30 September 2010
29 September 2010
28 September 2010
27 September 2010
Trout in the River
Great quote in Cormac McCarthy's book the road, last paragraph of the book.
Once there were brook trout in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patters that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery."
— Cormac McCarthy
Once there were brook trout in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patters that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery."
— Cormac McCarthy
Mind the Gap
What’s harder coming or going?
When you want to go, but can’t wait to come back.
Mixed feelings of backwards and forwards;
then too soon it’s about staying or going.
Whatever the what, whomever the who
simple doesn’t get at the heart of decisions and reasons.
Nor does reason make for simple decisions.
Watch the re-entry, the landing can be bumpy.
and maybe today’s not the day for big choices, anyway.26 September 2010
Flight 6
visit the windy city
built by King Louis
calling to artists
across lands
to spread a message
as old as the thought
that thought our time
to reach to the skies
and free my people
from a rickety wheel
that does not function
as it should
it is here that you
will find the courage
to change even though
you may lose your lives
because our message
is too violent
for those that desire
war, that desire to
keep my people's
souls just out of reach
of calmness and desire
built by King Louis
calling to artists
across lands
to spread a message
as old as the thought
that thought our time
to reach to the skies
and free my people
from a rickety wheel
that does not function
as it should
it is here that you
will find the courage
to change even though
you may lose your lives
because our message
is too violent
for those that desire
war, that desire to
keep my people's
souls just out of reach
of calmness and desire
24 September 2010
21 September 2010
Flight 5
one man talked
while another man opened
windows for us to
see, roaring through
the concrete jungle,
like darkness bequeathed
to sky and princess,
as giants and g-ds
fight for a myth
we would all forget
while another man opened
windows for us to
see, roaring through
the concrete jungle,
like darkness bequeathed
to sky and princess,
as giants and g-ds
fight for a myth
we would all forget
20 September 2010
Doubt and Opportunity
I cannot believe I have fooled my way to here,
With my unpracticed party trick from the 1600’s.
I have been handed the key to the control room,
And no one asked me about ID or ideology.
Surely, this dumb luck makes legends,
Prophetic awakenings, with less pride.
All this falling, falling, and finally it feels,
I have fallen into place.
Now if I can just figure out what all these buttons do!
19 September 2010
Flight 4
I remember
mountains behind
six lighted poles
streaming upwards
reaching towards
existence
slices, disappointments,
mishits as you concentrate,
prepared to lose
because you're ready
to win
we were riding
timeless horses
playing polo
with the feelings
that could not stay,
that would not stay
it was inside out
and that's
the way we liked it
for one last point
prepared to lose
because we were
ready to win
mountains behind
six lighted poles
streaming upwards
reaching towards
existence
slices, disappointments,
mishits as you concentrate,
prepared to lose
because you're ready
to win
we were riding
timeless horses
playing polo
with the feelings
that could not stay,
that would not stay
it was inside out
and that's
the way we liked it
for one last point
prepared to lose
because we were
ready to win
18 September 2010
17 September 2010
Nuit Blanche @ the WAG
I will be presenting my work "en français" from 11pm to 11:30pm on September 25th at the Winnipeg Art Gallery as part of their Nuit Blanche activities. Dominque Rey follows from 11:45pm to 12:30 am.
OnTheMat1
Tomorrow I step onto a mat
and face a person who,
unlike in practice,
really wants to break my arm
really wants to choke me out
really wants to hurt me
because he wants to win
because he's there like I am
and I would never begrudge him,
not because he wants to win
(even if he was enlightened
and did not want to win)
but because it will be for real
because he chose to be there
all safety and rules aside
it will be for real
I am nervous, less nervous than the last time
but in a way not nervous, more anxious
and I get the feeling I am anxious
because I have expectations
I have improved in this art over the last two years
noticeably
and I feel there is expectation
among those who have seen me on this journey
but that doesn't even matter
that shouldn't even matter
I shouldn't have even said that
because I am imputing
and it does not matter
and that brings up a good point:
what I say I help to make real
what I say increases the likelihood
of what I say
as to get more you don't
need to add more
I should rid myself of expectation
it makes one try in ways that are negative
that do not work
that are not just
I am expectation
I must rid myself of expectation
until nothing matters
until I can act
without thinking
until I can act
without remorse
without favour
with no bias
with no feeling:
I am just
for it is real
Stepping on the mat in itself is a victory
One must think of the ruthlessness of life
of the certainty of death
of placing oneself at risk
in a time when there is no
justice of the sort that we seek
and face a person who,
unlike in practice,
really wants to break my arm
really wants to choke me out
really wants to hurt me
because he wants to win
because he's there like I am
and I would never begrudge him,
not because he wants to win
(even if he was enlightened
and did not want to win)
but because it will be for real
because he chose to be there
all safety and rules aside
it will be for real
I am nervous, less nervous than the last time
but in a way not nervous, more anxious
and I get the feeling I am anxious
because I have expectations
I have improved in this art over the last two years
noticeably
and I feel there is expectation
among those who have seen me on this journey
but that doesn't even matter
that shouldn't even matter
I shouldn't have even said that
because I am imputing
and it does not matter
and that brings up a good point:
what I say I help to make real
what I say increases the likelihood
of what I say
as to get more you don't
need to add more
I should rid myself of expectation
it makes one try in ways that are negative
that do not work
that are not just
I am expectation
I must rid myself of expectation
until nothing matters
