Open Eyes

by Brie

 

Alone, in the night

     I shiver.

Shadows stretch toward

        me from dark corners,

   slowly closing in on

my last glimmer of hope.

I grow smaller, begging

  my covers to envelop

    me

  but they offer no such

        refuge.

"Help..." I force my lips

    to plead. "Save me..."

         Fear grips me.

Then the black collapses

   and I open my

       eyes.

Your face is

      next to mine.

Your body a protective

    shield around me.

           I exhale.

You were always here,

         living in and

     throughout me

Ready to be seen

  if only I would

      open

           my

              eyes.

 

Quotes for a Thirsty Soul: The Sequel

A couple of years ago, I wrote a post entitled Quotes for a Thristy Soul. I had been in a very busy and hectic time of my life, and hadn't had time for any creative projects, or even time for sitting quietly and reflecting on life and God. It had me feeling drained and disheartened.

 

This summer has been very exciting and busy! I've been nannying for my aunt's four kids, and which requires a lot of energy and awareness, while preparing for school and going on several weekend trips to visit my boyfriend and various family members.

 

I am relearning the importance of intentional rest and reflection. These quotes have popped up along the way, and I thought I would share them with you in a magnificent sequel! I hope they are as refreshing and thirst-quenching for you as they were for me.

 

 

 

 

And one last piece of encouragement... ;)

 

 



 Here's to aspiring after depth, never settling for less.

 

Love,

Brie

 

Throw Back the Curtains

by Brie

Throw back the curtains,

Invite playful sunbeams to dance

Across the morning-chilled floor.

Breathe deep and see the world,

Through a rose stained glass Window.

Open the shutters, 

Let the breeze tickle the loose

Strands about your face.

Look no longer to the dimly lit room,

Look no longer to its shy crevices

And dull corners.

Look only to the sky,

Because these eyes were made for more

Than just ordinary life.

Spoken Word Poetry

A while back, I wrote an article about Slam Poetry, because it's fantastic. I just love the way it allows you to express yourself in a meaningful way, without being confined to the usual poetry rules of rhyme and rhythm. It sounds so neat!

Spoken Word Poetry is Slam Poetry, but none competitive. Slam Poetry only applies to poetry performed in a Poetry Slam. I don't know if I realized that when I wrote the other post. Oh well, live and learn. :)

Since I wrote the other post on Spoken Word Poetry, I've discovered so many more amazing authors and poems! The world has opened up and chucked poem after poem after poem in my face, in rapid succession. I have had no choice but to notice and love at least a few; And what gems they are!

These are a few of the best, in my eyes. Let me know what you think! Also, if you know of any poems, spoken word or not, that you really enjoy, tell me. I'm always super excited for recommendations! :)

"I Love You More"

 

"If Only"

 

"I Will Wait for You"

by Janette...iks

"Sincerely Freedom"

by Nick Vitellaro

 

"A Man's Promise"

"To Calm the Storm"

"Stormy Seas" by James Coard

A heart
So big and broken
Reaching with feeble hands
To calm the storm.

With every service
Every sacrifice
Piece by piece
It gives itself away.

How much is too much?
How far is too far?
What will happen when the well runs dry?

Many see
But few understand.
Many touch
But only with the hand.

Oceans vast
May never be explored
Except by the one
Who calms the storm.

My Favorite Blog Posts This Week

I haven't checked in on my favorite blogs lately, so when I looked yesterday I found a ton of really fantastic posts! They are way too amazing to keep to myself, so I thought I would highlight some of the best. These have not all been posted this week, but I discovered them this week, so it still counts. :P

The first is "Writing on the Web" on The Daily Simple. In this post, Aubrey writes about some lessons she has been learning concerning her writing. She has some really great ideas. I was reminded that writing should not be stressful, and sometimes it's better to leave something half finished and come back to it later with fresh eyes.

"Can You Read Emotions? on A Cup of Jo. This was so fascinating! "New studies have found that if people read literary fiction for even a few minutes (as opposed to popular fiction or serious nonfiction), they perform better on tests measuring empathy and emotional intelligence." I also took the quiz that finds out how well you can pinpoint people's emotions just by seeing their eyes, and got 30/36.

"Work in Progress" on Vintage Lolipops. This blog is where artist Bella Harris shares updates on her artwork. She is such an amazing artist! I'm completely inspired. This "work in progress" is so wonderful. Here is another one of my favorites from her.

"Photo an Hour" on The Dainty Squid. This is a project I have been thinking about doing for a while now. Maybe sometime I'll have to try it! Too cool :)

"Our Home // kitchen before and after" on Delightfully Tacky. I'm a huge fan of their kitchen. I love chalkboard painted walls any day. :) Plus, her entire blog is amazing, so you should check it out!

