Non-angsty poems

Yes, you read that right. The second half of august I've been writing some poems that are actually non-angsty! It's a miracle!

To wake up when I feel like it -
say ten of ten -
the sun and blue sky smiling on me,
the whole day stretching forward
and my dreams still lingering in my head -
to sleep and dream and be rested
is one of my most favorite things.

*

I love it when the moon is just
a bright flare in the inky trees
and all the sky is dusky grey
and swirled with clouds, and all I hear
is chirping bugs and the night air
is silky on my face and the
whole world is dark, much darker than
the sky

*

Last night I kept waking up
and wishing I could slide back into
dreams that mixed memories with wants
and people with imagined things -
for in my dreams there was the sun
and endless sky, the marshgrass and
the chin-high coolness of the sea -
but in my dreams,
I could swim
I swam across a river and I
never once looked down.


Kelia

August life

While I don't have any good poems to share, there are a couple of things I could talk about from this month. I've mostly been practicing piano, working, hanging out with some friends, and being on tumblr, but I've also been reading! I read three books last week, compared to one last month. I got a really good stash out from the library recently, and it's so lovely to curl up with a good book and just read.

The books I read were: 1. Black Heart by Holly Black, it's the third in a series and I've been waiting for it forever. This book was awesome, I love the main character and the plot was crazy as always. I read it in one day, as soon as I started it my day was just gone.

2. Looking for Alaska by John Green. Ever since buying The Fault in Our Stars in February (my first John Green read) I've been slowly working through his books, this is the third I've read. I love his writing so much.  His characters are always believable and have such unique voices, they really make his stories work. Also, I love the Colonel.

3. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. Oh, my goodness this book. Normally this wouldn't be the kind of book I'd get (it's about a 17 year old kid whose dad was a serial killer, and now years after his dad was put in jail, dead bodies start showing up in town again), but I'd heard such good things about it that I immediately picked it up, and I'm so glad I did. It's very dark obviously, Jasper thinks about death a lot and whether or not he's pre-destined to become a killer also. But the plot is fast paced and intriguing, his friends are awesome, and it's really well written. I kind of fell in love with this one.

4. And the only book I read last month was the long awaited Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore! I waited and waited for my library to get this book, but finally I just went and bought it. So glad I did, this is a beautiful book. Other than the writing, it has gorgeous illustrations each new section, which I adore. I was so happy to meet Bitterblue and get to spend more time with characters from her other books too.

That is it for my summer books. Any good books you've been reading, whoever reads this?
Kelia

I've been tagged!

This is way overdue, but I am doing it! The lovely Katie from http://insanitycomeswithapenandpaper.blogspot.com/ has tagged me to answer these questions, some of which made me think a lot!

1. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
I've been trying and trying to think of something... I guess I haven't had a lot of embarrassing laugh out loud moments, which is fine with me!

2. If you could get paid for doing anything, what would you do?
Three answers to this one! 
1. Obviously, if I could get paid for traveling the world, eating lots of delicious food, and watching TV and reading books as much as I want, that's what I would do with my life. 
2. If there was just one thing I'd love to do even if I don't get paid for it, that would to be in an episode of Doctor Who. (*dies just thinking about it*) 
3. And I'm sure this is not what the question meant, but if I could learn how to fly (hey, you said do anything) and get paid for it, that would definitely be my life goal!

3. Who has been the biggest influence on your life (so far)? What lessons has/did that person teach you?
I can't really pick one person out-- my parents gave me life and have influenced me in every way I can think of, and my sisters made me who I am. I can't imagine who I would be without any of them.

4. What is your definition of love?
There are a whole lot of definitions of love, and right now I can't think of one better than the classic 'someone you care about more than yourself.'

5. Have you experienced any miracles? OR do you believe in miracles? Why/why not. 
I don't think I've experienced anything miraculous, but there definitely are some unexplainable things that happen in the world.

6. What are your major goals in life?
Travel the world, find a career I'll be happy in, be brave in everything I do, meet everyone I can, (yes be in an episode of Doctor Who), and find out who I am. (Argh that sounds so cheesy! But it was either that or find inner peace.)

7. Favorite movie(s) – go! 
Ooh so many! In no order, Mulan, How to Train Your Dragon, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Aladdin, The Incredibles, Princess Bride, Galaxy Quest, The Lord of the Rings. And yes, most of those are animated. They're the best.

8. What is the weirdest thing you have done in the past (that you feel comfortable discussing)?
When I was a little kid, I liked to eat pickles with peanutbutter on them. EWWWWWWW everyone says! But I have found two others who enjoyed the same thing! I am not alone. 

9. What places in the world would you most like to visit? Why?
Everywhere, everywhere. But really, France, Italy, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England, Mongolia, Tibet, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, Sweden, Holland, Norway, Estonia, Russia, Egypt, and everywhere else.

10. Just for fun! According to your birthdate, what is your zodiac sign? Do you believe you fit that sign’s description or not?
I am an Aquarius! I think it's pretty accurate. 

11. What is your favorite (guilty pleasure) snack?
I don't snack a ton, but I love desserts with a passion. If any dessert is in the house that's my snack, and I don't feel too guilty!


And that is it! I am so late with this post, sorry!
Kelia

July poems

I wrote ten poems in July, most of which were no good, but there were a few okay ones. This first one I wrote at my job, which I really like most of the time, but I cannot STAND being in the quilt shop.

