A Poets View

Coming from a Greek and Italian background our holiday celebrations always centered around food.  One Greek tradition that I vividly remember is the New Year’s Day good luck cake.  There are various forms of this pastry but I wanted to share with you my Mom’s recipe.  The New Year’s Day cake or bread would be baked with a coin inside the batter.  Usually a dime though it could be a quarter.  On New Year’s Day morning the family would sit around the table and each family member, old to young, would be given a piece of the cake.  The person that found the coin in the cake was to have good luck throughout the year.  I think I received maybe 6 coins my entire life although I have to say I’ve been pretty lucky.  In any case I wanted to share with all of you my Mom’s recipe for the cake.

3 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 lb. sweet butter
1 cup sugar
6 eggs well beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbls. honey
1 cup flour
1 cup farina (cream of wheat)
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
3 tsp. baking powder
Dime or Quarter.

Bring the water to a boil in saucepan.  Stir in sugar until dissolved.  Simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Stir in lemon juice then remove from heat.  Cool at room temperature.  Cream the butter in a large mixing bowl, Add sugar.  Cream 5 minutes longer.  Beat in eggs, vanilla, honey and walnuts.  Add flour, farina, the dime or quarter ( make sure to boil the coin before adding) and baking powder.  Beat until smooth.  Pour into a buttered 9 x13 x2 baking pan.  Bake in 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and glaze top with honey.  Let it set 1 hour before serving.

Enjoy!

While San Francisco is the “City That Knows How” when it comes to partying, Hong Kong is the city that taught San Francisco.  The above photo is of yours truly this past March 2008.  The backdrop is Hong Kong Island.  It is lit up and decked out each night and struts it’s stuff for the symphony of lights show every evening.  It is a dramatic techno light display with music and sometimes fireworks.  The buildings on each side of Victoria Harbor on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon take part in the festivities.

The video above displays the New Year’s Eve celebration in Hong Kong.  The tall building which is set ablaze in lights is the IFC building, the tallest in Hong Kong and is about 90 stories high.  It is a spectacular sight.  I was there during the Lunar New Year celebration in 2005 and I was blown away.  Enjoy!!!

Photo courtesy of www.sighco.com

Edgar Allan Poe,  a master of 19th Century poetic horror is still to this day one of the most respected and loved poets.  His tales of gore, horror and grief coupled with his romantic and sentimental poetry lends applause to his natural ability to write on many a subject with ease and grace.

The Raven in my opinion is a masterpiece of literature.  By design it is displayed as a tale of death that can only be told by one who has experienced great loss.  The agony and pain in descriptive manner and voice are evident throughout the poem.  You can feel the anguish and despair within his words.  The grief resounds and reverberates throughout the stanzas in a metrical style much like an orchestral symphony.  With his attention to detail and storytelling expertise this poem reads as a fictional novel with heightening crescendo and pulsating energy.  All of his works employ the necessary form and style but his imagination and personal experience are what make his poetry unique and sometimes visionary.

Many poets use poetry and writing as therapy.  To cleanse ourselves of the devastation we take to pen and paper.  It has been said the Poe lived a life of despair and mental illness.  I think that the core of his pain is creatively revealed through his writing.  He was a master at his craft and a genius with a gentle soul.  

The video above is an audio and video compilation so artistically designed and presented that it gave me chills to watch and experience the brilliance of not only this creative piece but the reading of The Raven in it’s entirety.

Photo courtesy of www.health-news.org

Have we come to a new low here?  For years the United States has used various incentives in gaining information about the Taliban from Afghan warlords.  Offering money for information will only bring attention to the fact that the warlords were bribed and either result in them being imprisoned or killed.  Offering service such as medical attention, food etc.. has worked in the past however the warlords have become greedy.  As a result, our government has decided that offering the little “blue pill” would entice these 70 year old bearded drones to supply all the information our officers would need to find the Taliban.

Now mind you these warlords who are typically in their senior years and have four to five wives ranging in age from 16 to about 20 something are being bribed by the United States with Viagra.  Am I the only one that sees something very wrong here?  I don’t care whether these 16 year old girls are wives or not.  It’s child abuse and by giving these men Viagra we are condoning that behavior.

I would think that the CIA would be better trained than having to bribe warlords and chiefs for information.  Granted this bribery is working because once the pill is given, when the officer returns a couple of days later he is treated like a King and given all the information he wants. Yet, we still have not located Bin Laden. So, how long will this so called strategy work?