"Art Journaling" on Everyday is a Holiday. This couple does various forms of art for a living, and I was super inspired by all these art journal pages! I follow them on pinterest as well, and they post a lot of cool stuff.

~~

Creative Writing: Floating Forest

The city lights glimmered against the ocean, the reflection disrupted only by a solitary ship gliding through. She stood tall on the bow, holding onto nothing as she let the breeze sweep her hair back. Afraid to shatter the perfect silence, I stayed where I was, half hidden by the low hanging tree branches. It was the image of a dream, and I couldn’t bring myself to believe that something this surreal could be true. When she told me she lived in a floating forest, I thought she was crazy. But no, here it was, just like she said.

When all traces of civilization were long forgotten, she turned to me. “Come with me,” she said, smiling mischievously as she brushed past me and into the thick forest. She strode through the undergrowth gracefully despite the complete absence of light. I could tell she knew this ship and all that dwelt on it with her. They were one. I could hear her running her fingers over the leaves as she passed, like a mother lovingly caressing the face of her child.

//

Credit for the inspiration goes to:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/2d9b751af4ef192284b17415a3412152/tumblr_mtraopoG1M1qee12to1280.jpg_
Credit for the photo goes to:
http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-152056-stock-footage-reflexes-of-city-lights-in-river-s-water.html

The Ant-agonist

This is a fairly accurate depiction of how I was.

Well, I survived my first ant infestation in a tropical country today.

It all started when I was sitting on my bed, very calm, minding my own business, when I noticed a thick trail of hundreds of ants marching down the curtains and onto my bedspread. So naturally, I panicked and ran screaming.

Once I composed myself and returned to my room, I realized the invasion was much more advanced than previously thought. I knew something had to be done. With the help of my ever faithful mother and father, and my massacre-happy brother, we battled the imposing troops tirelessly. We stomped at the front lines, and sprayed peppermint in every region we could access. However, it seemed that for every ant we killed, two more took its place. Finally, we reached the turning point when my father sprayed chemicals along the outside of my window. The ants made a hasty retreat, and the day was saved.

Despite our massive victory, I am still in exile; a refugee in my own home. Since it's getting late, I am to spend the night in the guest room/study until we can make a post-war assessment of my room. I only hope the senseless violence does not follow me here...

Wish me luck as I brave the night alone.

Creative Writing: 50th Wedding Anniversary

Weaving through the crowd, she stops now and again to exclaim over voices she loves but rarely hears. She’s beaming radiantly, and I’m reminded of another day, another time when her eyes weren’t veiled in darkness.

As I removed my hands from her eyes, she gasped upon seeing her new home. I dawdled after her as she fluttered this way and that, calling back to me, “Henry, come see the garden! This will be so beautiful!” Then coming to the crest of a hill, she stopped. Her long, wild, brown hair was free and moving with the wind. Silhouetted against the glistening lake, she was breathtaking. As I approached, I saw her hands were over her mouth and tears were glistening in her eyes. She looked up at me and smiled, with all the joy and hope in the world in her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispers.

I wake up from my daydream and find her only feet away, feeling for another object to touch, another hand to guide her. She has aged so gracefully, with creases speaking of a joyful spirit. As she feels her way closer, I reach out to her and grasp her soft hand in mine. A familiar smile creeps onto her face, and I pull her into my arms. She holds me close and I know that this is where I will always be meant to be.

~~~


(image from http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ly8xs7OYil1r933wso1_500.jpg)

A Bitter Farewell

I have found that the best way to practice writing is through creative writing prompts. This eliminates the stress and pressure of trying to write a full story, because you can write as little or as much as you like. It's just for practice, so instead of feeling overwhelmed and losing the creative juices, you can relax and let it flow. Here is one that I wrote the other day:

Not a sound could be heard in the tiny, run down house, save the sound of forks on the ceramic plates, and the ceiling fan humming. Kain sat hunched over, scowling at his thin stew, as his mother tried once more to talk to him. “Kain honey, I just don’t understand why you would do this. Throwing your life away on drugs and petty crime? I never would have thought I would get a call from the station about you. I’m used to it with your father, but I thought you were better than that. I had such high hopes for you!”

Kain didn’t look up. His dark eyes continued to stare bitterly at his plate. His mother sighed. The lines and wrinkles on her face told a long tale of worry and hard labor. She still wore her work clothes, and her grey hair was falling out of the elastic that held it up. She gazed out the window and leaned back in her chair, deep in thought.

“Life’s a lot more complicated than you think, Ma,” he muttered. Then looking up he held her gaze, and said more strongly, “I’m not doing this because of you, okay? It’s never been about you. I just did what I had to do to survive.”

She didn’t speak. She watched his face for some time, searching him out. He didn’t back down; his pride wouldn’t let him. Finally she turned again to the window and bit her lip, fighting tears. Kain leaned back and watched the ceiling fan for a moment or two before he spoke. “I thought of all people, you would understand.” She watched him rise to his feet. “But I guess I was wrong.” At that he strode quickly out the kitchen door and never returned.