The air conditioner hums
its song of coolness and
the fabric cutter shrieks
it's indignation at my awful skills
and the rest of the world is silent
I'm alone in the shop
and for all I do I might as well
be standing still


This next one I just find funny (the fact that I wrote it, how very dramatic and ridiculous it is, and how nervous I am to post it).

I barely said a word to you
or looked at you, except of course
to watch your fingers on the keys
your shoulders move, your head tilting.
Before that you had just smiled
at me for one moment, your hand
lightly resting on my elbow
as you went past me and onstage.
I stared at you the whole time that
you played, marveling at the sound
and your shoulders, and then I could
not think of anything to say.


And the last one is all over the place, so does it make sense to anyone else?

Flipping through these pages is
the closest I've gotten to time traveling
each poem-journal is a bit of me
impressed and imprinted on the page,
ready to spring to life and show me
who I was then, how different
and how exactly the same
So many of them, if pictures,
would find me in this same exact spot
trying to sort my brain so I can
go to sleep, my eyes on the clock
The only thing that changes is
the words I put down
the worries all stay
and having the pieces of me
in a pile like this just wafting with
emotions and angst
makes me realize
I think that all my poems, and me
could be summed up with
I don't even know.


And despite how rather unhappy those three poems are, I had a great July! This summer has been really fun. Hopefully I'll start posting more often, I was tagged by Katie ages ago so that will be my next one!
Kelia

Piano camp

Today was the second day of piano camp, and I'm pretty crazy busy so I probably won't post for the rest of this week. Here's an old poem, from January 2009 that I really like.

Silence sits
high on the wall
and waits for night to fall
Noise he suffers
as he waits
and watches shadows crawl.

From corners first
they spill to floors
and slowly creep along
Colors change
and sounds die down
as silence sings it's song.

A sticky web
that coats the mind
and seems to make all shrink
Silence spreads
and takes control
he moves so fast-- don't blink.

Before they know
or comprehend
that there is no more light
Darkness breathes
and silence sighs
they merge and form the night.

Kelia

Nano excerpt #10

The end of chapter two! Also, I know yesterday was the summer solstice, but happy summer!


That night I couldn’t sleep, my head was going in circles. I was restless too, first I’d be too hot and as soon as I shifted I’d get in an uncomfortable position and then I’d have an itch. I tried not to watch the clock ticking the night away.
And then I started to hear something-- a bird singing, or maybe just my blood rushing, or a song… I felt an actual pain in my chest as the noise drifted into something almost recognizable. It was still too far away to make out-- no, I corrected myself. The sound wasn’t getting closer. It was just the band starting up. I hadn’t heard them for years. I had a vague memory of weird dreams that music caused though, and it was getting loud enough to make my head spin and my heart thump-- so I reached over and grabbed the ear plugs on my desk. The night was finally silent, and I sighed and went to sleep.


Kelia

Nano excerpt #9

This is a new section, which I don't know if I really need. I like it fine but it doesn't really do anything :/


“We’re home!” Jake announced, banging the door shut to really let us know. He had just picked up mom from work, and I headed towards the kitchen and the cake. “I am staying out here until you light it,” he informed us from the hall and Elle grinned at me with the lighter in hand. Mom was standing in the door way still in her nurse’s scrubs, smiling at us.
“Hi mom,” I said and went over for a peck on the cheek.
“Hi,” she said, smoothing my hair back into place. “The cake looks beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I said, looking back as Elle lit the candles. It glistened, the dark chocolate covered in home made caramel sauce and studded all over with chocolate chips. It really had turned out well.
“Hurry,” Jake begged us and I rolled my eyes.
“He’s been looking forward to this all month,” mom said in her quiet, amused voice. “Or all year if you believe him.”
“Done!” Elle announced and I flicked the lights off. The glowing candles were in a formation to make a twenty one, and they only lit up the curve of Elle’s chin and her long fingers. The rest of the room seemed pitch black compared to the sparks of flame and the one patch of gleaming moon light behind Elle.
“Happy Birthday to you,” mom started singing, and I joined in enthusiastically off key. Jake appeared, wincing at either the sound or the darkness, and Elle moved back from the candles so he could sit at the table. “Happy birthday to you!” we finished, Elle almost giggling.
“We should record that sometime, it’s quite special,” she whispered to me and Jake shushed her. He thought for a long time, his face turned away from us from where he sat, and finally blew all the candles out with a huge gust of breath. We clapped and mom turned the lights back on, and the room transformed back into the one I knew. I could see mom’s expression now, she was smiling at the back of Jake’s head and looked tired like usual. Jake twisted around to grin at us and Elle grabbed the knife to cut up the cake.
“You know how to do it Elle?” Mom asked, though Elle had already started.
“Yes mom,” she said. “And besides, no piece is too big right?” mom laughed at that, a sound which I always thought made her seem younger.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “Give the biggest one to Jake.”
“That sounds good,” he said and soon we were all eating away. It was delicious, rich and sticky and the chocolate chips provided the perfect bit of crunch along with it. We all sat around the table, for the first time since Christmas and I couldn’t help but look at our reflections in the window. You could barely see the moon light on the floor any more, our bright artificial light was pushing it outside. We took up the whole window, all I could see in it was laughter and faces eating and the perfect family of four.

Kelia