Friday Writing Prompt Challenge

A morning of blinding light
The fatigue a feeling pulling tight.
The sludgy, grumpy mood is right
Controlling how I feel.

Alas the smell of rich hazelnut calls
The black liquid, hot and steaming
From this cup enthralls
Me, I hold it tight underneath my nose
It beckons me to wake

And in this sip it stimulates me
Courses through my entire being
And in this gulp
I find relief
The energy I need to be

A human being
polite not mean
Not zombified by midnight screams
Not controlled by sleep depravity
This liquid gold has set me free

OH BOY SONNETS!!!

16.
There is no power
only perception
I fool you not this is the truth of the matter
For each of you are tricked into thinking
Your opinions truly count
When all they are
are pithy, minor, complaints
To the deaf
Giant, massive, useless bags of air
But in your continuous efforts to be heard
In your tenacious actions though absurd
After you’ve died from exhaustion and protest
The change comes slightly
There is no rest

17.
He managed to correct himself
I was impressed by his ability to adjust
I gave him a good tongue lashing
His enlightenment being the result
I hope he spreads the good news
Like wildfire among his peers
I hope he’s smart enough to realize
The fight does not end here
For if he thinks enduring
My soap box symphony was the end
He needs to know
Boys turn into men
And raise daughters
so what then?

18.
She asked you for nature
So you gave her a house plant
She requested the ocean
So you changed her screen saver
She wanted a good book
You bought her Fifty Shades of Grey
She needed a hug
You just laughed her away
I need no explanation of the man you’ve become
I fear you’re too busy or broken to love someone
I hope I am wrong
but if it happens to be true
I hope you find someone to love
that’s not you.

Ten for the Coven Love Forgot

1

The angles rose from moistened land

Were paralleled to each other

The beams came down from stricken sky

They nearly executed each other

They crissed and crossed and formed a maze

That no one dare to test

These angled roses and beams of light

A challenge to ye poses

2

Though in this garden I do hesitate

I wait and listen sharp

I dare not rush or gallop or trot

Lest they blast my living heart

I hear them creeping, seeping, slithering

Beneath the shallow sod

The water still, the air doth kill

For thick it is and odd

3

I press forward in the dampen fog

The chill of the creek does freeze my toes

The land uneven stutters my step

The stench of mold my nose offends

The Moon is bright; it’s guiding light the only comfort here

I close my eyes

I feel him rise

The visitor is near

4

All manner of insect are silent now

All night dwelling creatures are still

I feel the pressure shift and sounder

I know he’s near me

Still I wonder how he feels me enter

I know I covered my steps this way

Mother did teach me herself

I close my eyes and speak the phrases

That will swiftly bring me help

5

Adiuva me congnatione (help me my family)

Infixus solo pedes mei (my feet are stuck to the ground)

Talem cum venustate ita me anticent (Such is the charm so ancient)

Protinus a victoria fine ( that gives me a victorious end)

The bare branches did sway

The wind did push me over

I swear the Moon did shine brighter

But his essence near me grew stronger

6

I lay in the muck cold and weeping

Holding fast what courage left I had

My hands do shake and shiver beneath me

I smell his ratchet soul advance

I hear his breath between my ears

I know he’s here! I feel him near!

And then a hand around my throat

Squeezeth air from my lungs

Bright and billowing I watch it

Leave my body in the night it hung

And in the moisture

Ever clear and apparent

His eyes stare back

His mouth doth shape

And his voice did echo near it

7

Why do you come here?

A deep and booming sound he had

Why do you stalk here?

No words from me could I give back

You are not welcome in these timbers

I did not invite you, you cannot come in

Return to your coven

Leave this place henceforth

I wish to never see you again!

