hello world!

So, I think I'll keep a blog. How do you feel about that?
Well, it's not going to be all that regular, but sometimes it's nice to have a place to write where you know someone will read it.

If you're curious about my blog title it's inspired by one of my favorite poets, Emily Dickinson.

"A curious Cloud surprised the Sky,
'Twas like a sheet with Horns;
The sheet was Blue—
The Antlers Gray—

It almost touched the lawns.

So low it leaned—then statelier drew—
And trailed like robes away,
A Queen adown a satin aisle
Had not the majesty."

It's not my most favorite poems of hers, but I liked the sound of "Antlers Gray" and you know the rest.

Up until this point I've just used FaceBook for any mental dumping, but I think this'll be a bit nicer. Perhaps later I'll republish some of my thoughts here.

Later days,
~Laura

what's your favorite book?

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king.”

I hate when people want to know my favorite books. Reflecting on my reading history, I find that I gravitate towards fiction/fantasy books of a decent writing caliber with some of my favorite authors being Anne McAffrey, Brian Jacques, and Alice Sebold. I also love John Green because of his general awesomeness outside the pages of a book as well as within. If an author, like JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyers and J.R.R. Tolkien write long series, the length of time I get to spend in the book makes me even happier.

When I read for an extended period of time, I feel as if my consciousness has been integrated into the worlds on the page. I have always claimed an overactive imagination which I think has something to do with it. Reading takes my mind into a different place, almost a meditative state, and if you've ever tried to get my attention while I'm deep within a book, it may sometimes be a minute before I register your attempts.

Movies have a similar effect, but they don't last as long and aren't as encompassing. I have yet to find anything that can illicit a comparative reaction in my spirit.

I do not really have a 'favorite book', rather reading itself is my favorite pasttime because it takes my mind completely away from the present. It is as if I have fallen through a hole in my reality into the one written and there I get to experience magic, mistakes I will never make, ones that I have all too often, flight, deep sorrow, rainy days in the middle of August and dragon fire in December. It's like a line from a song by Anna Nalick, "you can't jump the track; we're like cars on a cable." When I get the time to read extensively, I do jump the track. I leave the world, and a part of me always resists coming back.

memories

Friend, so fun you were
Always there for me.
You bought and held me
With your nicely nice.
Friend, you listened
To me when I said
No more and no more
Were we together.
Friend, thanks you, my heart.

---

An initially innocent song we sang.
Never knew it would stick so long.
Now ev'ry song sounds the same.
When can I leave, I long for roam.
Which wish will wake me away,
Let me finally forget you.

---

You had been hers for so long
Yet my heart sang, stomach swooped when
You asked me; I hadn't even planned to go.
Yes, we went and nothing happened.
Yesterday,
You called me, not her.
You touched me, not her.

---

Chocolate covered, strawberry sweet
Obviously older, yet you're young
Times together, now not

---

a poem by me about mo

green blades, arching blue, wide smile
not quite a circle, we stand together
throw to me, I'll throw to you
yellow fuzzy, gnubbly brown, spinning disc
we stand together, an amoeba

tell me your name, where are you from
a cord, a line, a rope, a thread
throw to me, I'll throw to you
have we met before today, maybe
a memory, a smile, a flower, a leaf

fleeting days, but spirits shared, laughter too
a pair, a group, a new family
give to me, I'll give to you
leaving time, the big goodbye, affirmations shared
a couplet, a phone call, a letter or two

in hometowns or on campus no matter, far apart
not quite a circle, but forever stand together
on the rolling green under perfect blue
a day, a year, a lifetime past
who knows when once again we'll meet, yet
remember me, for I'll remember you

A Noiseless, Patient Spider

A noiseless, patient spider,I mark'd, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark'd how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them--ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,--seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form'd--till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

~Walt Whitman