No wonder we’re still in a war.  No wonder we cannot locate Bin Laden.  If we are that pathetic to have to resort to bribery than we are in a sad state of affairs.  What’s next?  Bringing them young girls to become wives number 6 and 7?

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ” Make love not war.”  Viagra for peace - or is it piece?

For me, poetry can be found not only in words but music, dance and nature as well.  Different cultures and traditions have their own way of expressing poetic form.  The above video is an example of sheer poetry in motion.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Eternity Magazine is an India based spiritually enlightened magazine with focus on the planet and how we as spiritual beings can promote peace and help save this world.   It hosts writers, poets and thinkers who share their thoughts about creation and life.  It speaks of enlightenment in a thoughtful and truthful voice.  How can we experience an enlightened state of being through meditation, yoga and prayer?  It answers these questions through research and deep thought.  Attaining peace in this time of war and terrorism is indeed a monumental feat, yet with the sheer hope that it can be done and the willingness to spread the word of peace throughout humanity it is attainable.

Dozens of poets and writers from around the world share their hopes, thoughts and ideas within the pages of the magazine.  There are articles on peace, global communication,  saving the environment and so much more.  The Eternity though spiritual in nature is not about religion but rather the spiritual inspiration within all of us and the unification of different cultures and traditions.  It’s mission is to promote global awareness of the environment and peace through the words of International poets and writers.

As a chief foreign editor for the magazine it is my hope that the inspiration this magazine provides will be seen and heard by as many people as possible in order to unite and spread peace around the globe.  It is only in awareness that we can learn and promote peace.

More information can be found at The Eternity Magazine website.

A 60 Minutes Spoof.

Photo courtesy of www.sxc.hu

As poets we have the ability to encapsulate our thoughts and ideas and create lasting impressions with words.  There are literally thousands of poetic styles.  The etheree is a strict form in which the structure is limited to ten lines and ten syllables.  Much like a pyramid in form,  the poem will begin with one syllable and end with a 10 syllable line.  Or, it can be reversed with the first line employing 10 syllables and the last line one.  It may seem an easy form however it is very difficult to write this style with the necessary components of imagery and flow.  Below is a quickly written example to give you an idea of how the poem should be created and what it should look like when completed.

Are
you a
poet of
life who creates
poems with love and
passion?  Who in nature
is peaceful and serene as
a tranquil waterfall flowing
freely into the depths of the mind
cleansing the spirit, caressing the heart.

I wrote this very quickly without any attention to imagery but rather form and style.   I wanted to express the form as it should be unveiled to the reader.  A pyramid or triangular appearance is the law of the land with an etheree.  It should be rich in imagery and metaphor and should not be rhymed.  There are many forms such as sonnets and odes which can be rhymed however many forms do not employ the style.  And, always remember that even if you are writing in a metrical style there should be emphasis on imagery.  A poem without imagery is simply greeting card verse.  That is fine if you enjoy writing that style however it is not a poem.  Imagery and metaphor are the necessary ingredients in creating poetry.  All else will fall into place.

For more information on this new poetic form visit The Shadow Poetry website.

As many of you know Hong Kong is my home away from home.  My dear friend Vincent sent me this beautiful photo of a Christmas tree in Hong Kong.  While I have never experienced Christmas in Hong Kong I know people who have and tell me that it is a paradise of lights.  Normally Hong Kong is a lighted venue so I can only imagine what it is like during the holidays.  I hope to experience it very soon.

There is a mix of religions practiced throughout Hong Kong from Catholic to Muslim, to Buddhism to Taoism.  There are churches and temples all over Hong Kong.  People are free to worship openly as they wish.  Of course Buddhist temples are situated all over Hong Kong, Kowloon and the outlying areas.  You will come across temples almost anywhere you visit.  I loved that about Hong Kong - the fact that it was all so open and friendly.

Hong Kong tends to celebrate any and all holidays to the max.  Just their every day celebration of the Symphony of Lights is clear testimony to their pride and regard for all that they do.  They are very proud of their city and the tourists who visit are a priority.  I found that to be very welcoming while there.

