Fantastic Mr. Fox Review

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Release date: November 25, 2009 (USA)
Reef Rating: 5/5 Stars

Director: Wes Anderson

Starring the voice talents of:
George Clooney - Mr. Fox
Meryl Streep - Mrs. Fox
Jason Schwartzmen - Ash
Eric Chase Anderson - Kristofferson
Wallace Wolodarsky - Kylie
Bill Murray - Badger
Willem Dafoe - Rat
Michael Gambon - Franklin Bean

When I first heard word of Wes Anderson adapting one of Roald Dahl’s books I of course instantly was both interested and concerned. Being a Houstonian I have always felt inclined to support the work of Houston-born writer/director Wes Anderson.

Thus far I’ve enjoyed his dry sense of humor; kind of like an Americanized version of British humor…but it is also very adult, sophisticated humor, so I couldn’t imagine him doing a family movie.

After seeing the movie I have one thing to say…Fantastic Mr. Fox certainly is FANTASTIC! Wes Anderson has made one of the best films of 2009; one that is just as good as his other movies, if not being his best yet! Everything, from voice-actors, to the use of stop animation: this film is perfectly balanced in what is certainly the best comedy of the year.

How did Wes Anderson pull it off? Well, he honestly didn’t make this so much as a kid’s movie as he did make another entry in his series of odd-ball comedies- only this time cutting back mature subjects to a PG-rating. What results is a very mature comedy that doesn’t resort to cheap gimmicks or slapstick for laughs (though there is a bit of slapstick for those kids who won’t understand the humor in Anderson’s dialog).

The story centers on Mr. Fox (voiced by the always entertaining George Clooney), who is the foxiest fox who ever foxed. An expert chicken thief he likes living dangerously…that is until his lover (voiced by Meryl Streep) becomes pregnant and demands that they settle down. After getting caught in a fox trap he agrees to her terms that if they survive he shall never steal again.

Two years later (which is far more in fox years) the couple is living in a hole with their son, Ash (Jason Schwartzmen). Mr. Fox is a newspaper columnist, who is fairly certain no one actual reads his column and is now upset that he won’t amount to anything (like his father) so he decides they must move out. His choice is a tree, but this tree happens to be located next door to the three meanest farmers the animals have ever seen. His lawyer, Badger (voiced by Anderson regular Bill Murray) tries to talk Fox out of his choice home, but he won’t hear it.

After moving to the tree they are joined by their nephew Kristofferson (voiced by Eric Chase Anderson) who quickly becomes Ash’s center of jealousy. Kristofferson is perfect in just about every way, spending his time meditating while practicing yoga, being naturally gifted in sports – everything Ash wishes he was. This drives Ash to prove his worth to his father no matter what the cost!

But while those trivial matters go on Mr. Fox can’t resist the call of the wild, and with his opossum building superintendent, Kylie (voiced by Wallace Wolodarsky) plans a return to his dangerous life of “cussing with” the farmers’ heads. At first this starts as simple crimes, but soon the farmers declare war against Mr. Fox and the entire animal populace! It becomes the job of Fox save everyone from the farmers’ wrath…which he caused!

There's also a great (not to mention HILARIOUS) bit involving Willem Dafoe as an insane, finger snapping rat-henchman under the employ of the farmers, but I wouldn't spoil that for the you! You'll have to see the movie to get what I'm talking about.

Fantastic Mr. Fox of course differs from its source material, but for what it is Fantastic Mr. Fox is a great comedy. I say “comedy” instead of “animation” or “Family” movie because its values really are more comedy oriented than they are trying to entertain an entire group of people. In fact, the theater I saw this movie in was full of kids under the age of 10 and very seldom did any of them laugh: the humor was just way over their heads, and I won’t hold that against them.

For adults and mat kids over the age of 10 or so Fantastic Mr. Fox is a fantasy comedy full of whimsical characters that will leave them chuckling, and quoting its ingenious script long after they’ve left the theater. Parents can also approve of the film’s message of “everyone has their own individual talents,” be it thief, landscape artist, or demolitions expert.

