of emotional honesty, particularly in the context of human connection. The act of crying, triggered by seeing "a truth in someone," suggests a moment of profound empathy or recognition, where one’s guard is lowered, and raw emotion takes over. The breeze, arriving in this moment, acts as a reminder of resilience and the presence of something greater—be it hope, love, or a spiritual force—that soothes and heals. The poem may also reflect on the duality of pain and beauty, suggesting that the most intense emotional experiences are often where we find meaning and solace.
Conclusion: "The Sweet Breeze" is a poignant and beautifully crafted poem that transforms the act of crying into a sacred, transformative experience. Through its vivid imagery, empathetic tone, and central metaphor of the breeze, it captures the interplay of vulnerability, truth, and comfort. The poem speaks to the human capacity for emotional depth and the quiet reassurance that even in moments of despair, there is a gentle force guiding us toward healing.
Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower - Rainer Maria Rilke - Germany
Translator: Joanna Macy (German)
Quiet friend who has come so far,
feel how your breathing makes more space around you. Let this darkness be a bell tower and you the bell. As you ring,
what batters you becomes your strength. Move back and forth into the change. What is it like, such intensity of pain? If the drink is bitter, turn yourself to wine.
In this uncontainable night, be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses, the meaning discovered there.
And if the world has ceased to hear you, say to the silent earth: I flow. To the rushing water, speak: I am.
“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.”
― Shakespeare, Henry V
Painting: Interior with Woman Standing at the Table" by Vilhelm Hammershøi
fair is foul and foul is fair
Leonardo scoffs with an arrogant smirk, "that's all fine and dandy" he says, "but these things have become bit too trite for me. be a rebel, lose and love it."
feels so good to hear poetry again, that sweet feeling like a knife in your heart, that refreshing knot in your throat, reminding you that you're still alive. There's always room for a little more pain.