I found the above video of Christmas Robots performing in Hong Kong over the 2007 holiday season.  Animation and technology are a large part of the Hong Kong culture.  It is very fascinating experiencing all the technological ingenuity being created.  I could not resist in posting this.  It is so cute and I wanted to share it with all of you.  Enjoy!

The Carpenters have always been known for tradition and this video hosts a classic Christmas song sung by Karen Carpenter who had the voice of an angel.  I remember seeing the Carpenters for the first time up in Lake Tahoe performing at Harrah’s.  This was over 32 years ago but I remember it as if it were yesterday.  My Mom had taken me to see them for my birthday.  Karen Carpenter sang my favorite song at the time “Close To You” for me and it was a quite memorable experience.

The Christmas song has always been a favorite of mine and I wanted to share it with all of you.  Happy Holidays.

Photo courtesy of http://www.public-domain-photos.com

Though I have never been to San Diego I have visited everyday.  How?  My friend and fellow blogger San Diego Backroads  maintains a daily blog about San Diego and the beauty it has to offer.  I travel there from the comfort of my easy chair on a daily basis.  The photos are truly exceptional and the descriptions rich in content and metaphor yet written with a personal passion.  It is the type of blog where after you have visited you are saying to yourself - Wow!  I have to visit there and very soon.  This is a blog you have to experience.  It is one of my favorites on the Internet.  Check it out at http://sandiegobackroads.today.com

The above is a perfect example of what not to give as a Christmas gift.  Now, if the person in which you are buying for loves nuts then by all means go ahead and give the gift of nuts.  A couple of years ago I received a 5 pound jar of peanuts as a Christmas gift from a family member who bought the nuts at Costco.  Now I realize that this certain family member I only see once a year and obviously knows nothing about me but nuts?  Was he trying to tell me something?  This gift told me two things.  One, you know nothing about me and two, you bought it because you felt you had to get me something.  As a result, the nuts were not appreciated.   I did not re-gift but rather gave them to my Brother who actually likes peanuts.

photo courtesy of www.ghirardelli.com

There are times during the holiday season when we are faced with giving gifts to people we either don’t know that well or have no idea who they are at all.  Examples are co-workers,  your mail person etc…  When faced with this dilemma the sure fire way to their heart is chocolate.  Now it doesn’t necessarily have to be Ghirardelli Chocolate though if you could get your hands on it, that is the way to go.  Any chocolate will do.  All the retailers from See’s to Godiva to your local drugstore have chocolate packages just waiting to be picked up and eaten.  So, whatever your budget, chocolate says you care.

photo courtesy of www.martinraywinery.com

For those of you who have people in your life you know but still don’t know their interests well enough to pick out that perfect gift, here it is.  Wine is always appreciated by everyone.  Even for the non-drinker - it can be re-gifted.  Wine prices vary from region to region as well as vineyard to vineyard however for a measly $10 you can buy a palate pleasing wine without having to go into your 401k account.  

The bottom line is if you don’t know what to buy or you are in a hurry doing your last minute shopping and cannot spend the time to really think about who you are buying for - wine and chocolate are the answers.

Ghirardelli chocolate http://www.ghirardelli.com

Martin Ray Winery http://www.martinraywinery.com

Happy shopping.

Poetry cannot be defined as one strict type of writing.  Poems are conceived of thoughts and ideas and therefore do not adhere to one absolute definition.  However there are literally hundreds of types of poetry both traditional and non traditional in form and style.  The nineteenth century and romantics are an example of classic traditional styles.   There are odes, sonnets, ballads, villanelles etc…  All of these maintain forms which are lyrical in nature and consist of musical interpretations.

As poets we all write in various forms in which we feel comfortable.  However it is necessary to read and understand the classics in order to improve our unique style when creating a poem.  Much like history, we need to know the past in order to understand who we are and to enrich our lives with that understanding.  It’s the same in poetry.  It is also challenging and fun to explore the different types of poetry that have been and still are being created.

The most comprehensive list of poetic forms I have seen are located on the Shadow Poetry website.  Each form is explained with examples.  Visit the Shadow Poetry page and try out some new forms.

For many poets words come at the blink of any eye and voila! A poem is created.  There are those of us however who need a little more prompting.  While the words may be traveling the mind they are yet without form or ideas.  This is why writing prompts are so helpful.  Photos such as the above which I took during a trip can evoke various emotions and thoughts.  Dozens of poets could view this photo and create different scenarios and words around the scene.  For visual people such as myself photos can not only help with writer’s block but can be an immediate inspiration when creating a poem.