It won’t stand up against a movie like Pixar’s Up in a ‘Best Animated Feature’ contest, but then again I doubt it was even trying to. What the movie does is set out to be a sophisticated comedy – something that is rated PG, but is just as good as any comedy directly aimed at older audiences. Fantastic Mr. Fox is rated PG but is more adult and sophisticated than this year’s smash hit The Hangover.

Fantastic Mr. Fox truly is the most fantastic movie of the year.

5/5 Stars!

Untitled

Selling my soul to make things right
Cause i can't stay locked up tight
Finding my way when it's dark as night
There's no way i can win this fight
Unless somewhere i can find light
To trudge on with all my might
Until i'm wrapped up in another plight
With no end in sight.

No longer will i bend,
Waiting for you until the end.
This broken heart i will try to mend
And stop eternally trying to fend
When all it can do is rend
Because you have nothing left to lend.

The grief an sorrow took control over me like a dictator over his country. I had no consolation what so ever looking at everybody's faces to look, to search, to see, to find my childs face or to hear again the sweet and angelical voice yelling mommy! mommy! like when he wanted me to turn around and watch him do something new, but not anymore. I will never forget the little voice that woke me up in the mournings screaming and jumping "its time for work! get up its time for school!"or the minuature ,soft and warm hand i held when walking to the park. Those are memories that are not to be forgotten and yet to be remembered, when out in the distance i saw you! -Mayneli R.

You and Me

You don't pay attention to me.
You're too clingy.
I don't like your friends.
I don't like your parents.
We don't see each other enough.
We see each other too much.
I don't like your smoking.
I don't like your drinking.
Well I don't like you.
Well I hate you!
I hate you too!
Kiss and make up, rinse and repeat.

Movie recommendations: Dark City (1998)

Dark City (1998)

Director: Alex Proyas

Starring...
Rufus Sewell as John Murdoch
Richard O'Brien as Mister Hand
Kiefer Sutherland as Dr. Daniel P. Schreber
William Hurt as Inspector Frank Bumstead
Jennifer Connelly as Emma Murdoch

A $28 million budget art house film that features several actors who have now ascended the ranks of stardom. The story follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) who wakes up in a bath tub at the scene of a murder where he soon finds himself pursued by a mysterious group of black clad, pale fleshed men lead by Richard O'Brien (you may know him as the creator, writer, and co-star of the midnight screened, all-time cult favorite musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and John must recieve aid from a man claiming to be his doctor (TV's 24 star Kiefer Sutherland). Discovering that the black-clad men (refered to as Strangers) control all that is within the city it is up to John to discover the secret of the city, the Strangers, and why the city never sees daylight. To do this he must discover the location of Shell Beach; the place everyone knows about, but no one seems to remember the directors to.

The film also stars William Hurt as the detective who is placed in charge of the mysterious case, and Jennifer Connelly as the woman who claims to be his wife.

Dark City has over the past 11 years become a cult-favorite, starring actors who have risen in status in recent years, starring film-cult-figure Richard O'Brien, and being the immediate follow-up of director Alex Proyas' critically acclaimed adaptation of The Crow (which starred the late Brandon Lee who died from a technical acident during filming) and Proyas continues to dazzle with low-budget visual flair in this film-noir masterpiece that earned the title of being Roger Ebert's top film of 1998. Alex Proyas may be used as a corporate tool now, having his style severely cut back by studio control (see: I'Robot, and Knowing, both of which are severely different than Proyas' original ideas).

DVD to watch: I strongly recomment the director's cut over the theatrical cut, not so much because of content, but because the pacing of the director's cut is far more

Long Live the Critic

Long Live the Critic
By Vance Berk

No one cares for voices of reason
No one cares for those who do
Why listen to they who write
When they aren’t the ones who pay

See them
We do
As loathsome creatures
Without emotion or care
Why take their advice?
Treat them as if they don’t care

He who spends hour upon hour
Viewing and reading
Writing and observing
Is he not qualified to share his voice?
Has he not devoted his life to such?

