Lost In Translation

Okay, so here it is. LOST IN TRANSLATION. Do me a favour and open this link, let the track start and then read through the story, 'cause it really isn't complete without the background. Preferably plug your earphones in!

Sometimes a story is but a reflection of your own life; other times, it’s the thoughts that you have; but most often it’s your thoughts mixed with those stories you’ve heard time and again but you still can’t make sense of.

...................................................................................................................................................................

“Won’t you come sit with me for a while?”

“But I am. I’m sitting right here.”

“Well, that’s the irony of us. You’re sitting right here with me in the room, but your head most certainly isn’t here. You work too much.”

“I’m being productive. I’m listening to you aren’t I?

“Yeah, you are. But do you hear the rain?”

“The rain? Are you sure you didn’t hit your head this morning when you got out of bed?”

“Can you hear the fire?”

“The fire now? Are you okay?”

“Come sit here, on the window seat; just listen. Leave those papers and your muddled thoughts there.”

“What are you on about?”

“Just humour me for a few minutes.”

“But I’ve really got to finish this up. How come you don’t have any work?”

“I’ll get around to it. It’s mulling quietly in my brain. I always get my work done, don’t I?

“You know, that annoys me. You don’t stress half as much as I do and you still do just as well as if not better. When do you even work?”

“That’s because I know when to sit down and focus and not to let things stress me out all the time. Try my way for a change. It’s not as if you’re getting any work done anyway. I’m pretty sure all that ruffling I’ve been hearing is just you getting flustered more than anything else.”

“Fine. Tell me what you want to say. Out with it.”

“Who said I want to say anything?”

“Then what are you fussing about?!”

“I just want you to listen. Take a breath and just listen.”

“But if you’re not going to be talking, then what’s the point of listening?”

“Shush now. Close your eyes.”

“Okay, now I’m blind and listening to you not talking.”

“You still don’t get the point. Do you even realize it’s raining outside?”

“Yeah, so? What’s the big deal?”

“Did you realize I’ve had the fireplace lit for the past hour?”

“Now what does the fireplace have to do anything?”

“And that tells me you haven’t heard a word I’ve said. Try and listen to it, not just faintly realize that there’s music playing and leave the noises beyond human voices at that.”

“But what am I even listening to?”

“You’re not listening yet. When you hear it, you’ll tell me.”

“But…”

“Shush… Listen to the sound of silence as you see it.”

“Listen to each drop that hits the window sill, the ones that touch the glass – each flicker of the flame because of the wind stealing down the chimney and the burst of the wood as it’s consumed.”

“Umm, are you still awake?”

“I’m not quite sure if it was your poetry or the rain that took me away.”

“Hah! I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my talking. What did you hear?”

“Everything. The wind chimes next door even. The rain is gorgeous to listen to. And the fire just enhances it. It’s like they’re all playing to one rhythm.”

“Well, they are. It’s not just all chaos you know. You’d think a storm would be chaotic to listen to, but even then, there’s an orchestra in the wind. It’s amazing isn’t it?”

“I must admit, I do feel more relaxed than I have in the past half an hour I’ve spent with those papers not getting anywhere.”

“You really ought to give yourself a break sometimes. The sound of silence tends to take you out of your mind at least for some time; or at least gives you an illusion of getting you out of it.”

“I guess I really need to stop and listen sometimes. How come none of this registers in my brain otherwise?”

“It’s not that it doesn’t register, it’s just that we don’t prioritize. Most often, such beauty is overlooked just because it’s lost in translation.”

“Lost in translation?”

“We judge based on an idea of it that we have. Take the rain. The first things most people think of are how wet it’s going to be and how disruptive it may be or they’re a little more on the romantic side, then how it just makes everything prettier and lovelier. But the sound of the rain; that music.”

“I see now. Interesting. How much do we really lose in translation?”

Stories.

There are three kinds of stories I can think of at the moment.