~~~

Quotes for a Thirsty Soul

Hey there! Life has been so crazy, with graduation and exam prep and planning for the move to Nicaragua, that I have been terrible at posting regularly. I've had so little time for anything artistic, that I feel drained! There's only one way to fix that! This time, I decided to share with you some quotes that I really enjoy. They resounded with me so much, that I hope to print them out and put them up in my room. It's nice to have that daily reminder of what really matters, even if you don't look at them every day.

P.S. Stay tuned! I'm planning something super exciting for the next post! :)

Slam Poetry

Poetry is awesome.

I know there are those of you out there begging to differ, claiming it's boring, outdated, and frankly a waste of time. Well to you I say, "Humbug!"

I've recently become aware of a new genre of poetry called, "spoken word poetry" (or "slam poetry"). It's so cool! It's modern and edgy for those who like the newest, coolest thing out there. It's got deep and resounding messages (for the most part, I guess it depends on the poet) for you who like deeper connections and other forms of poetry. I really like it, myself. I tried my hand at it a few times, and posted one here. 

Spoken word poetry is so impactful, because of the strong words, rhythm and passion that goes into every syllable. It moves you, gets you really thinking, gets to the root of humanity. I love it! I don't think something like this can be fully explained, because it affects everyone differently. How about I just show you, and you can find out for yourself?

Sarah Kay- If I Should Have a Daughter

Phil Kaye- Repetition

Propaganda- G.O.S.P.E.L.

Why I hate Religion, But love Jesus

Sarah Kay & Phil Kaye- An Origin Story

These are just a few of my faves. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! After watching them, let me know what your response was. Do you enjoy poetry as a whole? If so, what is your favorite poem? I look forward to hearing more from you! :)

33 Ways to Stay Creative

From "The World's Best Ever", http://www.theworldsbestever.com/2011/06/06/33-ways-to-stay-creative/

 

Alright, I'll be honest. Writing blog posts is a lot harder than I originally thought it would be. At first I had all these lofty ambitions of writing inspirational pieces that thousands upon thousands would read and be touched by. It seemed terribly exciting and I never dreamed there would come a day when I would face the infamous "writer's block". I sat in front of a blank page for years it seemed, scheming and scheming until I could scheme no more, but I couldn't think of one good thing to present to the world. I knew I needed to, but I began to dread writing posts. However, here I am, determined to write despite the complete lack of inspiration that I started out with.

I was so starving for inspiration, it seems, that I have resorted to writing a post on my relationship and viewpoints on it. I originally found this list when I was adventuring with Stumbleupon a while back. It really resonated with me, because I've found many of these techniques on my own without being completely conscious of the fact that I had. As I was reading the list I kept thinking to myself, "Hey, I do that!" For instance, I used to free write A LOT. Most evenings I would write to God about the day and things I had on my mind and things I felt he was saying to me. It was a way for my prayers to be more focused. I didn't realize that's why I found myself more inspired and creative. Now I'm thinking I should really get back into that!

I really value journalling, and I would encourage anyone and everyone to keep one. Not only does it keep you creative, but it also helps to keep you balanced, in my opinion. It's very therapeutic to be able to release emotions and stress in this way. If you can write about it, and get it all out, then you can spend less time thinking about it over and over again and spend more time working around it and living joyfully! Plus, it doesn't necessarily need to be an every day thing. When I first started journalling when I was really young, I thought to myself, "Okay, this is the week I write every single day, without fail. I don't care what happens I WILL write in my journal!" This system just didn't work for me. I know that for many other people, forcing themselves to write every day keeps them challenged and goal-oriented, and that's great! Go for it! But for some people this just adds unnecessary stress. Too much stress is the enemy of a creative mind. So go with the flow! Also, it you were to look through my journal, you would find more than just mundane posts. You would find lists (#1!), and drawings, and random ideas (#30!). Nothing is too crazy or abnormal to put in your journal. It's your place to relax and communicate whatever your little heart desires. And also, in case you haven't already noticed, this post is definitely breaking the font and text size rules! Yay for creativity! (Actually, I just don't know how to make it look like it usually does, but hey! We'll go with it!) Stay creative, my friends!