8

The voice did rattle my heart in my chest

Its body full and deep

I swore if I were not possessed

My ear drums they’d pop as well as my chest

And leave me here to leak

I answered him not

Just stood to my feet and thrust my arms in the air

Palms to the sky

Eyes bright and wide

I recited this spell right here:

9

Absit a te, nostro generi hominum daemonis

Capies e familia mea

Numquid si vita mortem

Ad mare rubrum sanguinem proieci

Ut patribus vestris a facie confusio vos facite

Tua opera fieri infectum

Mea belli parta

Tu daemon fuerit a me,

(Away from my family you demon man

You stalk out my family

You cause death where life should be

I cast you to the blood red sea

May your ancestors quake at the shame you did make

May your deeds be undone

My our war be won

You demon man be gone from me)

10

His laugh did shake the ground

Rattle hard my resolve upon me

I stood fast with hands stretched wide

Fingers spread above me

I sang the words from my throat and bellowed them from my soul

I pushed so hard the ancient power

 I could feel it shake my bones

But all he did was laugh

And sneer and chide and tease

You foolish child

You idiot spawn

You know not who you tempt be gone.

For if you were truly

Half the witch that is equal to your beauty

You’d not come here to banish

You’d stride with pride

Through obstacles wide

And know your father through me

I spoke not, just hung there

It seemed forever

Silent as a lamb asleep

My breath was deep

I fought against my need to weep

You’re a liar! I screamed. My father is deceased.

He chided and he laughed

Then the night did know peace.

And Now They Thrive

You killed parts of me

But they needed to die

He waters other parts of me

And now they thrive

I don't remember tears now

Unless they are filled with joy

But I remember the pit of my stomach on the floor

The pit of my stomach is there no more

His laugh is the music that fills my heart

His smile the sun that brightens my soul

His thoughts and words nourish my vacant parking lot of existence

But now its not so vacant

Now they're filled with his heart beat….infinite.

I see my past as a path with intent

The intentions fulfilled and in the past they stay

My future an opportunity made and paid in silver and gold, with ambition and vision and goals

I know this is the ellipsis I've been dying for

Now I live for it.

He's all I need and more.

They Bleed the Truth So Ugly and Viral

13. (Pleads From the Self)
I’ve hidden in the shadows enough
Your errands bore my zealous soul
I’ve waited in your dungeon forever
Let my light shine through your eyes
I’ve longed for recognition and gratitude
But you push me deep; away from the surface
I cannot bare the neglect and the disdain
They chide at me with insolence
You lose me in the heart of another
Then mourn me when the other is gone
You sacrifice me in the name of  “love”
But search for me when the passion is done
I harbor no ill-will to you but my request is pretty clear
Get to know me better now or my presence will cease to be here

14.
He hits me with a left hook
Then leaves me bleeding
His words the brunt of the left hook
My face so lost; unclear
I ask for clarification
But am only met with stares so blank
I ask “what exactly do you mean by that?”
But still the air is vacant
I can’t approve of your methods sir
Your opinions are strong and misguided
You dictate them with passion and earnest
But explain them not when challenged.
Did he mute you? Did he request you to keep your yap trap shut?
I think that’s the best you can do, when the only one who cares what you have to say is you!

15.
The air around me is thin
In the room we occupy together
Though the space between us is dense
Saturated with things left un settled.
I smile and pretend things will be okay
But the fear is still there
The fear equaling unknown information
The ignorance is the space between us and you know it
Just tell me what it is
Tell me why it is
Feed me the truth so I can sleep at night; enjoy my life;
Give my heart entirely where it needs to be; longs to be
You know there is a pea in this mattress we build together …yet you ignore it
You ignore it because it give you power…power over me.

25 Things I Learned from Biz: A Recollection of Life Changing Philosophies!

Things I learned from Biz Stone Co-Creator of Twitter

This list was compiled of all the advice and philosophies I sticky tabbed while reading Biz’s book Things A little Bird Told Me: Confessions of a Creative Mind. Though much of what he talked about was specific to starting your own company, and building a profitable business in general, a lot of what he said, and he even mentioned it himself, can be applied to your everyday life and how you live in society.

I felt the lessons I learned in his anecdotes were worth simplifying into a neat list for my friends and family. I also included various quotes to better emphasize the concisely stated ideals. I hope you learn something life changing from his words as I did. Enjoy!

