Light and Darkness

Dali and Dante

Emmaline and I recently viewed the Dali exhibit at the University of West Florida. The show included 100 woodcuts illustrating Dante's La Commedia Divina, and Dali's style is quite evident in many of the pieces. Imagine the time for the woodcuts and the whole process for printing. Artists just amaze me.

Dante's character is Christlike in the prints. I have yet to read the Comedy and don't know if this is intentional but I like that Dali portrays him in such a way. He wears a crown of leaves and robes...as do all the religious characters. And despite the Judeo-Christian influence, there still resides the mythological history of the Italian people as obvious in the Arachne print.

Some prints didn't do anything for me. I passed them without a second glance. I thought pehaps the muted tones were reasons enough but they only enhanced the general scene....overall, the whole collection is quieter and simplistic in color. I think it was the ambiguity of the subject in some prints that dissatisfied me. While others were expressive and sometimes explicit, there were those few that just seemed like pretty fillers.

I did enjoy the collection though. Emma had her favorites as well (though I can't find a copy of it online to show you). I had almost nerve enough to pull out the cell phone and snap a couple of pics, but I wanted to be respectful.

In the Coloring Box

Razr photo

Poor Vagabond

I neglect this site entirey too often.

Did you know Light and Darkness celebrated its third birthday a couple of weeks ago? Evidently it did but I forgot as usual. I am a bad keeper of the online journal. I probably would have completely forgotten about it had I not thought about birthdays today.

Incidentally....mine is coming up. Anyone want to celebrate with me? I have a weekend planned already in Biloxi. The day of my birthday is open though.

Recycled Titles?

Before I post, I periodically check my site for titles I may have used in the past; and I'm not surprised that I don't have original thoughts. Eh. That sucks, doesn't it.

Posts have been sparse for very good reason. One: I can't write about some of the things going on in my life. Grounds probably for dismissal. Nothing that I've done wrong but speaking unkind of those you work with? Not a recommended. So, I stay far away from that although the events of my work life are pure comedic genius and perfect fodder for an online journal. Two: I refuse to write more about my relationship. Mainly because I don't think many of you give a fuck and that hurts. I sound like a whiner and we want to stay away from the blubbity blub blub stuff. Three: No life.

But it's unfair to myself to let a beautiful and useful tool such as an online journal go to waste especially since I spend nearly two hundred dollars a year to maintain. Not money easily given. So....I post.

Tonight was another meeting of the Glass Eye Poets. I wanted to attend but couldn't and didn't. Em had not place to go whilst I let loose my inner muse; and child comes before anything else in my life. We caught a couple of movies instead which was nothing in comparison to spoken poetry. Eh, it happens every month so things will fall into place next month so I can go.

Just for those who want to know, my father's birthday was Wednesday. He would have been fifty-five years old. Yes, I'm sad but it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. The sentimental things that would catch any one are the things that bring a tear to my eye. It's only been six months since his death. Still anger, pain and regret involved but it's ok.

Marjorie died nearly two weeks ago. Soon after I visited her, she declined even more so and was rushed to the hospital where she stayed until she passed away. I feel awful but I haven't been able to bring myself to go over to her house and give my condolescences to her son. I don't know why. I don't know what to say. I'm unsure of how to comfort him. So, like a coward I have stayed away. Am I callous? I feel heartless but I just don't know what comfort I can give and I don't want to fake anything just because it's socially acceptable to comfort.

I don't know.

...

I need to sleep because I wake early for work. Good day to all.

I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of a spark
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule
I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black
And I held my tongue as she told me
"Son fear is the heart of love"
So I never went back

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark

You and me have seen everything to see
From Bangkok to Calgary
And the soles of your shoes are all worn down
The time for sleep is now
It's nothing to cry about
Cause we'll hold each other soon
The blackest of rooms

If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied
Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Then I'll follow you into the dark