Categories
Poetry

Remain ordinary?

The earth movers are
moving, rolling, crawling,
pushing and prodding,
chewing and producing,
reforming earth, not new
a spherical cycle
we cannot seem to undo
because there’s no beginning
as if time isn’t true
no start to these effects
no one to lay cause-mic blame with —
              — Is there no first?

If an action is not performed
its result cannot be experienced
yet, we have results upon results
                     that we do not want
or right wishes ripen at wrong times —
  — How did we get so messed up?

Meeting instructions time and again
  only to turn to worldly things instead —

–What for?
     The status? The stress? The money? The dress? The food? The car? All the gold and the stars? The sun and the moon and that catchy tune? This silly girl? That handsome guy? To hunt the deer? To swat the fly? To fuck that guy? To steal that heart? To flaunt your glory? To meet and part? To taste the spoils? To lose at war? To break most promises? To endure and endure?

What for!

Is it everything you wanted to find?
Is it a wonder to know
                      it’s all from your mind?

the pain and the laughter,
       all the dreamlike appearance

the senses and delights
               the agony and fights

we hurt our own feelings
we stab our own backs
we rob our own purses
our own courage lacks

when will we learn
to break a silly curse
we need only three words
   –why do they hurt?

It’s my responsibility

No, not of this time
not of this place
not of this name
and not of this face

But causes created aeons ago
ripen around me, blow by hard blow
some happy, some sad
some angry, some blue
some maddening disasters
some friends I once knew
for so long without wisdom
I watched in horror, despair
             Oh! What can I do?

No better than an earth mover
moving, rolling, crawling,
fulfilling my own wishes,
pushing and prodding,
swallowing and producing,
making new dirt, not new
a spherical cycle
we cannot seem to undo
because there’s no beginning
as if time isn’t true
no start to these causes
that produce these effects
so with patient acceptance
I now practice with perfect intention
with a pure, faithful, trained mind
remembering dreamlike appearance
to see emptiness directly
                   with clear wisdom eyes

Categories
Book Recommendation Book Review Music

Book Recommendation | 2

I can’t wait to recommend Marcus Starr’s debut novel, Nora’s Curse – a quick-paced and comedic thriller featuring loveable bassist bartender and Canadian lead character, Nora, whose wish just might come true. But is that a good thing? Especially as she deals with competition at work and the fact that she’s possibly dating The Midnight Rambler?!

Aside from the fact that I can totally see this becoming a hilarious, exciting and addicting mini series on Netflix, I want to recommend this novel because I genuinely enjoyed reading it! I’m so tired of the same old stories and big name authors (appreciated, but exhausted). Nora’s Curse is something altogether different and yet familiar. You don’t broach the topic of wishes without the old adage coming up … yet this story never feels stale.

Starr weaves current issues into the background narrative making the novel relevant and easily captures readers’ suspension of disbelief. Parts of the novel make you wonder if you are enjoying a beach read or dancing with the devil. Get ready for sex, drugs, rock n’ roll, mayhem and maybe a bit of magic. (Or is it old time religion?)

You can find Nora’s Curse on Amazon or on December 18, grab a copy in person at Starr’s Book Launch in Ancaster!

12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
at the
Coach & Lantern Pub
384 Wilson St. E
Ancaster, ON

Did I mention there will be live music by Starr himself?

Hope to see you there – or that you can get your hands on a copy! Let’s bring this one to the screen.