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Alice Elliot ([info]cross_of_light) wrote,
@ 2008-05-26 06:04:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Current mood: relieved
Entry tags:poem

Yes to the Earth

[Private]
I was so busy making sure Mitch was alright that I seem to have missed a lot of the recent events...! I need to keep a better eye on things, I think. Also, i'm confused...

Something horrid happened to a Mr. Ryuzaki, though I know not what exactly. A man in Niflheim harmed him, it seems? I'm glad he received help - Miss Blythe is a wonderful, knowledgeable woman. She and I heal people in different ways, yes, but I think her way is wonderful. She's a great person to share a room with, too!

Mr. Sunderland...ah...Frank...oh, I don't know what to call people anymore sometimes. Most people here use very familiar ways of speaking, but i'm still afraid of coming across as rude even if I do the same! And I've forgotten who wants me to use their first names and who prefer the second. I'm going to make mistakes, and I don't want that.

But I got off track. Mr. Sunderland is a very kind man - he worries a lot about others. Mr. Graham is a very kind person too...he told me a lot about the way things have changed on Earth. It's all very fascinating. There's so many wonderful people in Asgard. Will I get to know many of them? Will I get to befriend any of them well? I hope to. I've...really missed being close to others. After I died, I could only watch, hope and pray.
[/Private]


It may seem strange to share a poem, but I want to copy it down into this book (is it strange? Others mention computers, but I write into a...well.) I want to be able to look at it, read it again, and think about it. It's not a classical, very famous poem as far as I am aware...
But I stumbled upon it while reading in the library.

I'm sure that...it might speak to more people than just me. Perhaps in different ways. If it makes you feel a certain way, or think of things...please, share if you like. Does anyone else here enjoy poetry...?

Yes to the Earth
So radiant in certain mornings' light
With its roses and its cypress trees
Is Earth, or with its grain and olives;

So suddenly it is radiant on the soul,
Which stands then alone and forgetful
Though just a moment earlier the soul
Wept bloody tears or dwelt in bitterness;

So radiant in certain mornings' light
Is Earth, and in its silence so expressive,
This wondrous lump rolling in its skies;
Beautiful, tragic in solitude, yet smiling,

That the soul, unasked, replies,
"Yes," replies, "Yes" to the Earth,
To the indifferent Earth, "Yes!,"

Even though next instant skies
Should darken, roses too, and cypresses,
Or the effort of life grow heavier still,
The act of breathing even more heroic,

"Yes," replies the battered soul to Earth,
So radiant in the light of certain mornings,
Beautiful above all things, and human hope.
- Sibilla Aleramo.


[ooc: I also just want to add that any perceived spelling errors in the poem are not mine, I quoted the poem as is from a book and out of respect kept things as they are.
Also, I figured some characters could use an inspirational poem? XD]

(Post a new comment)


[info]silverknight
2008-05-26 03:30 pm UTC (link)
I like poetry. It's music without song.


I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Shelley had a good sense of humour, don't you agree?

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-26 03:50 pm UTC (link)
Yes, you're right. Yet that particular piece saddens me a little as well. Even a dark or arrogant king should be remembered - if only as a reminder that such things should not be repeated. At the same time I think it is...strangely fitting, though.

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[info]silverknight
2008-05-26 07:22 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, the poem's a bit sad. Kind of like these news reports they bring when an actor died. 'Mr. so-und-so, famous for his part in this-and-that movie/tv show, is now dead.' Makes one wonder if it is the only fame they'll ever know, being mentioned in the news because they finally died.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 08:23 am UTC (link)
I'm sure those who knew those famous people will remember him for who he was.

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[info]silverknight
2008-05-28 03:09 pm UTC (link)
Like they say, one finds immortality in the dreams of those that remain.

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[info]holylance
2008-05-26 09:12 pm UTC (link)
I'm really not much for reading, or poems, but that one is nice.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 08:24 am UTC (link)
Thank you, Kain! I'm glad you like it even if it isn't something you're very interested in.

What do you like to do?

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[info]holylance
2008-05-28 09:32 am UTC (link)
Well, I'm sure that everyone can appreciate inspiration and hope.

I spent most of my time training, taking care of political junk, giving out orders to my dragoons, all that boring stuff. I mean, until I left Baron. After that...mostly just training.

Since things are so quiet around here, though, I've been thinking of tackling the library to learn about some of the modern things around here so I don't feel so ignorant.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 09:51 am UTC (link)
Yes, that's true.