until I can act
without thinking
until I can act
without remorse
without favour
with no bias
with no feeling:
I am just
for it is real
Stepping on the mat in itself is a victory
One must think of the ruthlessness of life
of the certainty of death
of placing oneself at risk
in a time when there is no
justice of the sort that we seek
16 September 2010
Flight 3
There is only
one moment
in all moments
only one melody
in all songs
however different,
however strange
however
when you run
down the silver
eidolons, always,
always, watch
what rolls away
one moment
in all moments
only one melody
in all songs
however different,
however strange
however
when you run
down the silver
eidolons, always,
always, watch
what rolls away
15 September 2010
Flight 2
The synagogue
of time, the holy
books, dangerous,
clapping, singing
only for you
You hit with
abandon, screaming
they cheer because
you're close, as heroes
and fears show
hopes
and I turn, and
I swear I won't
forget, you run,
you run, you run
of time, the holy
books, dangerous,
clapping, singing
only for you
You hit with
abandon, screaming
they cheer because
you're close, as heroes
and fears show
hopes
and I turn, and
I swear I won't
forget, you run,
you run, you run
14 September 2010
Flight 1
Wrap up your toes
and your blue girl,
and open the sparks
that the laughter from
headphones and hops
to the back of two shoes
This is your match
summary, percentages
of errors, intervals
with confidence
it is with grace
that you win
stone angels
hold their trumpets
of a trip long ago
where her lips
kissed your cheek
as she cried
gently, gently
and chase
your dreams
even when there
are casualties
and your blue girl,
and open the sparks
that the laughter from
headphones and hops
to the back of two shoes
This is your match
summary, percentages
of errors, intervals
with confidence
it is with grace
that you win
stone angels
hold their trumpets
of a trip long ago
where her lips
kissed your cheek
as she cried
gently, gently
and chase
your dreams
even when there
are casualties
13 September 2010
The Pilot-- Sunday, September 26, 2010
(poster by Georgia Webber)
So here it is...
Matrix Magazine, in association with Concordia Writers Read series and the Canada Council for the Arts, presents our first Pilot reading of the new school year.
Featuring six fabulous writers, including:
Daniel Allen Cox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Allen_Cox
Greg Santos
http://gregsantos.mosaicglobe.com
Nathaniel G. Moore
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-wrong-bar-by-nathaniel-g-moore/article1497292/ http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2004/010804/nathaniel_g_moore.html
Larissa Andrusyshyn
http://robmclennan.blogspot.com/2010/07/mammoth-larissa-andrusyshyn.html
Lorne Roberts (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbq-L297fTQ)
Celyn Harding-Jones
The event goes down at Sparrow, 5322 St. Laurent. Sunday, September 26, 2010. Doors at 8, readings at 9.
09 September 2010
Mitsou-- Lettre a un Cowboy
This is the sexpot 80's Quebecoise and Canadian pop star Mitsou's song "Lettre a un Cowboy".
It's the follow-up to her big hit "Bye Bye Mon Cowboy!".
It's the follow-up to her big hit "Bye Bye Mon Cowboy!".
French B-- Je Me Souviens
So, this is some cheesy but super politically motivated Quebecois pop music from about 1988 or so.
My sister brought this song home on a mixed cassette tape after she spent the summer studying French in Jonquiere sometime in the late 80's. Jonquiere is about 8 hours north-east of Montreal, and not far from where we traveled this summer to see whales.
It's separatist country, but not really in a mean or aggressive ways. Many people seem to take it for granted that they should be their own country, but don't seem to talk about it much, or at least not with anglos.
The video is pretty much a non-stop political slideshow of Quebec history-- it would kind of need a short book to explain it all. But they're all pretty familiar to us in certain ways, as Canadians.
For me, one of the most interesting images, though, is near the end, showing the results of the 1980 referendum, where nearly 60% of the votes were for staying with Canada.
15 years after that, and 8 years after this song was recorded, the second referendum was almost a 50-50 split.
So what changed in those 15 years?
"Bye, bye social harmony
bye bye Quebec history
bye, bye du Lac Meech
bye bye french-speaking population
bi-bi-bingual signs
bye bye bi-lingual population
bye bye mon cowboy!"
My sister brought this song home on a mixed cassette tape after she spent the summer studying French in Jonquiere sometime in the late 80's. Jonquiere is about 8 hours north-east of Montreal, and not far from where we traveled this summer to see whales.
It's separatist country, but not really in a mean or aggressive ways. Many people seem to take it for granted that they should be their own country, but don't seem to talk about it much, or at least not with anglos.
The video is pretty much a non-stop political slideshow of Quebec history-- it would kind of need a short book to explain it all. But they're all pretty familiar to us in certain ways, as Canadians.
For me, one of the most interesting images, though, is near the end, showing the results of the 1980 referendum, where nearly 60% of the votes were for staying with Canada.
15 years after that, and 8 years after this song was recorded, the second referendum was almost a 50-50 split.
So what changed in those 15 years?
"Bye, bye social harmony
bye bye Quebec history
bye, bye du Lac Meech
bye bye french-speaking population
bi-bi-bingual signs
bye bye bi-lingual population
bye bye mon cowboy!"
The Abzurbs
Hey all, the abzurbs(infamous art performance band) are performing on the front lawn of the U of W today at 2:30. Come down for the merry-meant. Knick Knackerson just might be performing as well.
05 September 2010
02 September 2010
01 September 2010
Balance
One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am — a reluctant enthusiast… a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.
— From a speech to environmentalists in Missoula, Montana in 1978 and in Colorado, which was published in High Country News in the 1970s or early 1980s under the title “Joy, Shipmates, Joy.”, as quoted in Saving Nature’s Legacy : Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity (1994) by Reed F. Noss, Allen Y. Cooperrider, and Rodger Schlickeisen, p. 338.
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