White on black, or black on white?
What is darkness without light?
The same as day without night.

One cannot see when it’s too bright
and darkness also robs one’s sight.
A balance there must always be
else no one in the world can see

Another anti-prejudice poem. This one I wrote shortly after returning from Florida, while I was at work. It was actually inspired by someone pouring cream in their coffee. Which is funny, because I’m not a (regular) coffee drinker.

An open eye is often blind
but never is an open mind.
Listen with more than the ear
and more than ever will you hear.

 This one was another that I wrote during my Florida business trip.  It was in response to a lot of prejudice and people making judgments based on appearances, which I really can’t stand, but of course catch myself doing from time to time.

My loving Mother oft would scold,
"Not every glitter comes from gold."
Though many times have I been told
I seek to have what I can’t hold.

My Father made it very plain,
"The chasing dog has naught to gain
If you so seek to love in vain
You shall return with naught but pain."

But I learn best from each mistake
What scant advice I chose to take
Has kept my head above the lake
Though soon I fear my will would break

My legs have run in every race
But never do I seem to place.
I wonder if in vain I chase
And how long I can keep this pace.

What happens when my knees give out
And I have not the breath to shout?
Would still my heart be filled with doubt
If I had chose another route?

No longer can I wait my turn.
Too strongly my desires burn.
For the impossible I yearn.
One lesson I refuse to learn.

Another one I wrote after my trip to Florida. This one I reflect on advice given, and how, despite following everyone’s advice, I’ve gotten nowhere and I want to break free. The lesson I refuse to learn is to quit.

Written March 2003

Deep in a cave beneath the ground
It lies in wait until it’s found.
A place where wary footsteps tread
For fear of making any sound.

They would not follow where I led
Their hearts were overfilled with dread
Afraid of what they did not know
And so, alone, I forged ahead.

I do not know wherefore I go
And my supplies are running low
I cannot stand at my full height
And so my going now is slow

Stone to my left and to my right
And I am now without my sight
The only other way is back
But only forward ends my plight

How long I’ve gone I’ve now lost track.
Beside my neck, an empty sack.
All that I had, now left behind
It’s plain to see now what I lack.

At last, by chance, the end I find
What once was there had since been mined.
But even that I did not know
For in the darkness I was blind. 

After I returned from my business trip to Florida, I wanted to continue writing. On the trip I had read the Lord of the Rings for the first time, and this was inspired by that. Not entirely related, though.

Written Feb, 2003

No matter in what it is held
To its shape will water meld.
But when it rests all on its own
Only then is water known.

I wrote this one in 2002 while I was in Fort Walton Beach, Florida for business. I was very lonely, but took the opportunity to write, and pondered how we interact with people and how we change around others. I wondered which was a person’s real personality, and compared it with water. The poem doesn’t really reflect my thoughts on that, which is that you are who you are in each moment, regardless of other circumstances. But there are definitely things we hide from other people which come out when we’re alone, which was kind of where I was going with this. I liked it how it was though, so I left it.

This past Saturday was our second night spent rocking out at Gianca and Amy’s place with Josh, Tracy, Ben, Karen, and Troy playing Rock Band and some Wii games.  We had a blast, but I had to promise not to hog the drums.  I’ve always liked the drums and wanted to play them.  With Rock Band, I actually can.  And apparently, with a few drinks, I got really possessive.  I guess I didn’t want to let the dream go.  And I won’t have to, since I’ll be buying some real drums at some point.

The game is extremely intuitive, and great fun with a full group.  You feel like you’re really playing the songs.  I wish there was more selection, but I’m pretty sure there is downloadable content, and that that content will be extended.

The Wii was really fun, too, but just can’t compete against Rock Band.  Though we did have some really good tennis matches.  I wish the boxing was a bit more responsive, but it was still good.  Bowling was fun, too, but I was worried I’d smack my hand on something.

As the night moved on, we progressed to Karaoke, which was surprisingly fun.  Normally I’m not the sing-in-front-of-a-crowd type, but I’m getting more comfortable with it, and Jess keeps telling me I have a good voice, so I guess I’m starting to believe her.

We almost busted out the Greek dancing again.  I tried to give lessons last week, but wasn’t as coherent as I should have been for teaching.  But we all had fun with it.  I think we were all too tired this week.  As it was we got back really late and were exhausted all day Sunday.  Lucky for me, I’m not a huge football fan, so I didn’t miss out on the Superbowl.