I'm sure it's not boring if it is what you enjoy, Kain.

The information is probably there! Metatron told me that you can find information on pretty much anything there... Mr. Graham explained a lot of the modern things to me. I'm sure you can ask him too?

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[info]holylance
2008-05-28 09:54 am UTC (link)
Ha--yeah, I guess you're right.

Oh, that's good. I wouldn't want to bother Will too much. He seems a little too withdrawn.

But thanks, Alice. You're a big help.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 10:12 am UTC (link)
I would train as well, except... Well, I'm certainly not about to wound anyone simply so I can try to make myself heal more efficiently! It's a little different in that way.

Oh...thank you, Kain.

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[info]holylance
2008-05-28 10:29 am UTC (link)
Well...from what I remember a friend of mine telling me in her days of learning the healing arts, you can practice on plants. You don't have to hurt them, and your magic can only have a positive effect on them, if you aren't horrendously messing up.

No problem.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-29 04:59 am UTC (link)
Oh! I'll have to try that~! Thank you very much.

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[info]franksunderland
2008-05-26 10:53 pm UTC (link)
That's a beautiful poem, Miss Elliot. It's nice of you to put up a poem. My wife used to write poetry. She... she was very smart, and she read a lot of poetry most other people didn't. And I read it too, because she did, even if I wasn't quite as smart as she was.

But I like that poem... I think breathing is hard enough some days... but if the soul can say yes, well, that's the important thing. And you can see the beauty in the Earth. If I'm getting this right.

Judith used to like this one... I can't even remember what it was called... but it started out "After the final no there comes a yes... And on that yes the future world depends..." I can't remember the rest, but I wonder if I could find that poem here. Reading this one reminds of that.

[OOC: Frank can't remember the title, but it's actually "The Well-Dressed Man With a Beard" by Wallace Stevens. And he definitely needed a poem, so thanks XD He's all nostalgic in a good way now.]

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 08:29 am UTC (link)
Your wife sounds like a wonderful person.

Yes. I feel as though the poem is saying that one can find it within their soul to go on. That even when breathing itself becomes hard, it is in the soul to continue moving forward and be able to experience pleasant things as well.

I'm not sure if I remember the title, but I believe i'm familiar with that poem! The line sounds familiar, at least. I really love what you quoted.

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[info]franksunderland
2008-05-28 08:48 am UTC (link)
Thank you, Miss Elliot. Judith... she had a good heart.

I think sometimes it's hard to find that, in your soul, though. But... maybe the poem is right, and we can go on.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 08:54 am UTC (link)
May I ask what happened to your wife...?

I think that no matter what, people can find that strength within themselves. It can just be...difficult, at times, but it's always there. Waiting. I think...that's probably why I like this poem as much as I do. I never thought I could ever do...certain things, but when the time came...I just could. I did. Because they were the right things, even if they were difficult.

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[info]franksunderland
2008-05-28 09:16 am UTC (link)
Judith passed away from cancer, Miss Elliot, when she was twenty-nine. I do think people have strength they don't show, though.

I happened to go to the library just now and I found the rest of that poem. There were some books there that listed the poems by their first lines. It's... it does have an odd title so maybe that's why I didn't remember it.

The Well-Dressed Man With a Beard by Wallace Stevens

After the final no there comes a yes
And on that yes the future world depends.
No was the night. Yes is this present sun.
If the rejected things, the things denied,
Slid over the western cataract, yet one,
One only, one thing that was firm, even
No greater than a cricket's horn, no more
Than a thought to be rehearsed all day, a speech
Of the self that must sustain itself on speech,
One thing remaining, infallible, would be
Enough. Ah! douce campagna of that thing!
Ah! douce campagna, honey in the heart,
Green in the body, out of a petty phrase,
Out of a thing believed, a thing affirmed:
The form on the pillow humming while one sleeps,
The aureole above the humming house...
It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

It's a little ... hard to understand but that's the sort of thing Judith liked. I think you could get a religious meaning from it, if you tried, or just... about people.

Well, sorry for going on. But it sounds like you went through a lot. I think you must be... a very strong person, Miss Elliot, if you don't mind my saying so.

[OOC: Sorry, when Frank's player realized the poem isn't that long, Frank's player couldn't resist having Frank look it up after all. It was written in 1923, but Alice might have seen it there in the library in Asgard. Er, sorry if I'm out of place saying that.]

