Wordless Wednesday - 154

Debby says Gorgeous!!!

Janet says Love it - keep them coming so I can at least dream of what my garden could look like :)

Nessa says Pretty.

Poetry Train Monday - 156 - Blank Sonnet

For today's Poetry Train, I'd like to share a poem by the man who writes a poetry column that appears in our Sunday supplement - George Elliott Clarke.

I love his column and wonder at its very existence. What a champion of a form that persists into the 21st century despite everything.















Blank Sonnet


The air smells of rhubarb, occasional
Roses, or first birth of blossoms, a fresh,
Undulant hurt, so body snaps and curls
Like flower. I step through snow as thin as script
Watch white stars spin dizzy as drunks, and yearn
To sleep beneath a patchwork quilt of rum.
I want the slow, sure collapse of language
Washed out by alcohol. Lovely Shelley,
I have no use for measured, cadenced verse
If you won't read. Icarus-Iike, I'll fall
Against this page of snow, tumble blackly
Across vision to drown in the white sea
That closes every poem -the white reverse
That cancels the blackness of each image.

- George Elliott Clarke, 1990

For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!

Poet in Flames says Thanks for sharing this lovely sonnet and pics.

Akelamalu says Lovely words to go with a lovely picture. :)

Naquillity says What an excellent sonnet. He certainly knows how to steal one's attention. You're so lucky to read him every Sunday.

Summer Stock Sunday - 18

Time for more Summer Stock Sunday!

This year I'm taking a trip back in time - let's go!














This picture was taken in 1939, overlooking Niagara Falls, Ontario.

My husband's Grandma Smith holds her son, David (my late father-in-law) while her older daughter Pat checks out the railing beside her auntie.

Don't you love their 30's dresses and hair? And the serious look on his little face?

For more glimpses of summertime, join Robin at Around the Island.

Apprentice Writer says I think we have a photo at that exact same spot! What am I saying - hundreds of thousands of families have a photo at that exact spot.

Akelamalu says Aw bless him look at his little face. :)

Alice Audrey says Even the baby has the serious look. It really is a great representation of the 30's, right down to the short skirts on little girls but not on women.

Weekend Writer's Retreat - 11

Here's the latest installment of Scorpius' back story.

For the Weekend Writer's Retreat, I'm following the boyhood back story of an adult character I'm writing for a dark fantasy.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 11

The nobleman would not leave. He stayed far into the night, even though he’d arrived at the falconer’s cottage with several other men. His guard remained outside, speaking in low tones.

Scorpius had paid attention at first while his master spoke with Lord Zorjak. Richolf served wine, nodded, and gave an opinion from time to time.

But it was so late. Scorpius couldn’t keep his eyes open. Leaning his head against the cabinet door, he slid uneasily into sleep, until the door unlatched under his weight and he tumbled cross-eyed onto the floor.

He’d nearly forgotten why he’d been squashed in there to begin with. But the smell of wine hung heavily in the air, and his gaze lit upon the glossy boots of the lord beyond the table legs.

Scorpius looked up at Richolf, but his master ignored him. Fear shot through Scorpius’ body, jolting him wide awake.

It couldn’t be safe to sit out in the open like this. He rose into a crouch, where he could now see the top of the nobleman’s head.

“A bloody insult,” Lord Zorjak slurred. “Swanning about. He's not the only one who's gathered a force behind him, and called them admirers.”

Scorpius crept forward over the stone floor, cool against his hands. His master had hidden him away in the cabinet when the men came. That was the safest place for Scorpius to be. He could almost feel the burning stare of the nobleman upon his back. It sent creeping shivers to grab at his neck, as though he’d already been caught out.

When he was nearly within reach of the open door, a goblet sailed over his head to clatter against the wall above the cabinet. Dark red wine splashed over Scorpius, dripping onto the floor, splattering the wall.

Richolf moved smoothly to retrieve the goblet, crouching to wipe up the red stains. His master's eyes were bright with alarm as he locked gazes with Scorpius. Richolf gave the slightest flick of his head toward the hiding place. Scorpius darted forward, folding himself into its airless embrace as Richolf wiped at the wall above.

The door clicked shut behind Scorpius as Richolf turned toward the drunk nobleman. “Does my lord require more wine?” he asked.

© Julia Smith, 2010

Naquillity says This continues to build with each installment. You've a great story unfolding and I'm pleased to be a reader along the way.

Alice Audrey says Yikes! What would happen if he were caught? I can't even imagine.

Janet says The image is so vivid - the fear they both emote - Richolf's subtle worry and affection for Scorpius! Well done, Julia :)

I'm blogging at Popculturedivas - Scroll down for Guest Blogger 5 on Friday

Join me at Popculturedivas for the book launch of Pamela Callow's debut thriller, Damaged.

She held it at Halifax's Carleton last week - a fabulous dream-come-true time had by all.

5 on Friday - Set 18 - By Guest Blogger, Michelle - Sister Extraordinaire

Top 5 RUSH songs – as chosen by Michelle

My sister has seen Rush in concert 8 times: in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario; at Pine Knob outside Detroit, Michigan and in Washington, D.C.

