It seems just like a few days back that I wished you for your 18th birthday here.

Happy Birthday, Dev and Dhevy =]

I'm just so very grateful for you. There's really nothing else to say here, wait for the letter (the one I couldn't resist telling you about, which I've been writing for more than a year now =S).

Once again, I can't think of a title for the post, and once again, as always, you never needed things to be that perfect anyway.

This nursery rhyme popped into my head when I was bathing, so I'm putting it here, even though it doesn't really have much significance =D

If all the world were paper,
And all the sea were ink,
If all the trees were bread and cheese,
What should we have to drink?

Outstanding, Outperforming, Out Having Fun.

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE!

I'm so glad to be a Victorian. Whether or not I've made VJ proud, I'm proud to have been from VJ.

Couldn't pop over yesterday to watch the celebrations because I was out the whole day. When we reached home at around 10.45pm, we could hear the band playing It's My Life (Bon Jovi) under the huge white marquee set up in the field, this is where the dinner tables were set up as well (from what I could see from my balcony). Mum suggested we go take a quick look at what's going on. Unfortunately, we heard the emcee announcing that the band would be playing the last song of the night. And they played La Bamba [for the benefit of non-Victorians (and the not-very-Victorian Victorians), this is one of our 6 mass dance songs.]

VJ brings back a flood of memories. But that's for another post. I've gotta get ready to leave for PA.

Nil Sine Labore. (Though it's a cliched ending to speeches and all, it's just so appropriate. Not just because of the literal meaning, but because of the patriotic spirit it arouses. And since it's usually mentioned at celebrations, it generally is reminiscent of half-days and full-days. haha!)

Late-night MSN convos.

It's around 1am. Just had a couple of conversations:

1. With Simran, about the Psychiatry game. And the secrets it revealed. Somehow I get the feeling you know more than you're letting on, Sim. Haha!

2. With my sister, about a Youtube link she sent me (That I didn't get to watch because there were too many convos.).

3. With Raghav and Bala, and then with Raghav alone, about poetry. Raghav believes that the lyrics to any song should be considered poetry, because there shouldn't be any rules when it comes to creative expression. He isn't referring to good poetry, but just poetry. I disagreed, but couldn't really explain myself without coming across as an arts snob (which I'm not). And that isn't good. I've never been good at explaining things that occur to me intuitively. Especially when I'm not trying to prove you wrong, but just giving an opinion. Somehow, Raghav, our argument seems to be about prose and poetry. A diary entry can be prose, not poetry. And prose is a literary piece too, so I'm not saying poetry is better. They're just different.

4. With Yagnya, about Harry Potter (the sixth movie)- it's pros and cons. Also about her play that I won't miss (not like she'll let me miss it anyway, haha.). Can't wait to meet you man.

5. With Abhishek, about a couple of things, and a couple of compliments (Thanks man, you totally made my day! Also because of your pro English =D ), and ending with dreams.

Number three. I guess the discussion I had with Raghav brings across another beauty of poetry - it can be universal and yet it's so personal. =]

I went on Google to see what people have to say about the definition of poetry, but all those definitions seem outdated to me. But I came across a website where people tried to define what a good poem is.

(Note: Raghav, I'm not trying in any way to prove my point here, I know you're not talking about GOOD poetry. This is unrelated to our discussion, just the usual stuff I like to quote at the end of a post.)

"What is a poem?

Hard work.

Emotion surprised.

Throwing a colored shadow.

A word that doubles back on itself, not once but twice.

The exact crunch of carrots.

Precise joys.

A prayer that sounds like a curse until it is said again.

Crows punctuating a field of snow.

Hard work."

To me, that brings across the importance of word-choice in a poem.

"Good poems can tell us what we already know in our bones but had never seen or heard or even put into words before. For a poem to be good it needs the element of surprise. That comes to the reader both in content, line break, sound, and voice. You read the opening line, are carried (or jolted) to the last line, and then wonder, how did I get here? There you are standing in this new place but feeling that, yes, you too, belong here.

A good poem is like a simply wrapped package that appears unremarkable at first glance. Until you read it. Then stars glow where there was never light before. Something sparkles. It might be you. It might be the dark. It might be the woman two rows ahead of you on the bus.