My Favoritest Author of All Time!

I love C. S. Lewis. Like a lot. He was such a wise man! He had such sound theology, and I really admire his writing. He had a way of drawing you in, captivating you with his poetic words, and when you finish, the full gradeur of his point hits you like a wave. Wow, that's major talent. Upon researching him, I learned some very cool facts about him:

1) He was buddies with J. R. R. Tolkien! How cool is that! They both worked at Oxford, and supposedly gave each other suggestions on their works. This makes sense, because they both incorperated Christian analogies into their novels.
2)C. S. Lewis married an American writer named Joy Davidman.
3)In 1917, he volunteered in the British Army, and experienced trench warfare. He was wounded, and while recovering he became quite depressed and homesick.
4)He made a pact with his friend that if either of them died in the war, the survivor woud take care of their families. When his friend died, he took on the care of the man's mother, who he formed such a close reationship with that he would often introduce her as his own mother. His mother had died when he was a child, and his father was distant and eccentric, so they became super close. He cared for her when she developed dementia, visiting her every day in the home until she died.

I was scrolling through a list of C. S. Lewis quotes today, and so many of them spoke to me. They were all so fantastic, that I couldn't possibly share just one with you, so here are some of my favorite quotes by C. S. Lewis.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” 

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” 

Agh, how awesome is this guy?!

Poetry and Stuff...

The Edge
By Brianna Bute
 
I stand on the edge,
Peering at the vast world below,
Dreading the moment I leave my cozy nest,
When everything I’ve ever known,
Will be only happy memories.
 
Do I jump?
Will I fall?
Consumed by indecision
 I turn and spot the future
Creeping up on me.
 
Filled with sudden courage,
I turn to face the world,
Don’t look down,
Don’t look down…
I close my eyes real tight,

And leap!

 

 

SO... Hey there! This poem is something I whipped up for the first ever assignment of my English 30-1 Classs! <Don't ask me why there are three "S"s... Anyways, I'm not sure if it can be considered good poetry, but I like it, so that's always good. :)

There are 3 new things that have happened recently:

1) I have recently purchased a laptop. With this new-fangled gadget I will be able to write to you much more easily! Yay!

2) I have moved. Whether this is a "yay" or "nay" I haven't yet decided... I will let you know. It's smaller, which is lame BUT there's not as much house to clean. I can walk to school which is nice BUT also not, because I'm lazy. ;)

3) I have entered the fantastical world of Grade 12! Woo hoo! I'm happy, but also a little nervous. You probably gathered that from the poem, but whatever, I told you again!

Yeah.

 

Voila! Fine Poetry For My Lovely Folk!

When it comes to writing blog posts,
I can really suck!
So to make up for my lameness,
A picture of a duck!

Ta da!!

Something Special

When I grow up,
Or maybe just right now,
I want to have that special something.

You know what I mean,
You've seen it before.
When someone loves without limits,
Instead of looking for the door.

When he smiles and he means it,
Or you never see her mope,
It's intriguing and it matters.
It brings others hope.

When I look in the mirror,
That's what I want to see.
I want to live fearlessly,
With my arms open wide,
Ready to catch any speck of good that comes my way.
And when I catch painful wounds in my hands,
I want to be strong enough to stand,
To fiercely determine to open again.
And when troubles pursue me,
Like thieves in the night,
I will never, ever let go of hope.

I want to be quick to forgive you,
Quick to reach to you,
Quick to go an extra two miles for you.
I want to steal away the burdens,
Leaving joy in it's place,
Turn that frown upside down,
On every possible face.

The shadows,
They'll run when they see me come near.
'Cause I'm leaning on God!
They have reason to fear!

I want to earn your trust,
And be ready to do my part.
Have the wisdom to wait,
And to know when to start.

I want to know the story,
Every story,
Behind every tired face,
I want to be there, when the world turns away.

Return slaps with hugs,
Tears with tissues,
Lies with truth.

I want to be able to honestly say,
I can laugh at the times to come!
'Cause I know if I fall,
My Lord will catch me.
If I cry,
My Lord will love me.
If I die,
My Lord will not hide
His tears of joy
When He runs to me and says,
"Welcome home! I missed you."
That is something pretty special.

*^this here is my attempt at spoken word poetry. Trust me, it sounds a lot better when it is performed. Haha, but if you want to see some real spoken word poetry, look up Sarah Kay on YouTube. Her stuff is amazing! Especially her, "If I Should Have a Daughter". She performs it during her TED talk. Very cool :) Here's a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0snNB1yS3IE