Signs of Love

Today has been an erratic one, to be certain. Feeling sick was temporarily repaired by hot tea with Jen and Mr. Iverson, and my soul's sleepiness was temporarily nudged awake by the sighting of:

3
Hawks.

Now that might not, in itself, seem very earth-shattering, but for me it really was a moment filled with magic. I heard beautiful bird-cries far above my head, and (my soul and body being very tired today) I heard but did not recognize. On a sudden, it hit me: hawks! I looked up, and what should I see: not one, not two, but three gorgeous hawks flying in slow, meaningful circles around the Humanities building.

I stood in awe as these gorgeous birds cirlced so purposefully around, crying their Phoenix-chant as they flew. There are several reasons why this sighting meant so much to me. First of all, hawks are very sacred birds, magical and holy in many ways and to many people, particularly Native Americans. Secondly, this beauty in the midst of a hectic school day filled my body with peace. Walt Whitman would have been pleased. Last but not least, I only saw one or two hawks in my entire life until I met Mike, whose Spirit Animal is the hawk. Ever since we became close, I've been seeing hawks on my street, in my backyard, outside the mall, and now at school! I went from seeing no hawks to six in one year! I feel like this is further proof of my soul-bond with my darling Michael.

Speaking of darling Michael, today he walked six miles in chilling, wet weather to visit me while I studied at a cafe. Six miles for one-and-a-half hours! Just to see me for the 30 minutes I had left, because I told him how sick I felt. What a beautiful boy. I swear, his presence fills me with such delight and peace! He is a rain shower in a barren desert. A drop of water in a parched body. My essence and breath of living artistry ... inspired by my love.

goodnight or good morning, and may many magical moments come your way today.
~ Lily ~

For the Soul

Watch ...

Here is some proof that humans are capable of creating real beauty out of almost nothing:



Now, wasn't that pretty? I don't understand why this is called a "glass harp," as the crystal sounds more like some sort of mystical pan pipe to me, but "a rose by any other name" ...

ALSO ...

I would like to share a wonderful piece of art http://musabenedetta.deviantart.com/art/A-Thing-of-Beauty-139609668 that my dear friend Samantha (musabenedetta.blogspot.com // musabenedetta.deviantart.com) created for "Bright Star" ~ and dedicated it to me! I am honored and thankful. Take a look at it, and while you're at it, check out her wonderful gallery and blog!

UPDATES ...

Today has been a busy one, filled with studying! I am learning that I really am incapable of writing comedy, as our latest Shakespeare class assignment is proving.

I still plan to blog about the Air, Fire, Spirit, and Water; and also some lovely metaphysical concepts that I am studying in my Asian Religions class.

As for the heart: I have a most beautiful and delightful boyfriend, and his visit tonight (though too brief) reminded me once again of how lucky I am. I am inspired constantly, and he revives my soul and allows me to fully appreciate the beauty around me ... not that I didn't before, but don't you agree that love shapes our perspective in ways full-glorious and unexpected?

"Bright Star" Review

Bright Star is truly one of the most romantic, soulful, and deeply beautiful films I have ever had the pleasure to view. It is a feast of poesie, song, natural delights, and the bittersweet experience of LOVE. I firmly think that director Jane Campion (The Piano) did John Keat's life story justice, which is vital considering the poet died believing that he would be forgotten. In fact, he requested that his gravestone be void of a name. It reads Here Lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.

I don't wish to give away the story or the little secret beauties of the film, so this review will be simple. First let me warn potential viewers: Bright Star is a BBC film, which means England, which means Europe, which means ... American audiences may be completely bored by the slow, gentle pace of the film and long, poetic verses. At the viewing I attended with three friends, we were 4 of only 11 people in attendance! Two of my friends found it too slow and long, whilst my dear friend and myself were enchanted to the utmost limits of enchantment. I cried and cried, and even my friend who did not like the film found herself weeping at the end! For me Bright Star was not long enough! Many of the most visually graceful scenes were, I found, too short. I simply wanted more and more and more!

One of the aspects of the film that most struck me was its sublime innocence. There was a purity to Keats and Brawne that I never expected but was wholly appreciative of.



There are hidden treasures awaiting you when you see this film. Fleeting scenes of innocent love and playful moments, heart wrenching bursts of passion and anger, lingering verse and true-life love letters, sweet strains of violin - secrets of the film that you must see for yourself.



As for Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish, the acting was intensely moving. Mr. Whishaw played a mad murderous perfume-maker in my favorite film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, and he also played Bob Dylan in I'm Not There, and Hamlet in a London production of Hamlet. I never questioned his acting abililities, but tonight I can honestly say that, if filmmakers continue to give him such elegantly crafted films, this actor will rise to be one of the greats. As for Abbie Cornish, all I can say is this: her acting is so believable and powerful, especially towards the end, that she left me stunned. I've never heard of her prior to Bright Star, but she has won me over completely! Whishaw and Cornish together are a heart-stopping delight, and Jane Campion remarked that the pair became close on-set, and that it gave her great pleasure to watch them quietly talking in a corner, bonding over this shared experience. She also has said that Cornish is a shy young woman, and that in many of the scenes where Whishaw would kiss her or hold her hand her blushes were genuine. Awwwwwww.


This is definately a film you will either love or hate. Literary majors should delight in it, as it is, afterall, the true story of the great John Keats! His name may have been writ in water, but that water rains down upon us now, and it cleanses and purifies every soul that it touches.

goodnight,
Lily

The Nature of the Poet

Bright Star seems as if it will be a true masterpiece. What could be lovelier: soul mates, John Keats, nature, dreams, Ben Wishaw? Keats was only 25 years old when he died, never knowing the mark he made in the world.

This film (coming in October) is based on the love and letters of Fancy Brawne and poet John Keats. For references to the natural world in Keat's letters, look at this webpage: http://users.dickinson.edu/~nicholsa/Romnat/keatslet.htm - it's delightfully beautiful.

"I think of green fields. I muse with the greatest affection on every flower I have known from my infancy--their shapes and colours as are [for are as] new to me as if I had just created them with a superhuman fancy--It is because they are connected with the most thoughtless and happiest moments of our Lives--I have seen foreign flowers in hothouses of the most beautiful nature, but I do not care a straw for them. The simple flowers of our sp[r]ing are what I want to see again."
(~ Keats, to Fanny Brawne, February (?) 1820)



"I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days ..."
~John Keats (To Fanny Brawne, 1 July 1819)

For the true story behind this film (and a sad tale it is) read this web page: http://englishhistory.net/keats/fannybrawne.html
I promise it will break your heart!

Portrait of Fanny Brawne: http://kmcless.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/fannykeats.jpg
Portrait of John Keats: http://www.saltpublishing.com/assets/authors/keats_john.jpg