Man – the masses – fails to grasp
That a critic is…
An important breed
One that deserves to be heard
So that all can be learned
Thumbs Up
Or Thumbs Down

‘tis not their job
To order
But it is to imply
To help guide

What they wish is to help
Make your choices wise

Can’t it be seen that their pin
Their wit
And cruel tongue
Is only to help you
To decide on your economic splurge

As you whine and complain
They sit on through the things
You would never do
Or see
All to make it easier for you
What to do
And what not

It is not a demand,
What they do or say
But an opinion
Their opinion
An alternate view
Meant to help decisions
To be made soon

So long live the critic
For by his
Or her pen
We can decide with ease
What to do
Or what not

Long live the critic
Long live human speech
That is meant to be forever free



R.I.P. Gene Siskel
&
Wishing a speedy recovery to Roger Ebert, whose writing I continue to read every week.

Down From View
By Vance Berk

Welcome to the sight beneath the world,
Where you must do as constant told
Where you are far from love’s view

Now hold down your rosy hair,
As it begins to fade to ash
Because of one time you dare

Foolish it was to cover up
The things that couldn’t be seen
Now every last one of them spills
Over edge of life, you are cup

Do not question anything of fate
No longer will you sing to Kate
Now all that you are is state
Such a fool to fill a whole slate

Look up and see how it is
How it is that you’ve failed
From breath, to sight, to life
You are now slipping down a well
Where you go? Straight to Hell
There you know not to fight
All while listening to our bell

You are never to plan escape
Without first having held his cape

The Stingray by Yasmine Saqer

He is the bottom feeder of the sea,
lingering beneath the sand.
The creatures who surround him glisten in the water,
their marvel of colors reflecting happiness throughout the sea,
he is their dark and melancholy shadow.
His piercing eyes watch you from across the water,
sending an uneasy message to your soul.
He threatens your life with every cold and deceitful glide he takes.
He is the Hades of the sea,
the Grim Reaper of down below.
He is the stingray.

Just because I'm quiet
I'm not dumb
I'm not selfish
I'm not spoiled
Just because I'm quiet
It dosen't mean i dont get mad at others
It dosen't mean what you say dosent hurt me
It dosen't mean I cant be kind
Just because I'm quiet
It dosen't mean im always nice to others
It dosen't mean i like everybody
It dosen't mean i cant be a good friend to others
Just because I'm quiet
Dosent mean I dont fight for what i love
-Mayneli R.

I want to make movies

Creativity takes many forms, and I suppose I want to do more than simply write my ideas. I want to show my ideas.

Ideas I want to do go as follows...

• A science-fiction film in which the government supplies and regulates all forms of entertainnment, from music, movies, to radio. It would be the story of discovering who one is and showing that all isn't as dark as it seems.
• A story of myths where all the great religions of B.C. converge into a fantasy. Rewriting history and what should be a darn good show.

I just really want to stimulate and entertain the minds of those around me. Hopefully, one day I can make this happen on a large scale.

Bits and Pieces

The bits and pieces
Of my Mind
Are scattered
Here and there

The bits and pieces
Of my mind
Now have gone
Everywhere

My mind is fraught
With memories lost
My brain distraught
With battles fought

A toss of the die
A slash of the rye
A pig in a sty
I wonder why

My mind is everywhere

In the monster's lair
In the hole of the hare
In the clothings' tear
In the rocket's red glare

My mind is everywhere

There it is low
Mixed in with the dough

And so I go
Steady but slow

To pick up the pieces
Be not facetious

Ride reality's train
And start my day again

Young-Min

Songs

So, I thought I'd post my songs here before bringing them to class, if that's alright with everyone.

I've picked four, and one that's a redo of the first... I'll get back to that later.

So, here they are, the songs that inspire me:

1. American Pie –– Don McLean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAsV5-Hv-7U

It's the song that reminds me of almost all of my friends.. My experiences with them... Basically just makes me feel again, and I suppose that's what helps.

Oh. And every little bit of the lyrics is packed full of meanings, so I think our minimalist will enjoy it especially!