1) True Stories : Those stories of people who have done great things. They've persevered and won battles that most of us can barely even imagine. They earn respect just because they are who they are. They inspire. They're beautiful. These are the ones they make into Hallmark Channel Originals and whatnot :) The others in this group are the ones you tell your best friends - your wonderful idiocies, the beauty in your life, things you couldn't possibly even dream of sharing with anyone who doesn't know you like they know themselves. Or something like that. But basically, my point is. It's all true. Every minute of it that causes pain and joy.

2) Pure Fiction : These are the stories that have immense potential. They can go any direction you want them to. You can fly and breathe under water. Anything your heart can imagine. They can even just be embellished versions of your true stories. They make really good entertainment.

3) Stories from Imbeciles : These are the ones spun by those brilliant imbeciles who like to believe that something's true and want to convince everyone around that it is true. They never benefit anyone. -.- Lol, not worth the time. Not worth the wait. Move on and hurry past, because getting caught in this will just mess with your head so bad you want to pull it off :P

I think I've put them pretty simply for everyone :D It's fun to make lists. Lol, if only I was more organised in classifying other stuff! :D Give me some pointers if you can think of them. Feel free!

Enjoy this one ^.^ It's been a while since I've heard it :D It's a good one to sing when you feel like everyone's trying to pull you down. Much love! Stay connected!

Third Day - Eagles

My Shadowed Shoes.

Though you wish to walk in my shoes,
I ask you to find your own.
Though they seem inviting,
Remember, they were made in shadows.
My past is mine, and only One knows.
Your path is yours to find.
I ask you to hold my hand,
Walk beside me.
For One, He waits and watches to help.
Let's make shoes for you too, my friend.


Okay, quite literal as well as not I suppose, but this is Day 10 of Joyous June. Any fellow bloggers out there, make use of this opportunity. It's not often someone gives you inspiration and asks you to do whatever creative think you want from it. Hope you feel better Kanika! Thanks for the lovely inspirations :) I really liked this one! <3

Memories and Love

So a few days ago, I actually cooked a complete meal for a bunch of my friends and apparently they loved it. There was actually a point where I thought at least one person might fall sick, but they all loved it and had a brilliant time. Turns out, I was just psyching myself out. But seriously, that was one of the best days ever! Not because I learnt to cook something new, but because I got to spend a beautiful day with beautiful people doing unexpected things :)
     The day didn't quite start out like I'd planned coz I'd expected people to come in from 11.30 onwards, but it turned out that all of them were able to make it only two hours later :P OOPS! Well, I suppose the best food is the food you wait the most to eat :D Haha! Dessert wasn't really a success but everyone ate heartily anyway coz we mixed the two and made it somewhat perfect :P Biscuit pudding attempt. Not quite like I expected! But, Ah well :D
     Then came the best part of any meal or gathering. The incessant chattering about the whole world :D It's really really fun to keep realising how small the world is when you get together with 6 or 7 people who have a few things in common and keep searching to find more and more. And the more unexpected the findings become :P Seriously! And the laughs and smiles! And btw, these are people who have some incredibly beautiful smiles! You cannot help but smile when you have them around ^.^ <3

    So, we're just chatting and someone suggests that we go to the beach, and so despite the excitement, it takes us a while to get going, but once we're on the road, there's absolutely no stopping us! :D 7 packed into a car, feeling like sardines are better off, we head out on the long-short drive. Music bursting through the doors and drumming our ears, barely able to make out what's being sung unless you know the song, the beach welcomed us with bright sunlight, black sand and big waves that could knock us over without a thought needed.
     We didn't really plan to get wet, but we just walked along, taking pictures with a fancy camera, but not without dear cause! For the more opportunity we have to engrave memories into our brains, the better and how better to do that than with a thousand photos capturing precious moments with each other ^.^ <3
     Walking aimlessly is AWESOME! Honest! I kid you not! All you know is that you're gonna walk in a certain direction with a bunch of people who have pretty much the same idea in their heads! And then you stumble across something that all of you are so enthused by, you can't help but enjoy yourself! Okay okay, so what I actually mean is, it's brilliant that none of us actually had a plan in mind when we got there, coz we just kept watching and a zoomed-in photo told us that there was human life at the top of the lighthouse. And funnily enough, the 7 of us, all of whom have spent somewhere around 15-20 years of their lives in this city, give or take a few, had never been there before. Some of us not even to it's foot.
     And so we had a destination. And it was soooooo worth the climb right upto the top just to sit through the railings, listening to the waves crash, remembering songs, especially, Holy Phantom. Simply beautiful and quite obviously one of the highest points of our existences. :)

