Tag: English literature

Whatever it is…

Now that the holiday spirits are slowly dying down, people have began to talk of the next big thing: Valentines Day. I know it’s too early for romance talk, but it never is too early for poetry! Besides, I’ve been posting a lot of short stories lately, and I’ve been missing the poetic touch.

With this poem, it was love at first sight. Yet again.

And for all those folks who wonder what the hell love is, here’s what the German poet, Erich Freud has to say.

Was es ist

Es ist Unsinn
sagt die Vernunft
Es ist was es ist
sagt die Liebe

Es ist Unglück
sagt die Berechnung
Es ist nichts als Schmerz
sagt die Angst
Es ist aussichtslos
sagt die Einsicht
Es ist was es ist
sagt die Liebe

Es ist lächerlich
sagt der Stolz
Es ist leichtsinnig
sagt die Vorsicht
Es ist unmöglich
sagt die Erfahrung
Es ist was es ist
sagt die Liebe

Translation

What it is

It is nonsense
says reason
It is what it is
says love

It is calamity
says calculation
It is nothing but pain
says fear
It is hopeless
says insight
It is what it is
says love

It is ludicrous
says pride
It is foolish
says caution
It is impossible
says experience
It is what it is
says love

Never mind what
anyone says –
It is confusing
says I. ;)

Accidental Bestseller

His book was on the best sellers list and it was the worst possible thing that could have happened. – Today’s Author

He had never expected to send that draft to print; it was his first novel, and it was meant to remain unpublished.

Despite the people who appreciated the work, he knew it fell short somewhere. After countless scrutinizing drafts later, he had decided to put it off for sometime.

Then came the flourishing era.

He wrote another book, published it, and from there, his path was paved with success.

Throughout the years, the first novel remained a draft, collecting dust in his drawer. He never made an effort to revive it.

His family tried to coerce him into getting it published but he wouldn’t budge. He had convinced himself that his first book wasn’t meant for public readership.

Then it happened.

One bright Sunday, he left home for his morning walk, never to return.

Floating in mid-air, he gaped longingly at the shelves. After what seemed like hours, a young girl picked up a copy and flipped it to read the synopsis.

He read it over her shoulder.

“The critically acclaimed first work of the great novelist Bradly Wilson, published posthumously by his loving family.”

“This is his greatest contribution to the literary world. Pity he never got to see it in print.” — The New York Times.

“He was always like that; he gave away a lot without trumpeting it” — Mrs. Wilson.

An Artist’s Life

Amanda Palmer-The Art of Asking
From ‘The Art of Asking,’ by Amanda Palmer

Ever had that feeling of being lost? The frustration of not being able to be as good as you want to be? I know I’ve had that feeling – still do, but that’s when we need words like these. To calm the soul, to assure us that it’s all going to be fine. Because everyone’s gone through it. Every artist faces a point where he or she’s torn between scarcity and abundance.

Art doesn’t make money grow on trees; we all know that. And we still choose to do it.

What do we hope for, when we continue to create art despite knowing that it might only lead us down poverty’s path?

Are we hoping for the next best seller? The cover image of a popular art magazine? The headlines of the reputed news channel that no one but the rich have the time to while away on?

Hell yes! Every artist hopes for recognition. And abundance.

But these’s more…

It’s not just the glitter that we’re after. We create art, because we have to. Because knowing that you want to be an artist and not working on it, is like burying all your dreams and accepting a hideous mask in this already two-faced world.

And as artists, we can’t do that.

So we create art instead – the only thing we can do to stay sane. Such art comes from the heart; it’s raw, it’s fresh and it connects with its audience.

And once we’ve reached that point, the glitter follows.

It’s a beautiful life, an artist’s. And Amanda Palmer has beautifully phrased it in her book, ‘The Art of Asking.’ I haven’t read the book, but after reading a few excerpts, the book’s now on my list. If you enjoyed this excerpt, you might want to check out another one I shared sometime ago, also from the same book.

P.S: The image is a screenshot from Brain Pickings Weekly (with their signature yellow quotation mark.)

What’s your choice?

When it comes to words of wisdom, she’s now my go-to person. It’s pretty amazing how whatever she’s written is so relatable. I have a choice - Sylvia Plath It’s like she’s seen right through you and spoken the very words that you would cringe to admit. I don’t know about you guys, but I sure have found myself in the “in between” point that Sylvia mentions. I’ve been torn between the choice of being happy and the undeniable circumstances of mourning.

In fact, when you pay enough attention to it, there’s a lot to worry about. Work, family, health, debt, duties… it’s an endless list. And these are mostly sad instances. There’s nothing joyful about work pressure, or health issues.

But then, there’s the choice.

Isn’t it better to be happy about earning enough to enjoy a great movie at the theatre with corn that’s popped to perfection, than worry about being constantly picked on at work? But it’s not always the option we’d opt for; we’d usually get stuck “in between.”

And that’s where we need to make a conscious choice. It’s either happiness or sadness – because even introspective sadness has a calming effect on the soul, whereas indecisiveness is just a complete fiasco.