2. Poker Face –– Lady GaGa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngf5Oo_XrjI

This one's kinda strange. It's upbeat and pretty happy, so that helps a little bit in actually getting me to write...

3. Girl and the Sea –– The Presets

Here's the video link, but I strongly suggest not watching the video, 'cause you'll be confused as hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7JOnV0nOog

I think this one's probably the best of the lot for actually writing, since it's so filled with imagery––you can almost feel like you're there, for a lot of it.

4. The Con –– Tegan and Sara

Here's the only link to the music video that I can find: http://www.logoonline.com/video/tegan-sara/190137/the-con.jhtml

Pretty much the same thing as #3.

And here's number 5... Which is in lyric form to the tune of American Pie... It was written by a friend of mine––by name of Steph Connor––and more likely than not, you won't understand any of the references or imagery, so... Yeah. =P

But, hey, have I mentioned that I rank things by how much I shiver/cry/am reminded of friends? This one is the highest of 'em all.

TiPmerican PentaPie

A short, short time ago, I can still remember how TIP used to make me smile. And I knew when I had my chance, as a 4th year I'd help them to dance and soon we'd all be happy for a while. But this past July made me sick with every room Will Harris visited. Bad news at the threshold, we broke down and tried to keep hold. I remember that I cried when I heard about our abrupt demise, and something I'll remember through time - the year of Swine 09.

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

Did you write the book of llove and do you have faith in the Llama if the SMP tell you so? And do you believe in Quadzilla, Ultimate on the Giles Quad, and the dances on Saturday nights? Well you know about relationTIPS 'cause canoodling isn't TIPpropriate, but we break rules anyway like tunnels and fire escapes! We're all lonely teenage nerds and geeks with this one outlet - a great three weeks, but this atrocity lost us one week the year of Swine 09.

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

Now for two months we've been far away and dust grows fast on a rested brain, but that's not how it used to be. When the Joker sang for a Youtube diss in a coat he borrowed from Will Harris and a voice that rang hate in you and me. Oh and while Kyle Jones was looking round, the Joker took our llama down, the camp was all in fear when he cut the llama's ear. While we gifted our TA's and frolicked throught the rainy day and we had Ultimate to play the year of Swine 09.

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

British invasion, heat, frustration, ADFers danced off with A/C and infections, invaded even our Bassett trees. Pentaforce was in full swing when they punished our creativity and Will Harris lived under Peter Sloan's bed. And our half time, TIPquinox was sweet, by chance, while ADFers did their circle dance; the boys put on their skirts, Oh! with Young Writers did they flirt! But our happiness was cut in half and the Mandate of Heaven was soon to be passed, Administration tried to laugh the year of Swine 09.

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

In the Union we were together there, watching Peter and Will roshing on the chairs, and TIPsters holding in their breath. But Peter Sloan was the winner, Will Harris said he wasn't to return and TIP witnessed another death. But we made an impromptu night, with a dance, a rave, and late bed time. Yet nothing could replace the hole this event made. We kept getting others sick, but a better summer we couldn't have picked; to all our friends, close would we stick the year of Swine 09.

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

I found some kids who were scared of the flu and I told them of my summer news, they just flinched and ran away. And I went down to the old mementos where this whole thing started years ago but those memories my mind wouldn't play. And on TV the parents screamed, their kids were dead and sad it seemed, but not a school was closed; the school districts were too bold. And even though we didn't die, the most important kids in my life, we caught our planes and how we cried. The year of Swine 09.

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

[We sang "Bye bye Miss American Pie," flew the Llama with our Mama 'fore our mamas came by, and our orange shoelace will be a memory of mine of that year that TIP East Term 2 died, of that year that TIP East Term 2 died.]

"It" is a sprit or maive a feeling something i cant explain. Nobody can see "it" not even me, not a shadow not a breaze no nothing, is as if "it never existed but "it" is there how do in know that when i cry "it" cries with me? or does "it" laughf at me hurting? who knows and who do i ask for question i might have about "it"? how can i satisfy my thoughts?....who is "it" im talking about......your soul

-Mayneli R.