     But, you know what, the most beautiful part of it all is to realise that the God who made all this beauty, this wonder that will never cease to blow our minds, made us. Think about it. Every wave has a beat, a rise, a fall, a crash. Even the smallest one whispers to those who are listening. And He, this Maker of All, Artist like no other, made us. Each one. He planned out our every step, knows us inside and out. Because when you create something, if you're doing it with all your heart, then you know it by heart. The potter knows every crack in his crockery.
     It's amazing to see the sun set the sky aflame into a thousand colours that one as primitive as I would deign to simply say it was pink, orange and gold. Painting the water like jewels strewn across the ocean. Wind singing, birds flying high, near and far. And I hear the constant whisper, "I love you more" It can bring you to your knees and down to tears.
    It's funny how we never stop to realise stuff like this, because in my experience, it's the people who do notice such blessings who are the happiest. I want to be one of them, to see all the blessings that my Lord has given me, and to rejoice with all of creation because we have a glorious God and a wonderful Saviour! They make life soooo worth living! <3

Gah!

Have you ever had those days where you wish people would just stop making up unecessary issues and just give you a straight reason for saying or doing something or not letting you do something?

Have you ever had those days when you feel all technology is against you? -.- All the time?

Have you ever had those days when nothing's worth starting because all you really want to do is nothing because you don't feel yourself?

Have you ever had those days when you want to go out an do something great but you're too used to brooding away in a quiet corner?

FORGET THEM ALL.

Remember those days when you did go out with a bunch of friends and goofed around? Maybe danced a jig or sang a silly song?

Those days when you played with that special little boy, singing nursery rhymes and action songs and were simply ecstatic to be who you are and blessed to be with the ones you love.

Those days your cousins and you drove down to the beach and ate ice cream as the wind whispered songs of praise that everything within you responded to immediately in rejoicing to.

REMEMBER THEM.

Hold onto them. Cherish them. Love them. Grow.

Dear Daughter

A must read of a brilliant thought in simple words that brightens one's day and reminds one of the simplest thing we all must remember :) Vanya Rachel, the author of this brilliant article, has captured it beautifully and I encourage all wanderers through my blog to read it :) <3

Parallel Voices

Have you ever had those days or even moments where there are so many ridiculous voices in your head that all you want to do is scream!?!

No?

Really?

Then, I am going crazy?! :|

Oh brilliant, isn't that just what I needed.
   

I really don't like it when so many voices say so many different things whether any of it is relevant to the present situation or naught. 

Seriously though.

When was the last time any of you had the chance to wake up to silence. And then you slowly realise that you're actually listening to the sound of birds saying good morning.

It's different when you're listening. It's different to hear it anew. It's just different. You can't help but sing a song of worship with them :) <3

Enjoy!

Reminiscing...

Everytime I come back here, I reminisce on days that I used to love being here... I still do... Until some things come up that people just won't let go. I mean seriously, NONE of your business. Just let it go... Ah well :) Life goes on, I'll be home soon. :P But, you'll always be family and I'll still always love you. Just don't think I can handle more than two days of the same topics arising which really have no point in being brought up.

Even when the Clouds Clear

We’ve all had those days where we just drop everything and want to do nothing but give up. We’ve been pushing on so far that life feels like a brick wall that refuses to budge. We’re tired and scared and upset and every thought that rises is one that pulls us down further; and everything within you cries for you to stop trying, begs you to take the first way out of or around it that you can find; any way.

Well, almost everything. If we listen carefully enough, through the despair that thunders through our ears; through the beating of our anguished hearts, we listen. And we hear it, faint and distant. Our voice of hope.