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 09:40 am UTC (link)
[ooc: Don't worry! It's fun, I like it. You're not out of place making helpful suggestions. xD Also, forgive Alice - I don't think they knew much about cancer at the time she was alive.]

That's terrible...! I'm sorry for your loss. Yet...would it be terrible of me to ask what cancer is? ...No, no, i'll just look it up...i'm sure there's information on it somewhere.

That is a beautiful poem, truly. Especially because I think it could be interpreted in a lot of ways.

Please don't apologize for going on, though...I rather like conversing with you, even when it's not face to face, Mr. Sunderland. I wouldn't say i've been through a lot, though. I've just been through a few...strange circumstances, that's all. I'm sure other people here have been through a lot more than I have. But...thank you for thinking i'm strong? I'm not so sure about that, but I do my best.

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[info]franksunderland
2008-05-28 10:02 am UTC (link)
Thank you, Miss Elliot. Cancer, well, it's when cells in body grow out of control, something like that. I'm not sure what they called it back then, to be honest. Judith had pancreatic cancer. Even in that time there wasn't a very good treatment for it.

I'm glad you liked the poem. Judith used to read poetry to me... well, that was a long time ago.

It's ... nice to talk to you too. But, I could see from the way you helped Mitch that you were a good person, and you... knew how to be strong for him... if it's not too much for me to say so.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 10:24 am UTC (link)
Oh my... That sounds like such a horrible disease.

Poetry is greater when read aloud, I think. The way a person can say things and emphasize certain parts can make it really amazing. I'm glad she liked to read poetry to you...or at least, I assume she did...?

Weren't you all doing the same for him? You just didn't know how to heal him, but you, Nix and Kamina all seemed to be trying to do what you could for him.

[ooc: It's so random, I know, but I still can't get over how Alice is such a chaste, kind, pious sort of girl... Yet she wears a pretty short skirt. XD I should show you a picture sometime, it's kind of funny. She looks cute as she is, though.]

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[info]franksunderland
2008-05-28 10:37 am UTC (link)
It... was... but... it was a long time ago now.

Oh yes, I think she liked to read poetry to me. I think that's why she put up with me, Miss Elliot, because I sat still for her poetry. Well, she put it that way. I liked to hear it... her own poems, and other people's.

We did all try to help... but you're the one that's a real healer.

[OOC: I looked up a little about the story of the game but didn't read it all yet. And I haven't seen a full-length shot of her. Now I'm tempted to have Frank notice her skirt in the other thread but that would scream dirty old man... XD But as for why she wears it, that's easy! She's a video game character. They almost all have very short skirts. Except Claudia Wolf.]

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 10:48 am UTC (link)
She wrote poems too? That's wonderful!

One does what one can - trying to help matters just as much as helping. I'm sure it made Mitch feel a lot less worried.

[ooc: Lol! Feel free to have him notice. I mean, it could just be that he notices because it seems a little surprising given her personality. xD I mean, at the same time, the only skin you can see of her bare legs is a tiny bit between her skirt and her opaque white leggings/stockings/tights/whatever. It's still a short skirt though...xD]

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-26 10:56 pm UTC (link)
That;s a lovely poem... I like the part about the earth being alone. It... it's essentially positive though, isn't it? I like poetry, but I don't meet many other people who do.

Oh, my name is Eileen. I think we haven't met. Are you from Earth?

Your blog is a book? That's... I guess they can do anything here.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 08:45 am UTC (link)
I think a poem's meaning is up to the reader. I personally feel that it is a positive poem, yes!

I adore poetry, though I didn't get to read much of it before I came here. A little, though... The library here has so many beautiful books of poetry! The one i'm reading right now is especially nice - I can give it to you when i'm done, if you're interested?

My name is Alice, i'm from Earth, but...I'm from an older Earth, it seems? Lots of people come from an Earth that experienced two world wars and after...! In my time, world war one was just beginning!

It seems so - isn't it amazing?

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-28 08:51 am UTC (link)
I read poetry in school mostly, but there was some I liked so much I'd buy books for myself. And sure, you can loan me that book if you like!

So people come here from other times... well, that only makes sense. I'm from the same time as Mr. Sunderland and Henry Townshend. I mean, the same town, and I knew them. But you probably already knew that.

World War One... You must remember all kinds of things I only studied in school. Were you in the United States?