1. Re-invent yourself. Be the persona in your wildest fantasies.
2. Take risks and make your own opportunities.
3. Creativity is a renewable resource. Challenge yourself everyday. Find a new approach to something, anything. “Experience and curiosity drive us to make unexpected, offbeat connections. It is these nonlinear steps that often lead to the greatest work (23).”
4. Creativity is infinite (it’s worth saying again!).
5. Be willing to fail, don’t be afraid. Go past the point of no return.
6. Be engaged in your work. If you don’t love what you do there is no point in doing it.
1. “...I realized the value of emotional investment. you know in your heart something’s worth pursuing; you’re not sure exactly why, but it doesn’t matter. Success isn’t guaranteed, but failure is certain if you aren’t truly emotionally invested in your work (51).”
7. Embrace your constraints...they are proactive. They are challenging. They wake you up. They make you more creative. They make you better (57).
8. Working together is better than working alone.
9. Be human it yields good will; Embrace your flaws and be honest.
10. Be genuine! “It doesn’t pay to be bulletproof. nobody is flawless and when you act as if you are, it always rings false (95).”
11. Failure is part of the path!
1. “...Failure is part of the path. It was worth the risk. in fact, it was a critical component of growth. By sharing it with our users, we were showing our ultimate confidence in ourselves and our success. We weren’t quitting, and we hoped our faith would inspire theirs (97).
12. Solutions emerge if you look for the positive. “...finding the bright spot. When everything’s wrong and broken, instead of harping on what’s wrong and broken, find what works, and build on that. Seek out the positive ‘bright spot’ amid seemingly limitless negativity (101).”
1. “...the bright spot theory is about a fundamentally positive outlook. Rose-colored glasses tint the world with false beauty. But an open, curious, optimistic mind yields solutions, and has a better time along the way (102).”
13. Leadership sometimes means “cultivating the appearance of confidence.”
14. You set your own value so set it high.
15. Be open to the idea that you do not have all the answers, but the people around you might.
16. There’s no harm in proposing change. Just make sure your ducks are in a row:
1. “...opportunities like this are easier to recognize and implement in the workplace….Rules are there to help us--to create a culture, to streamline productivity, and to promote success. But we’re not computers that need to be programmed. We’re all a bunch of oddballs. Just because someone has authority, doesn’t mean they know better. If you approach your bosses or colleagues with respect, and your goals are in alignment, there’s often room for a little customization and flexibility….The solution, always, is to listen carefully -- to your own needs and to those of the people around you (148).”
17. Be diligent in the pursuit of your goals.
18. Never follow rules blindly: “Trust your instincts, know what you want, and believe in your ability to achieve it. Rules and conventions are important for schools, businesses, and society in general, but you should never follow them blindly. And it always helps to have a like-minded partner in crime (154).”
19. Assumptions = Fear and “Fear in the absence of knowledge breeds irrationality (158)”
20. Always seek knowledge in the face of fear!....keep your mind open, pursue knowledge, and see the bigger picture (159).
21. In everything you do employ these virtues: empathy, altruism, humanity, open mindedness;
22. Employ these affirmative assumptions: you don’t always know what’s going to happen; some people are smarter than you; do the right thing; the only deal worth doing is a win-win deal; people have good intentions; you can be successful, change the world, and have fun.
23. Give back to your community every chance you get. It doesn’t have to be monetarily. Deeds are returnable investments as well.
24. Stand up for what you believe is right.
25. Collaboration is better than nasty competition. Band together, support one another, and encourage progressive change.

A Love Note to the Local Music Scene

I’ve found myself wondering why I moved to this city. Why do I invest so much of myself, my time, into a community of people just to watch them bicker and fight like two-year-olds in daycare centers? Why do I spend my money on tickets? Why do I purchase merchandise for your band or shell out $5-$10 for your four to six track “cd?” Why go to the show you are busting your ass to promote, only to get five to seven people through the door? Why? Why trouble myself to support you all, when you don’t support each other?

Not too long ago I was a “real” member of the music scene. A much smaller music scene in a state that quite frequently, and quite passionately, gets shit on for various reasons. Some of which are completely ridiculous. We barely bickered. We never snuck behind each other backs and placed blame or sabotaged each other. We never broke ties either. We supported one another not only because we were friends but because we knew that to play music any other way, at our level, would be counterproductive.  We needed each other to ensure our “scene” would be successful.

