Ars poetica

It is so easy to write about love when you have never felt it truly. Or is it merely fulfilled love that cannot be fantasized about, because it is perfect and any additions would detract from its beauty, from its charm? Perhaps. But I know that my love killed my inspiration. Which is perfect by me.

I absolutely cannot write well when happy and tranquil. My best poems are those written either on the eve of an exam or when under emotional pressure or stress. A means of calming myself: a refuge. Altogether unnecessary when I have something so much better at hand - so much more fulfilling. If it shall ever cease to be, I might return to poetry. But I hope it to remain a barter and not a reprieve.

Happiness cannot be expressed in words. Not suitable ones, at any rate. Maybe that's why I find it so hard to write poetry where the religious element predominates. Because He, along with everybody else so closely tied to Him, makes me happy.

So... I leave you now, in the posture of an altogether mediocre and tentative poetess, but very happy young woman. Bliss follow all of you wherever you go, dear ones. Doamne ajuta!

Yonder lies little Nell

Yonder lies little Nell,

All with copper tresses

And with eyes of bluebell,

Playing in the grasses.

Then a red-blood poppy

And seven garland roses

Made a banner crafty,

All bestrewn with kisses.

Under the blue heaven

She walked and sang a tune

That all would then listen

Her song with charm commune.

Little maid was this Nell

While her life lasted,

A sweet tale now to tell

Of her sorrow lighted.

For her candle flames still,

If she be extinguished

By the wind on the hill

And suddenly vanished.

She danced on the water

And wove in tapestries

The game of sea otter

And sacred mysteries,

And laughed and lived and prayed

Under the endless sky

And nothing left unsaid

To starry world on high.

But there are many folk

Who have yet to address

This maid in her white cloak

And ask of her redress.

For storm upon a day

Swift came and unlooked-for,

And child with her play

Are to be seen no more.

Yonder lies little Nell

Under the open sky,

The tolling of a bell

Telling where she does lie.

23-24 June 2010

How much do we need money?

Yesterday's trip was very much on a whim. I had on me only my clothes, keys, phone and about 4 lei or whatever in my pocket. And I felt free... Free to go wherever I desired.

So here comes my question: do we really need a plethora of objects to make us happy? I've always been surrounded by an immense quantity of objects. Now, I desire simplicity. As little a material burden as possible. My father heartily disagrees on this view. To him, everything comes down to money in the end. He IS right, to an extent. In today's world, one can do very little without money. Money is not evil, in and of itself. It only becomes evil in light of an ill usage. But then, what about monastics? They took upon themselves a voluntary vow of poverty - not a blade of grass belongs to them personally.

I'm tempted by such a life, such a view... Hippy counterculture meets the One Most High. Monastics are much happier than we will ever be, in our shrinking world filled with superfluous objects.

So I come again to my question. How much do we really need money? Perhaps there is no universal answer. For people like my father, money will always play a central role. For others, they are just something that is all right if they have them, and ideal if they don't.

As for me... I change my mind too often to give a personal opinion. But I think, in the here and now, that we should not completely rely on the world for anything. There are better things than things themselves - joy, peace and love are some of them. And you cannot buy someone's love, no matter how much you are willing to pay for it.

The noon wanderer

Today I climbed up on Cetatuia to see the city again. Winter still keeps its hold up there, among the trees and the wind. It was quiet... barely any people, and most of them just lounging in the sun, like oddly-shaped cats. We're having blue skies and distant memories for breakfast, lunch and dinner these days.

I took a long walk as I once used to. Just myself dancing with my shadow and my thoughts in a never ending ballet number. I think it's the story of a tragedy, personally, but you never know when a hint of comedy might creep in.

It was soothing to see the river sparkling and glittering in the light of noon... the same that flows through my own town. Soothing to see the sunlight flooding all corners and banishing all mystery. I have no love for the dark, but for the day. For eyes looking upon me with kindness and joy, for a candle lit with a trembling hand and unwavering love in One Most High.

I love because I need do nothing else. Because by loving I live. I am happy in solitude, yet I need someone else to take comfort in. I now know how it is to be loved back by the man I love: I finally had and have my love story. Only this time it was not unrequited, as all others were.

Peace, joy and all good things your way, with bright stars in the sky and the Sun in your hearts. Doamne ajuta!