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 09:00 am UTC (link)
I'm happy that you're here, because they must be so happy to see you again. And you, them!

I travelled through Europe. I've never been to the United States, i'm afraid. If I had to give a place where I where I was from...well, i'm English? You would probably notice if you heard me speak.

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-28 09:25 am UTC (link)
I was happy... and really surprised. I thought Henry had just... disappeared... and I hadn't really kept up with Mr. Sunderland since I moved out of his building.

Well, maybe I'll hear you speak some time... I'd like that, and I need to meet people here.

I've never been to Europe, I'm sorry to say.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 09:32 am UTC (link)
Mr. Townshend and Mr. Sunderland seem like wonderful, very nice people. They're very concerned about the welfare of others. A lot of people share that trait here...it's nice. But i'm glad you're seeing them again, especially since you lost contact with them. It must be nice to have familiar people here in this new place.

I'd love to meet you. I haven't...spent much time with the others, though i've met some briefly and Mr. Graham taught me about what happened between my time and yours.

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-28 09:48 am UTC (link)
[Private to Alice]Well, Mr. Sunderland... I didn't really know him well to be honest. I mean, I liked him fine; he was nice, but... I didn't know much about him. I never knew his wife's name, for example. I don't mean I didn't care, but he never talked much. I hope that doesn't sound insulting. I knew Mr. Townshend a little better, because... well, we went through a hard time together. He seems to really be... enjoying this place. If that's not the wrong word, with so much serious stuff going on.[/Private]

That's a long time to need to know about, isn't it? I don't even remember World War II. Or the Vietnam War... But I haven't really met anyone yet, either. I hope I meet my roommate soon. [Private to Alice]People keep telling me she likes food.[/Private.]

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 10:08 am UTC (link)
[Private to Eileen] Oh, I see...! Maybe a lot of people here have gone through hard times...I wonder if that's why we were picked? I bet Mr. Townshend feels much better knowing you're here now, though. Even if he's enjoying this place, it must be great to have a friend back!

As for your roommate...I think that's because her first act in Asgard was to eat everything in the kitchen. Since then, Metatron has the place magically refill after a short period of time.[/Private]

Yeah... Well, your roommate seems to like wandering around a lot. I'm sure you'll meet her eventually though.

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-28 10:12 am UTC (link)
[Private to Alice]She ate everything in the kitchen? I guess she needs to walk, she must exercise a lot if she eats that much? Um... that's just a joke. I'm sure she's nice... Mr. Sunderland seem to think well of her.[/Private]

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 10:19 am UTC (link)
[Private to Eileen]Actually, it's a little shocking but...she's very tiny. At first, I wondered if she had some kind of illness...because of her size and yet how much she eats. I wasn't about to ask her, though. She's very short and kind of stick-figured? You'll know her when you see her - she has really bright red hair (the orange type) and then she's so small! Maybe she has an illness after all...I wonder if I could cure it...?

Oh, but Lina seems nice. She's just very... She's a very loud sort of person? And apparently she knows very destructive magic?[/private]

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-28 10:30 am UTC (link)
[Private to Alice]Oh, are you a doctor? But she might just have a high metabolism. I try not to worry over my weight, but I still can't just stuff myself all the time without gaining, but some people can. Though I'll admit a whole kitchen full is a lot. Loud? Well, as long as she lets me sleep, which I'm sure she will, if you and Mr. Sunderland say she's nice. Destructive ... magic? Seriously?

I guess we're going to need some of that.[/Private]

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-29 05:04 am UTC (link)
[Private to Eileen] Ah...i'm not quite a doctor, no. I'm more of an exorcist, but...I'm very good at healing people? She might have a high metabolism, though...![/Private]

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[info]shabby_doll
2008-05-29 05:13 am UTC (link)
[Private to Alice]I never met an exorcist before. I... guess we might need some of that too. But seriously, it's good to have a healer on our side.[/Private]

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[info]boy_silhouette
2008-05-27 02:13 am UTC (link)
M-M-My...special voice machine...spoke the poooem to me. It was so...so beautiful! An early sunriiiise. Your choice was a ssspark to my heart.

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[info]cross_of_light
2008-05-28 08:47 am UTC (link)
I'm glad you enjoyed the poem! If I find any others I think you might like, i'll certainly share them with you.

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[info]midnight_prince
2008-05-29 09:37 pm UTC (link)
That is... such a beautiful poem, Alice.

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