Lifechanging Poem

Reposted from ReviewingYourLife.com: When I was young and still had a lifetime of, "when I was young," stories ahead of me, I noticed an old, brown book with a deteriorated binding, decrepit pages and to my endless delight, chapter upon chapter of poetry. Obscure, reputed and the line that lies therein between, it was a treasure worth one thousand times its weight in wonder. I opened to a random page and found a poem that after my first read, became the poem that I liked more than any short text in the world. Within a short minute of intent, fascinated repetition, I had it memorised. I still do and I most likely always will. I carried it with me always from that day (it fell out of the book when I opened to it) until the binder in which I had carefully secured it, was stolen years later, along with my precious page. When my life is going well, when it is going poorly and when I just need to be reminded that life is there to live, I think back to this:

When all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, lad, And every lass a queen; Then hey for boot and horse, lad, And round the world away! Young blood must have its course, lad, And every dog his day. When all the world is old, lad, And all the trees are brown; And all the sport is stale, lad, And all the wheels run down; Creep home, and take your place there, The spent and maimed among; God grant you find one face there, You loved when all was young.

-Charles Kingsley (1819-1875)

Francisco Goya - The Bullfight

"The Bullfight," by Francisco Goya, is an intricate painting which, in Goya's unique style, represents a popular sport of the time and place in which it was painted.

It is set in a divided stadium and it is immediately apparent that more than one match is transpiring with many men facing a total of two bulls.

The matadors appear proficient in their sport and the crowd appears to be enthralled. Some are even standing to behold the magnificent spectacle in the crowded area.

The plaque next to the painting does not explain the scene in any great detail, it follows only the factual data surrounding author and painting. At first glance this may be the logical thing to do, but it just may be worth another look.

There are dozens of ways to look at this painting in a deep or metaphorical way and as art, it makes sense to do so and perhaps thereby gain some insight into the mind of the creator.

The spectators' focus ends on their own side of the divider and also begins there. Each allows his view to be myopic, shallow and divided; seeing only what is easily seen.

Of the two species trying to prove their bravery, it is the bulls who are outnumbered, with most of the people standing at a distance despite their overwhelming advantage. The bulls stand poised head on, to defend and attack all that they may encounter.

The men are also carrying weapons, in contrast to the bulls, whose weapons come from their own innate strength, that with which they were born; their horns, their muscle and their instinct.

Of the two sides, it is no secret that the crowd is not cheering on either of the self-sufficient, bold bovines, but rather the cowering men who, in the first place, have instigated the animal into defending himself.

Whether or not there was any sentiment of animal cruelty is disputable, but the deeper message as seems apparent in much of Goya's work, is the animosity which can be brought out within a group. Hatred inspired by those who antagonise and are rejoiced as heroes when they enter a battle instigated only by them.

It seems quite conceivable, that by using a very simple metaphor, a popular sport of the time, Goya was trying to make a statement that after 350 years, has not struck a chord. By no means do I draw a parallel between the description and modern day politics, as I am not in that business.

It does, however, seem very conceivable that the message is there and that by ignoring this piece on any level beyond the superficial, that we are proponents of that which Goya may have been warning against.

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Dion J. Pollard - Black Culture Artist Spotlight

Having just seen for the first time, the work of Dion J. Pollard, sometimes known by his pseudonym, "Dion Jay," it seemed appropriate to bring the artist's work to light.

The author's work, "Tree of Knowledge," [pictured below] inspired a sense of curiosity as to what the author might look like, the expectation was not anything like the reality. He looks more like a Sherman tank than an artist. Like I am pretty sure this guy gets Mr. T cloned, just so that he can eat him for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Having said that, let us discuss, "Tree of Knowledge." The image depicts a black man, with lean and sinewy arms, his face concealed behind a book with the title, "Who Am I?" The clothes worn by the man pictured are not very modern or expensive looking, in fact they seem reminiscent of workman clothes worn in the 1800s; a white shirt, canvas blue jeans rolled up and shoes that are rather ambiguously drawn and non-descript. A book entitled, "English," and the bible are also visibly located nearby.

There are several things to analyse just in the title of this book. Though certain things are left to chance and fate and are unchangeable, your race, your social circumstance, location etc. Some things may be improved just by allowing yourself an education, Frederick Douglass was a major proponent of this belief, as were many reformed "radicals," in the 1960s.

The picture represents the reconciliation of ingrained circumstance with self-improvement and effort to change for the better, in spite of negative surroundings.