So we bought each other’s show tickets; we drove 50+ miles to each other’s barely packed shows. We purchased each other’s low quality merch when we knew we’d gladly give it to each other for free. We support one another because there was no one else to support us. We were a family! We still are a family even though less than half of us are still playing the music we love.

I moved to this city, to be a part of a similar brotherhood again. I thought I found it; Smiling faces supporting other smiling faces. After a few months of being in this scene I’ve noticed the rose colored glasses were way too bright and the support was a façade. I noticed if you took off the heart-shaped specs, the bad blood and bickering were right there on the surface, underneath grinning masks made of papier-mâché and ulterior motives. It’s heartbreaking!

I’m not saying it should have been all sunshine and roses all of the time but come one, say what you mean, mean what you say, and follow through with your promises. I know things can’t be awesome all of the time but for Christ sake, I could set a schedule by the outbursts of drama shifting around this town.

You’re probably asking yourself, Devo why are you writing this? Who are you referring to? What are you getting at, aka what is the point? Are you going to end this with a resignation from, whatever it is that you do in this scene (because let’s face it no one really knows what I do, but you all feel the impact of my actions)? 

My answers to your questions are simple:

1   1.     I’m writing this because I care way to God damn much about people who could give a zero fucks about me. I’m writing this because I want you all to know that it breaks my heart to see people who are so passionate about their art, get drug down  and preoccupied with “school yard drama” and the subsequent tactics used to insight it.  It’s heartbreaking!

2.  I’m referring to no one and every one! We’ve all seen it, heard it, felt it, and been in involved in a situation, at some point in the past 8-9months that has resulted in migraine inducing, scream fight instigating drama (myself included). It’s neither helpful nor necessary. There are ways to mediate issues between bands, promoters, venues/bars, without child-like actions. I promise you. I was a conflict mediator at one point in my life, I swear to you there are alternatives.

3.      What I’m getting at is simple as well, stop fighting and unite your efforts. I know there is money involved when you’re a promoter, bar owner, etc., but there are ways to promote yourself to generate income and not sully the competition. It is possible. Imagine what we could do with this music scene if we all worked together? How awesome it would be to see four or five of our friend’s bands get signed to major record labels and spread their music across the country if we’d just help each other out? I think that would be pretty awesome.

4.      What exactly am I going to resign from? Yes, I do public relations for an independent record label when they call upon me (by the way they are in no way endorsing this message. This was my own dumbass idea). To resign from that position would be to turn my back on something I love dearly, which is writing and using my writing skills to promote my talented friends. Not to mention “what exactly I do in this scene” is support all of you by going to your shows, buying your music and merch, and spreading the word about your music at each and every chance I get. How does one resign from being a fan?

I’m writing this solely because I care and I don’t want to see this scene get divide by pettiness. The quote below that you are hopefully going to read, was my inspiration for this rant. It’s from a book called Things a Little Bird Told Me by Biz Stone, Co-founder of Twitter. In this chapter he muses about how awesome it would be if, instead of competing with each other, everyone just collaborated. How far advanced do you image us as a world would have gone by now? How far do you imagine we could go? I’m just asking that we scale it down. Imagine what we, the local music scene of Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love that is not producing much love at all), could accomplish if we joined our efforts and supported each other, communicated our grievances instead of declaring war?

Just think about it! I’m not asking for responses or revolution, just a little less negativity and hate and more love and support. I’ll still be around at ALL OF YOUR SHOWS, regardless of my affiliations and newly acquired employment, supporting everyone equally. The same goes for social media promotion as well \m/ <3 Okay here’s the quote:

What if we weren’t citizens of a particular country or state? What if we were citizens of the world? …Flocking is a triumph of humanity. It can make things happen. Imagine if humanity could cooperate like an emergent life form – we could get things done in a single year that would otherwise take one hundred years to do. Imagine if all the world’s astrophysicists put their egos aside and collaborated on a Mars mission? Or all the environmental scientists worked as one on global warming? Or the world’s best oncologists took on cancer together, one type at a time? Only 114,000 people in the world have thirty million dollars or more in assets. What if they were in a Google group and decided to invest in one thing to change the course of history?

Then there’s all of us, and together we are more powerful than any one thing. Can you imagine what we could get done (212)?