Zeus's Dirty Laundry

Wearing your cynicism like armor
that always protects you
except when you're crushed by its weight
Using humor to mask your impotence
Suffocated by your importance
Indignant when questioned
like Zeus
Caught doing dirty laundry
You bottle it up
and moan about no one understands you
The white sheep
that painted itself black
Grace and virtue
are the only things you lack
This is why I hate mirrors
-Arman

Happiness

A pond
flying
blue Sky
gleaming coat
grass and birds
animals moving
people talking
sitting, waiting
preparing
riding forward
sitting tall
jumping up
exhiliration
hanging frozen
time stills
we land
time crashes
i smile

-alexandra p.

Devon K.

Little Girl
Little girl, do you remember when
your mother said 'Oh, what a tangled web we weave'?
Well now you know what she meant
cos your old secrets that you no longer keep
have come back to eat you alive,
tear you apart and spit you out.
You should have known all along
that trust is not what life's about.
Trust is a gift that friends earn
not something to give out freely like you would.
Trust is not meant for just anyone.
Little girl, know that now you should.

Raindrops
Raindrops fall until tomorrow
Like the endless unforgiving sorrow,
Pittering to the symphonic melodies
Writing their own death-defying eulogies.

Students: Here is a great site for writing ideas

http://stoney.sb.org/eno/oblique.html

Branching Out by Yasmine Saqer

I am standing on a branch of a tree
miles high above the ground.
Only the clouds are below me
and more branches surround me.
The tree is leafless
and has no other forms of life but me.
I want to touch surface with the earth,
but I don't know which branch will take me there.
I wish I could freefall,
but I know the clouds won't catch me.
So I'll continue to stand here,
and grow as the tree does,
moving farther away from the ground.

LOVE

L-ove is a word of great meaning.
O-f joy of passion of pain,
V-eil of new unkown meaning.
E-ver and ever again.
Tim K.

The Day The Earth Was Said to End

I'm awake it's Spetember 11, 2009 this was the day America was attacked 8 years, and the day it was said to end. The friends that surround me still peacefully asleep in an open field with only the sound of distant frogs who have yet to fall asleep and the stream nearby flowing calmly. My friends and I had confessed all of our secrets to each toher even those secrets that you hide from yourself. We called up those boys that we have crushed on forever and said those three little words, and not knowing weather he meant it or not he said them back. That night we did things that made us closer than you could be to someone in the real world. We said goodbye to everyone we had gone to school with since forever as we left the football field where we met to have one last party. We accepted the fact that we wouldnt get to call ourselves seniors or produce mini-mes. That wasn't the problem it's that everyone had told everything about themselves, so now i was the only one hiding something. I did something earlier that day that is unforgiveable, that even in a "Harry Potter" book it rips your sould if you commit this action. Now that i am lieing awake and the world didn't end I'm going to have to live with my choice and thats something i never planned on doing. My secret is too big it will keep me full all the time, it will ruin me, and worst of all it will ruin my family. I commited a deadly sin, but nothing as simple as cheating or steeling...i killed.

a poem...

Hearts of billions populate this circulating orb of earth and life and water,
All weaving into one loving, beating, hurting, helping, lost, broken, unfathomable heart.


One mysterious, now to unfold.The heart of one, an Empath: A Poem


My world is a world of contrast
A world drowning in emotion
My heart is not my own.
For as anguish washes over an acquaintance
As tears stream down their face
I feel their burden
As deep and piercing as if it were my own
I am as sorrowful as they are
I weep as they do
I can't help it
My heart is not my own.
The joy of a child
A life so full and promising
I see this on a mother's face
And joy washes over me
A foreign smile passes over my lips
Even if I didn't want it
My heart is not my own.
And when the day of sorrow
Is one truly belonging to me
I am weighted down with it
My deep darkness
Even as I struggle with my own
My heart is filled with the world's afflictions
Nothing can stop it
My heart is not my own.

