by blake | Jun 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
(« The Miraculous Draft of Fishes » – Artist Unknown – photography by TTaylor)
« Asking For A Miracle » is a short instrumental arranged for acoustic instruments, and written in a time of dire need.
While working on the composition, I recalled a tarot reading I gave to the fiancée of my sole nephew, sometime after she had lost her first unborn baby. Although she never voiced her question, I felt that she was hoping to try to give birth again. The cards clearly told that the possibility was there despite what had gone wrong in the past, and that her attempt would be successful as long as she was willing to commit to the process and make the required sacrifices. I remember she was visibly moved by the reading and very happy about the possible outcome.
Her son, my sole grandnephew, is now three years old. The piece is dedicated to him.
The poetry has very little to do with that story. About half the stanzas have been written around the end of April, as observations on events and people in various online communities I am part of. The remainder have been inspired by interactions that took place in the recent weeks. In publishing the verses, it is my hope that some of the prayers and questions they voice will be answered.
sister Jo is in tears
her best friend died on her
after so many years
lost her fight to cancer
the ghost rings at her door
seeing no one out there
she crumbles to the floor
please spare her from despair
brother Bill generous
shares his blessings daily
though strong and courageous
he sometimes grows weary
routine never ceasing
hasn’t he earned reprieve
must his words keep paving
the return of his Eve
on his own poor Kerry
wants to move overseas
to join his friends merry
and once more be at ease
can’t you extend his range
of creativity
so he can bring the change
he’s so yearning to see
and Peter is dismayed
by his circumstances
all his efforts unpaid
never bring his chances
lightworking all day long
good deed after good deed
little he does is wrong
why shouldn’t he be freed
Alysson is in hell
or so suggests his name
a boy meaning so well
why should he miss the aim
hankering for a break
from his predicament
why can’t he, for his sake
find steady employment
Persephone is flawed
or so she seems to think
why couldn’t she be awed
and recognize the link
in how failings define
perfect trajectories
designed to intertwine
and resolve the stories
Kimmie is yet buzzing
planning for this and that
always multitasking
she wears more than one hat
isn’t she deserving
for all her energy
why can’t she be reaping
the desired synergy
and Gary is teaching
inimitable voice
that of heaven reaching
we have to make the choice
the mystery within
hints at the solution
the answers lie therein
pray confirm his vision
Eloura is upset
in her understanding
she is right on target
so she shuns the warning
blind as to the error
that causes her illness
she shoots the messenger
save her from this darkness
Eva too is lonely
upsurges of anger
and sudden enmity
are nothing to help her
in her soul restlessness
friends coming and leaving
can’t you in your kindness
grant the peace she’s craving
Chris is often tired
undertaking the vow
a pure land required
in the here and the now
an eight-year wide desert
whirlwind of creation
can’t you with him concert
and back his solution
the church of the joyful
has for only dogma
happiness bountiful
solves all enigmata
some shout their bliss aloud
but vain simulation
dire needs doesn’t shroud
please still their affliction
and how many do share
that which is not given
hurting the ones who dare
pluck the fruits of heaven
thus their mirror is bent
takers’ economy
when their merit is spent
pray ease their misery
and as their world crumbles
wrongdoing they deny
when the setback humbles
they blame the gods on high
eyes open by chagrin
angels fall from the sky
teach them that there’s no sin
is the tempter’s best lie
all the friends of freedom
hoping for more justice
a new kind of kingdom
with no king nor malice
cannot they realize
that it is in their hand
that they must strive to rise
to reach the promised land
in judging wrong and right
and punishing the foes
among themselves they fight
of conflict in the throes
how hours are wasted
in wars horizontal
prizes never tasted
efforts detrimental
love is the only choice
upward the only road
finding our own voice
yet partaking the load
we’re bound by objective
endeavour vertical
together supportive
attain the pinnacle
can you allow this wish
superorganism
must we first relinquish
our skepticism
is faith spoilt by blemish
merciless obstacle
or must we accomplish
our own miracle
by blake | Jun 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
Chapter 17 : Where Will You Be
The central character of this week’s instalment of The Threshold Series is Rahu Lüli, the young cenobite from Kõrgus.
At the beginning of the chapter, the teenager is getting ready to leave the monastery, and he ponders the events that have led him to believe that he has found the identity of the next spiritual leader of the remote community.
« As he finished putting his things in his backpack, the novice recalled how he had come to the decision. After what Kasulik Sõber had revealed, when he had climbed to the plateau where the solar panels were arrayed, the visions of the unknown lady had increased in frequency, and their details had become more precise. His original impressions had been confirmed. The woman in his glimpses neither had the physiognomy nor the skin pigmentation typical of the people of Kõrgus. Moreover, she was very pretty, and in fact her features starkly contrasted with her white hair, suggesting she was actually much older than what her vernal face led him to believe. And considering her clothing, she was clearly some sort of religious figure. »
Proceeding towards the gates of the cloister, the boy will encounter friends whose influence could very well make him reconsider his plans.
