Like the Elephant's... Wrinkles

So yeah I'm a little Tahoesick right now... and this time, a poem came out of it I think. I think those from LTSP 2006 and also those who know me well and read this will probably understand where I'm coming from with some of this language.

"An Old Man's Face"
by Neil Mullins

These lines...
...have not felt the joy
of a woman's smile
in what seems like months.

These eyes...
...have not seen the company
of past friends
for what seems like years.

These ears...
...have not heard the rousing commands
of battle's glory
since what seems like decades ago.

These lips...
...have not spoken the desires
of the beating heart
in what seems like forever.

These features of an old man's face
Whom he would love for someone
To awake and embrace
Are, in fact, my own... at the tender age of twenty-one.

Moats and Drawbridges

To those of you out there who read this, sorry for the gap in the number of poems per week. This past week was finals week, and even though I was done on Tuesday, my artistic efforts were focused elsewhere (I was designing t-shirts for PomonaCru).

Today has been interesting. I went to visit my grandfather in the hospital, who has suffered a stroke after an operation on one of his major arteries. He's getting better, but the experience was very hard for me, much harder than I expected. This is the man responsible for furthering my interests trains, planes, and many other things, and is the grandparent that I am the closest to. So if you could keep him in your prayers, that would be a huge help.

But the day is not over yet. Off to adventure, dinner, and a show! My family and I will be dining at Medieval Times tonight, because we've never done it, so that will be a lot of fun. Here's a poem I wrote today about modern-day castles.

"A House With No Fences"
by Neil Mullins

"A man's house is his castle,"
Says someone with a cry
And the stubborn lines on his face
Lead me to wonder, why?

There's a myriad of reasons, to be sure:
Television, cars, pets, family and tenure
But I think the reason his expression was so tense
Is because he built too big and too tall a fence.

Yes, fences are built with good intentions
To keep out robbers, vermin, and the occasional wild car
Though sadly, what happens with such prevention
Is that we keep out our neighbors and friends, as if in a war.

So give me a house with no fences
And a tree with lots of shade
So we can sit and enjoy the sunsets
And trust others not to raid.

Oy vey...

OK, so even after a hectic Week 9 (out of 10), with a 10-page research paper done in 2 days (which was due this Friday, not last Friday), you'd think this Week 10 would be nice and easy so I could focus on my finals, right? Nooo... instead of schoolwork, it was actual work that bogged me down. That, and a wedding (high point), and Tahoesickness (low point) have made this week just as busy.

"Stop the Presses"
by Neil Mullins

Construction all around me
But destruction here too
Of a life once serene
By this noisome darkness
Splittin' my ears right through

And it's all for this Pavlovian struggle
Over who's controlling who
This work for the sake of reward
It's insane; I can't take it anymore
Can't I just work to be right with You?

Of course I can...
Because You're what it's all about
But the world won't stop the presses
So I can sort my life out
Will You show me where the mess is?...