 Psalm 23 is but one example:

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness 

For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil.

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

All the days of my life 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord 

Forever.”

Words we are all well acquainted with. And many more that we can recall to encourage ourselves and anyone else who feels as low. But to see them proven, time and again is the beauty of it.

The harder we listen, the louder the words ring; until the ‘whisper through the rain, “I’m with you.”’ echoes around us. The longer we listen, the more our spirits rise. ‘Praising Him in the storm’ becomes not only a joy but the source of our strength to carry on, because our eyes slowly focus on the way He’s made for us and though we thought we’d never find it, He leads us through it.

We’ve all had days where we’ve broken down crying, “I don’t know what to do anymore.” There’s really only one thing to do. Trust that He’s right there, holding on so tightly that no matter how hard things seem, the storm will pass; the clouds will clear. And even when they do, He’s always near. 

To write.

So I've been asked to write an article for the YFC newsletter. I don't quite know why she asked me, but now I need to write it. And I really don't know where to even start. Thing is, being a believer and a writer both, ought I not be able to write this? Sincerely clueless here right now. Praying for wisdom :) 

Chocolate.

I just ate Snickers! And I'm just wondering out loud... So you don't necessarily need to give me an answer... But!

Is chocolate tempered differently for different countries so that it may stay a certain consistency in said climate?

I hope you lot had as good a day as I did :) Coz I doubt it could have been better :) Much love!

(PS. This is my feeble attempt at making a short post, just to prove to myself that it's possible.)
[*Forcibly restrains self from typing further]

Monday! Monday? Monday... Didn't seem like it :D

So, today I spent the day with two awesome people! I always feel smarter in some way or the other when I've spent the day with them and mostly I learn something new about music :D I honestly have absolutely no bloomin' clue as to how they put up with someone as uninformed as I am. Trust me, if my life were a movie, them and me would not be in the same clique :| It just wouldn't be done! But guess what!? We're not in a movie and I have to thank that incredible, wonderful, indescribable God who blessed me with friends like these :D Seriously, there's no one like HIM <3 ^.^ If you knew them like I do, you'd be insanely thankful too. Trust me on that.

     Hmmm... But there was one piece of wisdom they stumbled me across today that cannot compare to anything else and said "wisdom", trust me, was not their's. It comes from a great American mind by the name of Rebecca Black who seems to think many ought to have fallen at her feet in worship when her song "Friday" was released. Yeah, fat chance of me linking you to that, I will not obligingly enforce torture of such propensity on my kind readers. :D But this new information that brought me to tears, I must share. She analysed her lyrics so that the world could see how much they missed out on when they refused to accept her music as a 'work of art' or something like that. (CAUTION: Watch at own risk.)

     After the song came out, there were so many people talking about it, but me, being me, never bothered to look it up because pop culture, being pop culture, would manage its way into my life at some point >.< And boy, was I glad I didn't. But this analysis was mind-blowing. Much applause to the 'superior intellect' of Ms. Black. Really, what would the world be without her. (*whispers under breath, "MUCH BETTER")

     Sigh! Hmm... I think I got that out of my system now. Hopefully. Blah! Seriously, if you're not as moved as I was. TO PUNCH HER FACE IN. Then do let me know. I would like some of whatever you've been taking to ease your sharp senses. Or maybe you should let her know so she can pretend someone believes her words.

     Okay okay, moving on!

     THE WOMAN IN BLACK. Now, that's something to talk about. I have no clue how to feel about the movie. You know how when you watch a movie and you want the best for the 'hero'? Umm, well, I just didn't know how to size up what happens! Lol! Seriously, it's incredible though. The minimal soundscape, the videography of the English lanscape, the spooky house, the effects, the story... EVERYTHING worked. It works to creep you out slowly and take you level by level into the creepiness. It makes you jump. Makes you want to cry and say, "No, no, no, no, come on, don't let him die! Don't kill him! Let him save her!! Please!" Although, you never really know whom you're pleading to, nor do you know if you actually feel like you're there because you keep reminding yourself its a movie. Hmm, I agree with the three who insisted me watching it :D Although I must say it was quite amusing hearing stories of how they'd watched it their first times :P But, what happened to the dog!! It disappeared :( I think my biggest fear was that the dog would show up mutilated to bits :| Not a pleasant thought, trust me!

