stranded

August 9, 2016

Swallowed by the Sea

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As I walk across your grainy path,

shells, bodies, glass and debris,

washed ashore by your now calm waves,

brush against my small feet.

As I looked out at your blue, green body

reflecting the hot sun and the clear sky,

I wonder how and still ponder why

someone out there in a boat could die

of thirst in an endless world of water.

As I sit on your burning hot sand

and watch you moving to and fro,

I thought of all who enjoyed your fresh wet touch

and all the people you hurt so much.

As I feel your salty sea breeze

and feel your warm sunshine kiss my face

I remember how you forced out every trace

of life from those who swam in your depths.

All the people loved your summer glow, your waves and flow.

Yet you swallow up your lovers and when they’re dead you let them go.

 

February 1, 2015

Stranded in the Desert

If I was stranded on a desert island and could only bring three songs with me, one book and one luxury item these would be what I would bring:

Jacky Cheung – 每天愛你多一些 (Loving You More Everyday)

This song has a lot of strong memories associated with it from my childhood. When I was a toddler my Dad would play this song and dance with me holding my hands and placing my feet on his so that when he moved his feet I’d move too. I love this song because it reminds me of my Dad and this would be a good song to summarize my happy childhood.

Break of Reality – Drift Apart

Descriptive of my time as a teenager because of its ups and downs, the cello in this song explains the depression I went through in high school. The song has a hopeful tone to it as it plays through a pendulum of emotions. The title drift apart is also accurate at describing how I felt as I began to lose my identity during the course of my illness. The ending feels like a question as though almost asking me what I will do to achieve and overcome future challenges. Listening to this piece also helps me think and get lost in my thoughts and is very relaxing to listen to.

Apocalyptica – Bittersweet

My boyfriend introduced this band to me many years ago when we still hadn’t gotten together and I really liked this particular song. The instrumental feels a lot more powerful to me although the lyrics ‘Break this bittersweet spell on me/Lost in the arms of destiny’ are quite appropriate to sum up our relationship since he is in the States and I am here in Asia and it feels like fate can only help us to see each other again since he is in the military. I love this song because it reminds me of him while also the instruments are so beautiful playing their deep harmonies.

Luxury Item

This may be challenged as cheating but I would take the Harry Potter tent. After all, since I’m going to be stuck on the island forever I may as well settle and have everything I need…right?

Click to access Khalil%20Gibran%20-%20The%20Prophet.pdf

Book

The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. I haven’t read this completely but my favorite quote on love and marriage is in this book and I think it would be perfect to reflect on Gibran’s poetry while on the island. The author is also Middle Eastern and reminds me of my grandmother because she knows many of his quotes by heart in Arabic as well as Rumi’s quotes Farsi.