-alessandra w

Off the top of my head

So far in the school year the only class I seem to struggle in is creative writing. Surprisingly it's supposed to be a really slow paced and simple class but my desire to make the most of this class wilted when I realized Ms.Hall had retired and become a denizen of Alaska. Even though she was my reason for joining the class, I have decide to become more involved because that seems like something Ms.Hall would want me to do.

Floating

Floating
By Vance Berk

I am alone, floating in a sphere. My eyes, they feel glazed over as if I am gazing through a window of wax paper, but I can still see my eyes reflected back at me from the confining wall of the sphere. There is nothing outside this sphere; that is what I'd like to think as I remain enclosed within this increasingly questionable thing. There is nothing I can feel outside the orb's hold.

I ponder the rationality of a situation such as this - in great detail, I must say - yet I come to no definite conclusion to my condition. The mystery of this sphere had no answer, yet her I wait, wondering the answer to a question without.

Tick-tock

I hear a clock in the distance, yet still my vision is confined to there sphere and the shadow that surrounds it.

Tick-Tock!

There it goes again!

Tick-Tock! Tick-Tock!

Time, time, what is the time? I do not know this answer, for it had never occurred to me that a thing such as time could exist in a place such as this. Though there is no clock to be seen there is in fact time.

Tick-Tock

I need to get out of here while there's still time.

The Beatles aren't my favorite band. Not by a long shot. Their influence cannot be understated though, and they did write some pretty great songs. In light of the Beatles remasters just out, I decided make a list of my top 10 Beatles songs.

10. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
- Fantastic psych-pop. Pitch shifted vocals and acid drenched keyboards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU

9. I am the Walrus
- Lennon's spitting vocals is gritty and clever. I love it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yNcE8c3j2M

8. When I'm Sixty-Four
- Vaudeville influence on modern pop songwriting. How cool is that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH7v6wordKs

7. Dear Prudence
- Maybe the quintessential Beatles song on here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z59HteiHkZ0

6. All You Need is Love
- The chord progression and melody make this song a standard, the "she loves you" reference and overstuffed arrangements make this a classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzJ2NKp23WU

5. Revolution #9
- An experimental sound collage made by the biggest band ever. Wow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swOYEZBim0

4. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
- Fusing cut-up sound collage techniques with vaudeville pop? Count me in!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dL9I7j2-Lo

3. I'm Only Sleeping
- Magical production grafted to this ode to my favorite activity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2m8e3kY2Bc

2. Norwegian Wood
- The melody seals the deal for me. Forget that sitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY5i4-rWh44

1. Tomorrow Never Knows
- The perfect synthesis of pop and experimental, and it still sounds shocking today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVUzTZ5dgwQ

Try going through some of these when writing a new piece to gain a different perspective, or just to help keep those creative juices going. Rock over london, rock on chicago.

A Montage to Love

"There is something that entices me. It stops all thoughts in my head."


"It is my artwork––beautiful, and dark. When all else fails, it makes me smile."


"It tells a tale––how to live, how to love."


"It feels like a dream."


"It ends the pain, and fuels the fire."


"It swells in me––I must fight it. I must fight the flood. But as it leaves me, I realize: I must embrace it."


“Fear them, love them, hate them, embrace them."


"I long for the touch of humanity."


"I seek no more, and no less, than to be free from the suffering of loneliness."


"My wish to be touched, to be heard, to be felt, to be seen, and not to live as I do––alone."


"I yearn for your touch, however cold it may be. My blood burns in wait of your whips. Hit me, hurt me, burn me, stab me. I want all that you have to offer.


How sweet, how painful, how loving..."


"I was nothing to you––nothing but a tiny link to hold you in place. Only ever a rock––a pebble––in your world."


“Those three words.”


"Lies, lies, all lies! Everywhere I turn––everywhere I go, I can hear them!"


"But we were attached because of our lies."


"The voices in my head scream at me––they tell me I should not have gotten so close."


"I was alone––a useless vessel––left behind after my purpose had been served."


"Nobody could love me."


"I wanted just one person to accept me for all I was, and forgive me for all I wasn't."


"Is there anyone who can stop my pain, and hold onto me?"