Although this could take place in any era and the depicted character may very well be anyone from any circumstance, he does look very much like the archetypal early American civil war era slave. If this is the case, then there is a further message; he is not picking cotton, being hurt or tortured, he is not ploughing the dirt of a field; the message is that only when man acquires education can he truly be free.

The picture has an aesthetic similar to a cartoon, despite the detail and easily apparent tremendous amount of effort put into it. There is a divine simplicity behind the work that makes it all the more complex; still the message is clear, it is not hard to look at this and understand what you see.

Pollard has proven himself a valuable asset to not only the African American community, but the art community. The painting was clearly not made by a simple-minded person, "Dion Jay," has the kind of bright mind and potential that allow a a simple image and medium to depict a profound and complex thought. Though oppression and slavery may be inflicted upon one by another, the only person subject to mental slavery and servitude is he who inflicts it upon himself.

Lyrics Unavailable Anywhere Else on the Web (Except RYL)- Lenny Bruce: All Alone

Reposted from RYL:

Lenny Bruce was a complex individual.  He was stubborn, idealistic, ambitious and intelligent.
He was not so much a comedian as a philosopher.  Bruce's "cynical," irony, his tendency to challenge social restrictions and his political satire all influenced dozens of future comics and led to drastic changes in the way society viewed words, ideas and hypocrisy.
A catalyst for social reform, Bruce was constantly at odds with the government over his use of obscenity.  He was arrested for using terminology in reference to oral sex several times, which was at the time a misdemeanor in the state of California.
Like many men with strong passion and principle, Bruce suffered his share of heartbreak, leading him to write this funny, but melancholy little tune.
I [ReviewingYourLife.com] personally spent the time transcribing the lyrics as they were not on any lyric sites.

Sung:
Oh what joy to be all alone
I'm happy alone don't you see
I've convinced you--
Eh, I don't wanna get so dramatic about it, you're better off alone man, I gotta--
That's it I'm gonna get a whole bunch of new suits
You know I've had the same dumb suit for ten years
You walk into her closet, you can't even breathe
That's it I'll get a whole bunch of suits, I'll get a chick that likes to hang out
I'll have little vodka parties
That's it vodka parties swing it up all good--
Get a chick who likes to drink
Boy my wife sure used to look good standing up against the sink
She's the lowest though
I really put her down
No-- No, I really miss her
I don't want some sharp chick that can quote Kerouac and walk with poise
I just want to hear my old lady say get up and fix the sink, it's still making noise
Sung:
All alone
All alone
Like a nearsighted dog, where's the bone?
Aw but it's better-to be alone.
No more taking out the garbage, hear her yacking on the phone-
I gave her everything even my mother's ring
But to me she was so petty
Sometimes I wish that she were dead--
But it'd probably take her 2 hours to get ready-
When she's old!
Then she's gonna be sorry
That's it!
Like she's young and swinging now and she can get a lot of guys but when she's old--
I can see her about 20 years from now:
"How you doin' Annie?
I haven't seen you in a long time, you look pretty good baby
You're still watching your hair with Dutch cleanser I see
Yeah, you've gained a few pounds-
What happened to your neck?
I heard you got married a few times
Me no, I've always stayed single
I've been investing in property
I've picked up a little place in Mexico, maybe you've heard of it--Acapulco
Where are you living, a furnished room?
That's nice, you cook on the radiator, there's paper drapes, sit in the lobby and watch television and all
That's cool, yeah
Yeah that's cool
You have the diner's club you sign, you go first class in those joints, I know it"
Yeah that's it
Her future spells a murky gloom
I'll be rich and famous and she'll be living in a furnished room-
But it's gonna be too late
I wouldn't hear her moan
I'll be living in my Nardville mansion-- Rich
... and all alone
Sung:
All alone
All alone
I'll be rich
But so all alone

Artwork: Poem

This was written by a contributor who chooses to remain nameless to readers, it is a representation of his thoughts, feelings and dissonance as well as the dissonance of people and the conflict of the inner cynic versus what he calls, "the eternal optimist."  It is entitled, "Ad Infinitum."

Do what you like
Like what you do
This above all to thine own self be true

Some of us gamble
Some of us drink
Some of us smile
and those who don't think

The heart is a thing
The heart is a place
The heart is a heartache
Just taking up space

Don't do it for favors
Don't do it for pay
Never be trusting
Or do more than you say

Find a teacher
Purchase a friend
Find yourself love
From now to the end

Vanities all
In future
In present
Never trust the perpetually pleasant

For all things there are time
For all people as well
Keep yourself thinking
For we make our own hell

Don't worry about things
Money or items
Only happiness matters
Ad infinitum

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