She's the perfect person to bring us today's set. This weekend a new documentary called Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage opens in limited engagements across North America, and will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray June 29th. In honour of this release, I hand the reins over to Michelle for 5 on Friday here at A Piece of My Mind.

~

RUSH... Canadian Super Group. Guitar, bass and drums. Alex, Geddy, and Neil. As Canadian as beer, hockey, and curling combined. Really.

I became a Rush fan about 23 years ago, quite accidentally, in fact. My high school boyfriend played bass in a band. In rehearsal, they sometimes covered Rush songs, but without vocals. (With good reason, as no one can sing like Geddy. Anyone trying to sing a Rush song automatically sounds stupid).

For the longest time I listened to these songs and grew to love them. What a surprise when I finally heard a real Rush tape. “You mean, there are WORDS to these songs?” I asked, incredulously.

So began my love affair of over twenty years with a group that never ceases to inspire, excite, and entertain their fans. Listening to Rush is like doing a musical jigsaw puzzle in your head. Even with songs you’ve heard a thousand times, it never stops being fun.

Choosing 5 favourite songs is, as any fan will attest, next to impossible. But I’ve compiled a list of songs which mean a lot to me.

1 - Subdivisions

The song that made me a fan. At times this song seems to whoosh past you at light speed. Combined with a haunting melodic theme and dark lyrics, it will disturb you.

In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out

Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out

- Neil Peart



2 - Natural Science

Beautiful, lyric guitar at the beginning... you can almost feel the quiet movement of the water in the tidal pool... then it picks up speed, and very quickly you’re contemplating the entire universe.

The most endangered species
The honest man
Will still survive annihilation

Forming a world
State of integrity
Sensitive, open and strong

Wave after wave
Will flow with the tide
And bury the world as it does

Tide after tide
Will flow and recede
Leaving life to go on as it was

- Neil Peart



3 - Working Man

Awesome, loud, noisy guitar to start, then Neil’s cymbal, then the full band driving their point home: “Seems to me I could live my life much better than I think I am...”

I guess that's why they call me
They call me the working man

I get up at seven, yeah
And I go to work at nine
I got no time for living
Yes, I'm workin' all the time

I get home at five o'clock
And I take myself out a nice, cold beer
Always seem to be wondering
Why there's nothin' goin' down here

- Neil Peart



4 - Freewill

Imagine standing in front of Alex Lifeson as he plays the opening notes of this classic, locking eyes with you as he does. Ask me, I know. (July 2002, Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto). The music is infectious, and the words are ones to live by.

A planet of playthings
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive

The stars aren't aligned
Or the gods are malign
Blame is better to give than receive

You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice

You can choose from phantom fears
And kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill

- Neil Peart



5 - 2112

A rock suite in seven sections, which tells an ultimately tragic story about discovery, beauty, and oppression. Musically, nothing showcases the boys’ talents as much as 2112, or Neil’s ability to paint pictures with words. Seeing Rush play this live is a special treat complete with audience participation. A masterpiece of music and lyrics.

We've taken care of everything
The words you hear, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes

It's one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why

Look around at this world we've made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the brotherhood of man

Oh, what a nice contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand

We are the priests of the Temple of Syrinx

- Neil Peart



Alex, Geddy and Neil, you still rock!

Here's the trailer for Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage:



For more fabulous musical sets, visit Travis at Trav's Thoughts.

Julianne MacLean says Great blog, Michelle! It's so cool that you've seen them 8 times. That's dedication :)

Pamela Callow says Michelle, you are truly a Rush afficionado. Great set!

Jennie Marsland says Ah, the memories! You're right, Rush is the quintessential Canadian band.

Thursday Thirteen - 162 - 13 Things I'm Looking Forward To

1 - Reading My Booky Wook by Russell Brand
















2 - Watching the third season of True Blood
















3 - Going to the Halifax Pow-Wow, June 26th.














4 - My 1000th post.

Which should be in 167 more posts!









5 - Watching the film adaptation of The Silver Chair. Hope it's not too long...Please, please, pretty please...











6 - In the meantime, Voyage of the Dawn Treader should keep me going.















7 - Finding out what happens to Scorpius...












8 - Getting my Dark Age vampire manuscript through its current revision. Thanks, Blake Snyder.











9 - Completing my Victorian-gardener-to-Van-Diemen's-Land manuscript.

Photo by Cara King


10 - Going to the next writers' retreat, coming up this fall









11 - Taking part in NaNoWriMo in November.












12 - Taking part in Blog Blast For Peace, Nov. 4th.



13 - Watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this November.



What are you looking forward to?








Michelle Helliwell says I'm looking forward to finishing my edits on SW and getting back to my WIP!! Hmmmm - this is actually a very thought provoking question.

Kelly Boyce says I look very serious in that picture. I must be thinking 'hurry up and snap it, the chocolate finally arrived!!'

Jehara says Having just seen Get Him to the Greek, I really want to read Booky Wook. I am a new fan of Russell Brand.