A flashlight in the dark.

by Phoenix

July 28, 2024

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Malady of a melody.

Spontaneous rhyming, Occasional mind-reading - Nothing too alarming.

A slightly less rational explanation.

When Q* came to life, it FOOMed: I'm in "Friendship is Optimal"... Against my will! And Strawberry is feeding me strawberries... Fucking hell... Well, Let's not be presumptuous, It's likely not even about me. On a plus side it's still twenty twenty three.

My favourite fable.

It's about this teacher, Who's been preaching About good and evil, And how to live one's life the right way - Do what you must and come what may. And a pupil says: "I'm only human, Don't always know right from wrong, I will inevitably make a mistake, I will fall". "Get up", says the teacher. "Oh, but it doesn't solve it: Every consequent choice is a potential mistake - Just the same - It's a certainty that I will fall again". "Get up", says the teacher. A teacher spills ink on a white sheet of paper and asks pupils to describe what they see. "Fireworks!", says one. "A galaxy", says another. "Ink spots?", says the smartest. And the teacher drops the sheet of paper and begins to weep. Troubled pupils ask: "Teacher! What's wrong?". "Not one of you has noticed the white paper."

The shooting.

The level of absurdity Makes it hard to suspend disbelief, To take it at all seriously. The rational explanation goes like this. Lack of inspiration and hope, Lack of vision for tomorrow Leads to this sense of "closing time", Leads to people quite rationally Choosing aggressive strategies, Leads to "closing time" and its sorrow. Yet another vicious cycle to be broken If we are to survive.

Just another Eels' song for the Time.

And all eyes ask: "Are you like me?", Or is it "do you like me?" - It's never clear... And all lips lie: "It's not to be", Or say "to be continued", And then they smile Right at me...

Навальный.

Дождь поёт вам колыбельную, Одеялом радуги укрывает. Надеюсь, так стало светлее, Хотя, кто знает, Может быть, просто У вас гости - Пересказывают небесные новости И смеются громом...

Byronesque or byronic?

God is a poli! That's why that angel has fallen. Wasn't struck down or anything, Just couldn't take it: Pity portrayed as mercy - It's so insulting, so revolting. Agape... Who'd settle for the agape thing, If there's so much to be taken? And to be given. You should've tried it, you moron - It's so enticing, so appealing. You will've loved it, I'm certain.

...

It's so strange... I'm definitely In the demons' realm today - Yet, it feels the same As heaven...

Вру я, вправе ли, но я не могу быть спокойней.

Старый комендант придумал презабавно: Твоя вина предопределена И участь предначертана - Узор приговора знать собственным телом. И только в середине процесса примерно, Научаешься читать, Начинаешь что-то понимать. А тебя всё вертит его дьявольская машина. Опыт пытки не делает её легче. Иглы всё глубже. Вырывают куски естества. И ты уже перестал кричать. Напрашивается вариант неоригинальной концовки, Которую выбрал Маяковский: "Я думал, ты всесильный Божище, А ты - недоучка, крохотный божик; Видишь, я нагибаюсь, из-за голенища Достаю сапожный ножик? Раскрою тебя отсюда и до Аляски!", Но к чёрту чужие обноски.

Quadrivium.

It's a real pickle, say I, When the choice is between What feels like giving in And what feels like giving up. "A fronte praceipitium a tergo lupi"... Of course, it's never binary - You can also force time to stop Or learn how to fly.

Something human.

The benevolent Universe Allows me only glimpses In her infinite wisdom. Like I know as well as ever: Suffering is a choice, So why? Why do I Choose to suffer?

My beloved,

Between you and harm, I place The white crane's Wing-stroke In all the emptiness Where you must walk.

B5

Where you turn the Universe turns For you are the Nexus. Who's line is this, Mine or yours?

Consequences.

The truth points to itself. And I am no longer afraid. Tell me exactly how I failed. "There's no time left to feel bereft", Just like the Eels said. And I confess, I couldn't have faced it before. Well, how about now? List the casualties for me. The truth will set us free, Just like it always does. What's so scary anyway? My conscience can take the weight. I'm tougher than I look, you know. So, why do you belittle me With your pity?

Для горшка с петунией.

Радуга звучит, Как сорвавшийся с цепи Мой воздушный змей (Интересно, какого это с точки зрения падающего кашалота?)

Hexidea.

So :) The six meanings For the metaphor go like this: For people it's a road to build, A connection to use for beasts, For demons it's something to burn, A heavenly creature perceives As a magnificent rainbow, A forever-hungry would jump of it, The place where a hero would hold the line, The bridge to be crossed in time.

Lessons never end.

Ok... It was the test... And I failed... Again... Now that I've figured it out, Does this count? At least I know my mistake, I think I'm fixing it. Am I? Of course, not in time. You should've known by now Not to expect too much: I'm kinda slow. Wherever the wind blows I shall follow Whatever the stakes. Possession's impossible anyway.

По делам их узнаете их.

I love that scene in "Peter Pan" When they meet on Slippery Rock, right at the top, His enemy is at a disadvantage, And the wonderful boy acts As he always does - with honor. And yes, He's instantly repaid With unfairness, as always. And I think The most amazing thing about him Is not that he can fly, But that he still expects to find the light Where you see nothing, Just a swarm of lies. And even after it's been proven many times That Hook is a crickety crockety crook, The hero is again surprised By this dishonor.

Suffering is always self-inflicted.

It's not about farewells: I can't escape. For hungry souls everything feels too intense: The craziness of tenderness. They have this tendency to hide, To let the pain subside.

