Reflective thoughts and poems

hi pallides just looking around - good to see you are a poetess and writer of tales too - I scribble a bit myself - have a good easter
 

I have returned from my trip to Kentucky where I attended my graduation ceremony. Although I defended my dissertation last August, the ceremony was this May. I went with my son and we spent time on the beautiful campus before the graduation. There were many, many cars and people there. I was excited. I had ironed my robe and learned how to pin my cap on with bobby pins. When I entered the building, they had us standing for over an hour with all the other graduates. We were lined up according to our degree. Then we were called in and marched into the hall where we went and sat down. To the right and left of us sat the professors. Everything was recorded so I look forward to seeing it. I am sharing a few photos of this momentous event in my life to my friends on SF. Thank you for all your support throughout these years.

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Thank you, @Pinky for your congratulatory words! I am including a photo of me and my son here. His graduation is this coming Saturday, so I will go down there to be with him! Notice the statue is wearing a graduation cap! We found it on him and thought it would be cute to take a picture with him.

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Pinky said:
@palides2021
Love this photo of you and your son. Congratulations to him on his forthcoming graduation. You both have
so much to be proud of.
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Thanks,@Pinky! I was feeling happy, not only with the event, but having him with me for a few days. It had been a long time since we traveled on a trip together (since 2019- pre-Covid), so it was fun. After the graduation, we traveled to Knoxville, where we went on a river cruise and they served lunch. Afterward, we visited the history museum and the art museum. The art museum was located in the area where they had the World's Fair. Did a lot of walking that day! Also, was grateful the weather turned out so good. We had been expecting rain.
 
palides2021 said:
Thanks,@Pinky! I was feeling happy, not only with the event, but having him with me for a few days. It had been a long time since we traveled on a trip together (since 2019- pre-Covid), so it was fun. After the graduation, we traveled to Knoxville, where we went on a river cruise and they served lunch. Afterward, we visited the history museum and the art museum. The art museum was located in the area where they had the World's Fair. Did a lot of walking that day! Also, was grateful the weather turned out so good. We had been expecting rain.
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Your trip together sounds lovely. You're very fortunate to be able to do that. I hope you have future opportunities to travel together.

May I ask about you and your sons degrees? @palides2021
 
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Pinky said:
Your trip together sounds lovely. You're very fortunate to be able to do that. I hope you have future opportunities to travel together.

May I ask about you and your sons degrees? @palides2021
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Thanks for your interest! My PhD degree is in Leadership specializing in English (because I have written novels and poetry) and my son's is a bachelors in Theology. He will be going to seminary in the fall.
 
Pinky said:
Respect to you and your son for reaching your goals, and all the best going forward!
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Thank you so much! It took me a long time to get to this stage in my life, and I am glad I was able to reach this goal. Now, as I write this, I am preparing for a speech that I will give tomorrow at an embassy event. So I am excited about that. Then it will be quiet for awhile after my son's graduation.
 
palides2021 said:
Thank you so much! It took me a long time to get to this stage in my life, and I am glad I was able to reach this goal. Now, as I write this, I am preparing for a speech that I will give tomorrow at an embassy event. So I am excited about that. Then it will be quiet for awhile after my son's graduation.
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What an honour! Will the event be broadcast live?
 
katlupe said:
Congratulations to you and to your son! Sounds like you had an amazing trip!
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Thank you, @katlupe! Yes, I did feel it was an amazing event! The campus was beautiful and clean, and I enjoyed walking around there. I had not gone to my previous university for my MFA graduation several years ago, and felt something was missing. So this time, I decided to go to this one. I am glad I did! It is quite a ceremony! The university has been around since 1888, so it's an established school with Baptist beginnings. It is located in a Bible Belt. On the airplane going there, I kept hearing "Amen!" from people conversing which I found refreshing. The university decided to open up to online courses a few years ago and at the same time, halved their tuition, which was very attractive to me. As a result, they now have over 20,000 students! This year, they will increase the tuition slightly to accommodate digital books (so students do not have to buy them).
 
It's been awhile since I posted here, but today is Fourth of July and I had some free time on my hands.
I decided to read the first chapter of Helena's Choice and added music from the Youtube Audio Library and
had fun with making this video. (I noticed my voice started cracking midway (12 minute read) and I had to stop and redo
portions of it so it read smoother. C'est la vie!). I used Zoom to record my voice, then downloaded the mp4, then added it to iMovie. Then edited it. I then searched for music from the Youtube Audio Library (it's free) and added music by Brian Bolger -
Floating Home.

I am sharing the video here, for those who would like to see it!
 