Meh -.- I talk to much... Hmm, I'm good, thanks for asking! Have fun with the rest of your day! <3

From Scratch.

Meh. I doubt any of you thought I'm talking about that animation software so I'm not going to bother saying, "No, I don't mean that..." So... Helloo :P I'm lost O.o Little obvious, I suppose :P

    From Scratch just means that I want to actually start again, and make this blog, however bland anyone thinks it is, more than just a backup of my poetry. It means, umm, well I think it means that I'm turning over a new leaf and am going to make each post mean something, if to no one else, at least to me. I'm probably not going to have a particular theme in mind when I start typing, or I may start with one and end up somewhere completely different in my rambles. But, what I do is what I do and I suppose, someone may read it :)

     I have to admit though, I probably wouldn't be writing this if Li'l Joe hadn't started hers and told me I ought to start one myself. She's extra brilliant and ridiculously hilarious. So do not expect the same standards or style :P I'm just the humble writer testing the waters :P But thanks for the push (*coughs* 'gentle nudge') hon. :) <3

     My brother is sitting next to me playing songs like Diamond sword, if that can be called a song, making this first post of my new square one phase of my blog more difficult than it already is O.o I'd advise you not to look it up, but if you're curious, feed it. Or just wait till you meet my brilliant bro someday in person. He's the kind of guy who writes poetry because someone couldn't sleep and needed a bedtime story! Seriously! Check his blog out. You'll catch a glimpse of his personality :D

    So, I have no clue where to start or what to say, so Imma say, I recently read another book of the Redwall series and it made me very happy! I love how Brian Jacques has managed to adapt the English language into a peculiar form for each kind of animal. Oh wait, I probably should have mentioned the brilliance in the big RED Bricked building that's a sanctuary for all good creatures, just out of reach from vermin hands. You don't like it? You think its boring? I think it serves the purpose reading has always had for me. 

     It takes me to a world that isn't the one I live in. A world where I know good will prevail. Where it doesn't feel like everything's always falling apart. I love that each Redwaller is obligated to himself to be kind and loving and helpful and that's what is expected not excellence in a particular walk of life but to be part of the community, to love and be one and and... I'm rambling but I hope you sort of get the point.

I can completely relate to this, it's how I feel when I'm around my besties... Like we can be from Mars and Pluto and still be the best of friends. I'd wish this for anyone and everyone. It's a wonderful feeling ^.^ <3 

    But back to the point, that's what reading's about to me you know, the happy endings and the feeling that things don't have to stay the way they do in the cruel world. I mean come on! If a bunch of animals from all walks of life can manage to get along and live in harmony, shouldn't the so called "higher species" be able to do the same? (I don't technically believe the higher species bit though)

    I think I had a point in there somewhere... If I figure out how to stop rambling, I'll let you lot know :D For now, I'mma say goodnight. Stay blessed coz we all are ^.^

Hmm. An end and a start? O.o Figure it out.

So, I spent 6 months as a part of Shadow Liberation and this is just the tip of all the things I would have liked to say and even more things I probably wouldn't have liked to say unless you forcibly pulled it out of me with hours of redundant questions that seem to go nowhere but lead to me actually saying stuff :P 2 minutes for a reflective video O.o People say I write too much anyway, apparently reading is a dying artform... Sigh, anyway, I managed to get a gist of what I was feeling when I made this, but trust me when I say, TIP OF THE ICEBERG :P

Not much of a blogger here, but my first not poem post. Yay me?! :P Maybe I should actually start. But then what would I possibly say?

Wait. FAIL. The video contains a mound of poetry -.- Try again Danie. Meh. Sigh, but I suppose its still a step further from all those poems you read (supposing you've read any) when I actually seem like I'm talking to you :D Tatas!