I hope you enjoy « Where Will You Be, » the seventeenth and penultimate episode of the first season of the Threshold Bookcast ! See you next week for the conclusion !
★
★
On a background of environmental and financial crises, and religious influences intertwining with political manoeuvres to determine the fate of an overpopulated planet, The Threshold Series chronicles the saga of the Ovelian civilization, a society very similar to our own, as it heads towards one of the most dramatic chain of events of its history.
The first book, « 2206 : Window Onto A New World, » focuses on the end of the year 2206, which culminates on an important federal election that will be impacted by the discovery of an anomaly in the nearby outer space.
Each episode of The Threshold Bookcast consists in a complete chapter of the series, made available for free online reading.
For more details about the series and the bookcast, please see the introduction.
The previous chapters are available here :
by blake | Jun 11, 2012 | Uncategorized
Melodic Revolution Records is about to undertake its most ambitious project ever. It’s still in the planning stages. But we are planning on a series of releases (tribute albums) in various genres tentatively named: Our Founding Fathers. Most likely it each release will be released in volumes by decade. Here is a rough list of genres and tentative artist we wish to cover, but like I said this is rough and will without a doubt change and more artists will be added to each release.
The purpose of these releases is to showcase independent artist while paying homage to the greats that forged the sound of music as we know it. Each release will be released as a FREE digital album. We will be seeking musicians and graphic artist that want to be a part of these releases. Here is a sneaky peak at some of the genres and artist we plan to cover.
Progressive Rock: Camel, BJH, Nektar, Uriah Heep, PFM, King Crimson, Yes, Can, Pink Floyd, Marillion,Caravan, ELP, The Moody Blues, Utopia, Far East Family Band, etc;
Blues: Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lomax, Lead Belly, Sonny Boy Williams.
Folk Rock: Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel, CSN&Y, etc;
Classic Rock: Humble Pie, Budgie,Ten Years After, The Doors, Free, The Who, Canned Heat, BOC , Deep Purple, Leon Russell, The Stones, Wishbone Ash, etc;
Alternative Rock: The Smiths, Wall Of Voodoo, Oingo Boingo, Depeche Mode, Vissage, The Alarm, Big Country, Talking Heads, Devo, The Romantics, The Clash, etc;
Pop Rock: David Bowie, The Beatles, A-ha, 10 CC The Police, Men at Work, Bad Finger, The Knack, Manfred Man, The Monkees, Rod Stewart, The Kinks etc;
Metal: Saxon, Accept, Doro, Y&T, MSG, Krokus, Motorhead, Girl School, Dokken, Scorpions, etc;
by blake | Jun 8, 2012 | Uncategorized
Chapter 16 : The Solid Time Of Change
The sixteenth chapter of « 2206 : Window Onto A New World » features the scientific facilities of Veshtar, and revolves around Bernard Sturn.
At the end of an all-nighter, weary of responding to video emails, the famous space engineer takes a break to rest his eyes, and ponders the recent developments in the political arena.
« Over the years, the physicist had learned the hard way that there were transition phases, or at any rate that’s how he referred to them. During these episodes, life required him to plough forward at all costs, no matter how exhausted he was, and no matter which obstacles he was facing, lest part of the efforts he had invested in the endeavour, if not all of them, would be cruelly wiped out overnight by circumstances ostensibly coming from beyond his sphere of influence. Strangely, he had come to associate them with the notion of electronic quantum leaps, inasmuch as only two possible outcomes were permitted, either all the way, or none at all. And if the lessons had been heart wrenching, at the very least he had profited immensely from developing the ability to recognize the exacting passages, even in the absence of obvious indicators, such as deadlines for instance. »
The pundit eventually reaches the software lab where Frank Evans, his assistant, joins him for an important discussion about the architecture of SAVIA.
Here’s this week’s instalment of the Threshold Bookcast, « The Solid Time Of Change. » Wishing you all a most pleasant reading !
★
★
On a background of environmental and financial crises, and religious influences intertwining with political manoeuvres to determine the fate of an overpopulated planet, The Threshold Series chronicles the saga of the Ovelian civilization, a society very similar to our own, as it heads towards one of the most dramatic chain of events of its history.
The first book, « 2206 : Window Onto A New World, » focuses on the end of the year 2206, which culminates on an important federal election that will be impacted by the discovery of an anomaly in the nearby outer space.
Each episode of The Threshold Bookcast consists in a complete chapter of the series, made available for free online reading.
For more details about the series and the bookcast, please see the introduction.
The previous chapters are available here :