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I love your freewriting approach of just letting the words come to you as you let your mind dissolve into the object of your attention. It's a beautiful way of letting the energy flow through you and generating exemplary results. Your colorful writing style reminds me of the very admirable Mary Oliver. You certainly have that gift.
 
bobcat48 said:
I love your freewriting approach of just letting the words come to you as you let your mind dissolve into the object of your attention. It's a beautiful way of letting the energy flow through you and generating exemplary results. Your colorful writing style reminds me of the very admirable Mary Oliver. You certainly have that gift.
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Aww, thanks, @Bobcat for your encouragement! I started writing poetry when I was twelve, after I received a journal for my birthday. When I write, it's as if I'm connected to the universe, and I am just the messenger. Same goes with my music. It just happens.
 
palides2021 said:
Aww, thanks, @Bobcat for your encouragement! I started writing poetry when I was twelve, after I received a journal for my birthday. When I write, it's as if I'm connected to the universe, and I am just the messenger. Same goes with my music. It just happens.
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I think exceptional poetry is more than a work of art created by the brush strokes of the mind. It is a gift of sensing and seeing those nuances that are often missed by the casual observer, and then sculpting them into marvelous collections of pleasurable enjoyment for humanity. Thank you for sharing.
 
bobcat48 said:
I think exceptional poetry is more than a work of art created by the brush strokes of the mind. It is a gift of sensing and seeing those nuances that are often missed by the casual observer, and then sculpting them into marvelous collections of pleasurable enjoyment for humanity. Thank you for sharing.
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You also possess a profound passion for poetry! Your familiarity with Mary Oliver's poems and your own impressive writing skills showcase your exceptional talent. Your observation about the significance of capturing those subtle nuances, often overlooked by casual observers, is indeed a crucial aspect of the writing process. It is truly a gift! Additionally, revisiting a poem or a piece of writing after setting it aside and engaging in the editing process can greatly contribute to refining the final product. These are my thoughts....
 
Thank you for those kind words. I do write a little when I have time and feel moved by inspirational thoughts. Here is one I wrote a few months back.

CONSIDER THE STARS

Countless shimmering, glistening crystals,
catipulted into uncharted realms;
heavenly gypsies bound for infinity.
What have you to say to me?

Have your swift twinkling messengers
crossed vast, unimaginable distances
just to say hello?

How lonely would be the night sky
without your radiance?
Billions of candles silenced;
chariots of fire and wonder
chasing the boundaries of time,
all extinguished.
A dark prospect,
But you have prevailed

What may I give back to you
for all the years of delight and romance?
Perhaps intense admiration, amazement,
or grateful heart would do.

But then again,
perhaps to contemplate
that you and I are one,
forged from the same furnace,
merely separated for a time.

Whatever your destination,
I will search the night for a message
Wherever your quest leads,
I will cheer you on.

Perhaps we will meet again
to ignite another void
Perhaps another me
Perhaps another you
Perhaps a reunion older than time

Inconceivable, incredible,
staggering to the imagination...?
Alas, so is the universe,
and we are all stardust.
 
bobcat48 said:
Thank you for those kind words. I do write a little when I have time and feel moved by inspirational thoughts. Here is one I wrote a few months back.

CONSIDER THE STARS

Countless shimmering, glistening crystals,
catipulted into uncharted realms;
heavenly gypsies bound for infinity.
What have you to say to me?

Have your swift twinkling messengers
crossed vast, unimaginable distances
just to say hello?

How lonely would be the night sky
without your radiance?
Billions of candles silenced;
chariots of fire and wonder
chasing the boundaries of time,
all extinguished.
A dark prospect,
But you have prevailed

What may I give back to you
for all the years of delight and romance?
Perhaps intense admiration, amazement,
or grateful heart would do.

But then again,
perhaps to contemplate
that you and I are one,
forged from the same furnace,
merely separated for a time.

Whatever your destination,
I will search the night for a message
Wherever your quest leads,
I will cheer you on.

Perhaps we will meet again
to ignite another void
Perhaps another me
Perhaps another you
Perhaps a reunion older than time

Inconceivable, incredible,
staggering to the imagination...?
Alas, so is the universe,
and we are all stardust.
Click to expand...
Very admirable! This poem definitely resonates on many levels - from the imagery of the candles, to the heavenly gypsies and chariots of fire. I could read this several times and gain something new each time. I am impressed (and humbled)! Thank you for sharing!
 
palides2021 said:
Very admirable! This poem definitely resonates on many levels - from the imagery of the candles, to the heavenly gypsies and chariots of fire. I could read this several times and gain something new each time. I am impressed (and humbled)! Thank you for sharing!
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You're very sweet. Like you, I think it's the creative process that's the reward. It opens your mind's eye to things you've looked at, but never really seen, and thoughts much deeper than the everyday type. I look forward to reading more of your creations.
 

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