Sharing a Poem
Further proof that I will cling to anything thrown my way if it means I can procrastinate for just a little longer; I started reading 20th Century Boys last night. I don't mind wasting time with something like this, because it's really good. I got through two books without stopping. This also may have something to do with Tom threatening to gouge out my eyes if I haven't read the entire series by the time the upcoming live-action film trilogy is released. He is quite excited about it, but if I haven't read it first I'm forbidden to watch it with him. Or so he says.
Also, I remembered a poem that I've been wanting to share for a few days now, so that's below. I'm posting it because when I read it (and I'm mildly embarrassed about admitting this) everything after the first stanza made me think of Tieria. I very rarely make connections like this between poetry or songs and fictional characters, but I've read this poem multiple times now and it won't go away. That's why I'm posting it. Well, that and the fact that I think it's beautifully melancholy regardless of whether you can relate it to a given character or not.
The Taper (Wayne Assam)
It is better, wrote the fiery sage,
to marry than to burn. So much for marriage.
So much, indeed, for warmth. I, simple soul,
shan't quarrel with a man of holy learning,
a man of cool, high ways and cloistered nights.
The stars, it seems, though radiant, are cold
and white as Arctic winters.
Yet who am I
to speak of stars - for am I not a candle
set in soft, deep, fragrant earth, and warm
with lonely light beneath the stellar dust?
Each shrinking nightfall - thus it is with burning -
draws me closer to the beckoning earth,
shall draw me down upon her till I am spent,
and still, and cold, and dark with night's mute, vaporous
darkness.
So much for me. How it may be
with meteors and moons I cannot say.
Every time I've looked at the Wikipedia article for Tieria recently, it has switched between listing his name as being similar to the Spanish "tierra verde" and "tierra arde," the latter of which translates to "burning earth." I must admit I like it more than "green earth," although it's arguably less likely to be true. I'm not sure. A lot of people have also picked up on his last name being the German word for "earth," which seems remarkably redundant, but then again, there are quite a few German words/names used throughout the series.
I meant to make this post before I left my house this morning (that was when I started writing it), but I was coming perilously close to running out of time. Today has been a busy day, which is unusual considering that I normally have just two hours of contact time per week. The presentation is now out of the way, and I think it went well. My tutor also brought up the subject of my dissertation, so I think I'm going to make an appointment to see her next week to discuss how it's going. I'm a little concerned that she keeps commenting on how exciting my work is, given that she hasn't read the atrocity that is my long and rambling introduction and fragmentary chapters yet (and that's the part that I'll be emailing her way as soon as I find the courage to send it).
After the seminar, I spent a long time watching the rain sweeping over the concrete outside before I realised that Tom was still on campus, so I braved the downpour to meet him and we enjoyed a cup of tea together. Then it was time for the second and final dissertation lecture, lovingly given the title of "The Finishing Touches," in what I am convinced was an attempt to terrify all final year students. We were asked to shout out our progress, and I was amused to hear someone shout that they hadn't started. I then met up with seori, and had yet more tea.
I'm giving myself a night off tonight, and have plans to cook paella to share with Tom.
Also, I remembered a poem that I've been wanting to share for a few days now, so that's below. I'm posting it because when I read it (and I'm mildly embarrassed about admitting this) everything after the first stanza made me think of Tieria. I very rarely make connections like this between poetry or songs and fictional characters, but I've read this poem multiple times now and it won't go away. That's why I'm posting it. Well, that and the fact that I think it's beautifully melancholy regardless of whether you can relate it to a given character or not.
The Taper (Wayne Assam)
It is better, wrote the fiery sage,
to marry than to burn. So much for marriage.
So much, indeed, for warmth. I, simple soul,
shan't quarrel with a man of holy learning,
a man of cool, high ways and cloistered nights.
The stars, it seems, though radiant, are cold
and white as Arctic winters.
Yet who am I
to speak of stars - for am I not a candle
set in soft, deep, fragrant earth, and warm
with lonely light beneath the stellar dust?
Each shrinking nightfall - thus it is with burning -
draws me closer to the beckoning earth,
shall draw me down upon her till I am spent,
and still, and cold, and dark with night's mute, vaporous
darkness.
So much for me. How it may be
with meteors and moons I cannot say.
Every time I've looked at the Wikipedia article for Tieria recently, it has switched between listing his name as being similar to the Spanish "tierra verde" and "tierra arde," the latter of which translates to "burning earth." I must admit I like it more than "green earth," although it's arguably less likely to be true. I'm not sure. A lot of people have also picked up on his last name being the German word for "earth," which seems remarkably redundant, but then again, there are quite a few German words/names used throughout the series.
I meant to make this post before I left my house this morning (that was when I started writing it), but I was coming perilously close to running out of time. Today has been a busy day, which is unusual considering that I normally have just two hours of contact time per week. The presentation is now out of the way, and I think it went well. My tutor also brought up the subject of my dissertation, so I think I'm going to make an appointment to see her next week to discuss how it's going. I'm a little concerned that she keeps commenting on how exciting my work is, given that she hasn't read the atrocity that is my long and rambling introduction and fragmentary chapters yet (and that's the part that I'll be emailing her way as soon as I find the courage to send it).
After the seminar, I spent a long time watching the rain sweeping over the concrete outside before I realised that Tom was still on campus, so I braved the downpour to meet him and we enjoyed a cup of tea together. Then it was time for the second and final dissertation lecture, lovingly given the title of "The Finishing Touches," in what I am convinced was an attempt to terrify all final year students. We were asked to shout out our progress, and I was amused to hear someone shout that they hadn't started. I then met up with seori, and had yet more tea.
I'm giving myself a night off tonight, and have plans to cook paella to share with Tom.