There is also the add a line prompt.  A poet will come up with a themed title then ask each of their fellow poets and friends to add a line and eventually complete a poem.  A Poets Word   regularly challenges her readers with these type of prompts which can be not only very productive but much fun as well.

Then there is the Magnetic Poetry   which basically affords the poet dozens of magnetic tiles representing different words which you can rearrange to form a poem.  This is very challenging.  It can literally take hours to complete however it massages the brain cells to a point where you will be writing for hours on end.  I’ve tried it many times and it certainly helps with inspiring ideas.

All of these methods are very helpful when you have an idea but just cannot get the words down on paper or computer screen.  So, give them all a try.  Challenge yourself.

We have been experiencing frigid temperatures here in San Francisco and around the bay area.  It is not uncommon for temperatures to dive into the 20’s and 30’s in the evening and 40’s during the day.  While this is uncommon for this time of year it seems that each year brings lower temperatures.

I was watching the local news the other evening when it was reported that a school in Richmond did not have any heat.   The children in one chemistry class actually boiled water in their beakers in order to keep warm.  The heat had been off for weeks.  They were told that someone would look into the matter but nothing was ever done.

I was appalled by this situation.  These are children we are talking about here.  It’s bad enough that teachers are without the supplies that they need and have to spend their own money to buy the basics because the school districts cannot afford what classrooms need.  But to be without heat and no one is doing anything about it?

The  Governor, and I’m only using that word to describe him because I won’t use vulgarity on my blog post, over and over again cuts the schools budgets in order to balance the state budget.  When he was campaigning for and elected Governor he said that the schools were his top priority.  Is this his definition of priority?  And where is all that lottery money?  The lottery was supposed to benefit our schools.  It’s certainly not paying for the basics is it?

I just think it horrible that children have to suffer because of the idiocy of our government. 

This dream sequence discussion has my brain working overtime.  I’m hoping that through dreams we are able to see the future.  Wouldn’t that be exciting?  To see what is ahead, recognize that it is our future and if need be change it in some way.

I had a dream last night which I hope is a peek into my future.  I dreamt of a friend who is much younger than I.  He’s about 16 years younger and some might say I’m old enough to be his Mother.  From the day I met him in 2003 I’ve been attracted to him.  Of course this may just be that old mid life crisis for me but I do find myself thinking of him often.  Long story short, in my dream the two of us were sitting on a bench somewhere, I don’t know where it was but we were eating ice cream cones and drinking wine.  There was someone else there but I didn’t see anyone.  He was talking to the person I didn’t see and said “Well, I normally do go for blondes but I’ll make an exception here” then turned to me and blew me a kiss.  Now, those of you who know the both of us will find this scenario humorous and I can see you laughing right now.

However, when we do see each other in non dreamland life we do blow kisses to each other as a playful type flirting.  We both know that we’ll never be more than friends due to the age difference but it is fun to play.  It boosts both our egos.  I’m just hoping that this dream was not a past life but rather a future life or a premonition?  A girl can dream can she not?:) 

Seriously though this is an exciting subject and I’m just wondering what you all think about seeing into the future while dreaming or sleeping.

The dream world has always fascinated me.  In connection with previous posts I thought I would talk a little bit about recurring dreams.

For years I have had two separate recurring dreams.  One which sparks my curiosity and one which always has me waking in a cold sweat.   The latter dream, I am much younger than I am now maybe in my teens and I am walking around what I can only describe as what looks to be like a mash unit - as in the TV series.  I am wearing a light gown and walking barefoot with my feet wet.  I am basically just walking around in circles among the unit.  I feel fearful in the dream and I also, as strange as it sounds feel my feet wet.  I have no idea if this was a past life though I tend to believe it was since it feels so real.  I always awaken after this dream feeling afraid.

The other dream I again am walking barefoot, though fully clothed within a neighborhood of stately brownstones.  They all look the same and for some reason I’m feeling as if I am in England.  When I awaken from these dreams I feel curious as to these locations.

I don’t know what any of these dreams mean or what they are trying to tell me but what is strange is that I am always barefoot.  In my real/awake life I rarely am barefoot unless I’m on the beach.  

I find dreams exciting and interesting.  What are some of your recurring or strange dreams?