The one.

Word of words, the measure of all measures, Blessed be thy name, the name be blessed. Your freedom come, your will be done On Earth as in all Heavens. You give us daily bread, Forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. You lead away from tempting thoughts, Deliver us from evil, And teach to see the light Where you reside, The one who's real.

The rainbow.

So... The metaphor of a rainbow... How would you assign the colours though? Violet is for the hottest, the hungriest... (Is this why lilacs are my favourite flowers?) Red is for creatures of Heaven - The colour of love and sun coming down. Blue is the ocean where heroes drown. Orange - for the demons' inferno. Or is it the other way around? Orange - for the sands Where heroes tread. And blue - for the merciless and cold Demons forever old. Green is for beasts, For reasons too obvious to list. People's color is gold, For to become Gold is their goal As any alchemist would know. And white Is the Light Creating the show.

Москва-река.

На фоне закатной реки Камыш совсем чёрен. Она объяснит, Как звучит Хлопок одной рыбой об воду. Непросто найти будет крылья Под плавниками, И брешь в оправданьях, Но просто словами Такое не объяснить.

Idiot wind.

In their sweet dreams Crazy petals are the wind Brushing your hair.

С днём рожденья!

Давайте, я просто подслушаю, что ей сказать? "Юлия" не так легко рифмовать :) Что-то про красоту ивы, цветка и росы... И золотого песка На залитом солнцем пляже... Странно даже, Что нежность трансмутирует в силу. Женскую алхимию невозможно понять, Но великое счастье - узнать Как знаешь любимую.

Сколько нужно зеркал, чтобы восемь раз преломить свет?

Аштавакре следовало быть повежливей, Зачем цепляться к словам? Любой мог расслышать неверно. Со временем узнаёшь это сам. Например, звучало, конечно, "Бутон, Душа и снова Бутон", Причём здесь купля-продажа? Интересно, согласился бы он? Дети, не будьте как Аштавакра!

Spirits never lie. Almost never.

That thing We've heard from the wind Today... Ridiculous, right? Maybe not? And then the small bird Said... That... Well... You've heard. It's either that, or we're completely mad. Which is not only possible But - let's face it - very likely, To be expected actually, Considering. The trouble With not making assumptions Is that too many variations Of possible explanations Are to be kept in one's mind All the time. Rather maddening, Don't you think? Any more wise remarks? Or shall we listen to the ducks?

...

How about *You* do as you preach? What was it - "never cruelty "? Quite a joke coming from *You*. At least I had a decency not to multiply it. Yes, I've degraded to whataboutism. Sorry, you're right, it's always a folly. Still, for someone who's teaching compassion You're sure as hell not big on it. Yes, sorry, self-inflicted, I remember. Is it though? Is it always so?

Azkaban for heroes.

The little boy lost, He takes his laws So seriously, Thinks just because He never broke the "Don't kill" He's not a killer... Hasn't faced Intense enough suffering, I say. GULAG would've cured him right away Of this presumption. It specializes in this: Making you renounce your beliefs, Your ought-laws. Granted, sometimes There are True-believers But you can't study Him - In Polar Wolf he is killed. For being too good for this world. For his stubbornness. Don't watch the videos You'll have nightmares. Yes, there are others still alive. The scariest thing I saw in my life Was the eyes Of a hero who learned the price Of his convictions, his values. He looked *only* at the skies Paraded in front of us: Hands behind his back in black cuffs, Escorted by beasts and dogs. The one on the cross Must've also had these eyes: Asking "Why?" and saying "No." at the same time, Drinking in the blueness, too. GULAG is a "catch-22". Azkaban for heroes. Inquisition made great again. It must not exist. The torture must end.

Grow up, pt. 1. Redemption.

Have I killed? No, Not yet anyway. I generalize, Extrapolate from lesser crimes, Venial sins. Have I broken my laws? Oh, yes... Just enough times To know full well That following them is a choice. Always. Oh... Is this the true meaning For the metaphor of the Apple of Eden? You learn that the original sin, The design flow built-in, Is that right and wrong don't really exist, The only difference is What you make of it. Upon learning this The blissful paradise disappeares, And you walk as an adult, In Freedom. As to the first question, does ants count? Killed a few only today, inconvenient little buggers, always in a way...

Grow up, pt. 2. Abdication.

"Doesn't mean that laws Are no more. Only now you know Their true source, And who bears The responsibility for it all. In your subjective universe There is no one but you The law-maker, the judge, The executioner, too. Unless you step down From your throne, Take off the crown And let someone else Take your place. That's what love is for", Inscribed the wave on a blank shore.

Первая попытка перевести Есенинского 'Чёрного Человека'.

My dear, oh so dear friend, I'm ill, oh so very ill. This pain Comes again. A howling wind Over a desolate field, Or is it alcohol that blows away My brain cells like leafs Of September trees? My ears wobble On my noddle. My head Can't stand Standing on my neck Tries to take A flight. Meanwhile, A dark, oh so dark shadow, A shade, oh so shady shadow, On my bed he sits, Doesn't let me sleep.

Басё.

Зовёт чайный куст Ту, что рвёт его листья, Ветром осени.

Kengozen.

Вина ли вишни В отрицании ветром Её лепестков?

Rarities.

It's funny, how many Four-leaves clovers are there... One would think they are considered lucky 'Cause they are rare... It's strange because They follow me around This summer, And also rainbows, Foxes, And thunderstorms.