"Is life worth living without another beside you, to care for you always, and be cared for in return?"


"In each hand, I hold a piece of me, for I am torn. In my left have I placed my heart, in my right, my mind.


Should I choose my left, baring my heart for all to see, will I find my one true love?"


"My only wish, now that I have chosen my destiny, is for another to walk by my side as I journey... And when she claims me, I shall be no other's."


"I did not care in how many places I was torn. I did not mind the pain of my past. I was in love, and that was all that mattered."


"I love her. I love her, but cannot have her"


"I feel the need––the need to taste flesh."


"Biting into her... her blood pouring through my lips..."


"I feel what there is to feel... A jolt of life, of love, of happiness."


"My flesh aches for the sweet tinge of pain."


"Stab me. Slit my wrist. Break my bones. Burn my flesh. Bite me. Shoot me. Punch me. Kick me... I need pain."


"I needed to be hurt, or else I would never truly feel alive––loved."


"The knowledge that it would not last brought pain to me even as I stood side-by-side with her. Every moment I was away from her, I could see her in my mind––still as a statue.


Even as I slept, I felt pain, for I knew she would grow tired of me. And if, by the goddess, she did not, time was short, and did not last."


"I fear there will not be another day; I pray that there will."


"If there's one thing I wish, it's to be with her and never leave her side."


"But she was in love with another, and to hope that other disappeared was a selfish wish. It would mean the loss of her other half, and she would never be truly happy again.”


“To live for love? To die for loss?


I close my eyes to dream, my heart pounding in my ears.”


"There is a thought––love.”


"It was too much for me to leave behind."


"The knowledge that if I crossed, I would never see her again, stopped me at the edge."


"I find myself smiling...”


"Love is the cause of my suffering, but love is also what keeps my heart beating. Because I would do anything for those that I love.


I would die for them.


But more importantly, I would live for them."


"To love is to kill your heart."


“We live, we love, we hate, we hurt... It is a vicious cycle that will never end."






'I love you.'


Why does such a small combination of words cause so much trouble? How does it convey enough emotion that people will die-–or live-–over it?


What is love? Just a concept-–an idea. It represents so much that cannot be spoken. Yet, to say it, to express these feelings, why use the shortest number of words-–words that mean nothing?


It can be given; it can be taken. This is what love is. It can be broken, or even stolen. Yet we put our lives in its hands––into the hands of a lie.


Love is dark, mysterious, conditional, conceited, and often faux. Still, we strive for it––we believe in it. All our lives, we are conditioned to live by its laws-–victims to its snares and easy pickings to the vultures that circle above. And for what?


To be hurt, misled, maimed, tortured... There is no other way, when you bare your soul for someone. There is no other ending when your gruesome, corrupt, and injured self is showing.


Just look in a mirror-–look hard, and you shall see it.


You will stare right through yourself… See the pain, and not think twice before you look away.


This is love. Is it worth it?



--Aiden/Oberon

Listen to the Wind

Recently, I spent a month away from my friends and family in the Mongolian steppe, the land of the great blue sky, and almost nothing else. One evening, after dinner had been cooked and the tent had been pitched, I wandered just far enough away from camp to be completely alone. At the Northern edge of the Gobi, there are no birds singing, no crickets chirping. Only the whispering wind from the North is audible, but it does not break the silence. The wind is the silence, the unpspoken voice of Nature that, if you listen closely, will speak to you. This is what She told me (from my journal):

I am alone at last. It is not so much as being here, but not being there, away from the incessant babble of a million mouths, just me and the setting sun. The wind bites at my face, but it does not sting. In a world without fences, your mind is left to wander, a helpless yet willing victim to the unrelenting power of nature. With every breath I take, I am dying, yet living. There is nothing left but love. I am alive.

Now I am back in the States, but I haven't forgotten what the wind taught me. But, when I try to convey my feelings to my friends and family, I can't seem to find a way to describe my experience. I am almost trapped in Plato's Cave, able to explain the shadows, the events, the people, but unable to convey my thoughts and feelings.

Creative Writing

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