Good poetry gives us ourselves as if we've never had who we were before. It also gives us each other, shortens the gap between one and another. And good poems give us the world as if for the first time.

A fine poem needs mystery too; it doesn't say everything. If you were to compare a poem to a simple math equation, say 1 + 1 = 2, then a poem is butterfly + jagged scar = his warm breath on your neck. It's another way of knowing that makes perfect sense, but not logical, linear, rational sense. It's the way the heart knows, and the soul, the logic of dreams. It's how we know when we love or when we are afraid.

Poetry works on us not only through content but through sound. And for a poem to be well written it must remember that element as well. It needs to sound right. There's not just one right sound, but many, and each poem has its own that needs to be incorporated in order to be a thing of strength and beauty."

I hope I can remember that when I make my own attempts.

Oh and I just read a message from a senior, which was equally heartwarming and worry-inducing. Only you can pull off something like that, I'm so glad you're around Shiva. =]

A minute's walk through my brain.

This time I think I'll wait for you to remember instead of reminding you but there's always the little question or is it a big question of what if you forget altogether I never used to have that doubt but recently it feels like I hardly know you but then again you never really knew me either I don't want anyone to think I'm emo-ing cos I'm not and what's that smell? the MP3 player I haven't touched for years is playing old-school music that reminds me of primary school but the house is in a mess and this can hardly be called stream-of-consciousness because either the thoughts go too fast to put them all down don't you like the sound of my keyboard or my mind goes strangely blank and blocks itself like Snape deflects Harry's curses what am I supposed to type next when I know a couple of people might read this which makes me wanna tell you not to wonder what the heck I'm saying cos because b-e-c-a-u-s-e that's an old habit of spelling out words I probably won't be able to tell you anyway I have a letter to finish and post how many stamps do you reckon it takes and though minds are fascinating things I think they definitely d-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y my friend in Sec1 taught me to remember how to spell that definitely can't be put into words like I'm trying to do now cos it sounds messy and is just a shadow shadow reminds me of Hasinah's e-mail address shadow of the real thing my brain seems to be very active just like that birthdate-horoscope said I like that horoscope don't you think it's strange that I took so long to type this out when they passed through my head so quickly every glance is killing me line from a song playing earlier I like that I can remember lyrics and birthdays and phone numbers and lines from books why doesn't it work for Chem and Physics I guess I never really tried I hope my brain is always this active I suddenly really really miss Paka River Camp and the Japan trip this is tiring did I already say that? and now I don't know when to stop I guess now would be a good time cos because this is getting too long dhevy you'd probably say it isn't and I didn't write this keeping in mind that others would read it but people would say that's impossible but anyway let me tell anyone who's reading this that I'm not as mixed-up as this makes you're a chance-taker heartbreaker got me wrapped around your finger more lyrics I'm not as mixed up is that hyphenated or not? as this makes me seem should I delete this whole thing no I guess I won't.

Funner-In-Crime!

Happy Birthday Simran! =] Hope you had a blast at camp! Cheers to many more years of craziness and laughter and friendship =D

Simmer's Birthday card: The Making.

Above: The preliminaries.

The back (which becomes the front when you close the petals).

The interior of the petals.

The base of the interior done, second flower done.

Second flower stuck on, wordings done.

Finished!

"It don't matter if you're black or white."

The King (of Pop) is dead. Long live the King!

Watching Transformers and the catching up before that was fun =D

Made a quick, fun trip to Dhevy's house on Saturday, and finally saw Dev and Rama (lil bro!) after ages. And Karn too haha.

On Sunday, after rehearsal, we went for my violin teacher's daughter's Wedding Reception. The best parts were meeting Raghav and Bharat and Ms Saroopa.

Also made a sudden trip to VJ on Tuesday (Hasinah's birthday - pity it was during the CT2s) and managed to meet a couple of the others too - Lincon (thanks for remembering the jersey!), Minu, Vino, Sarah, Jay, Nandini.

I'm FINALLY going to meet Sundar tomorrow, and Pushpa and Vaishu too. Can't wait! And there's the outing on Saturday. I can't join you in the afternoon, guys, but I'll come for Manraj's birthday BBQ in the evening!

I've yet to confirm the cycling with Simran or the meeting with Laura, my fellow moon-admirer! Next week, you two =] Not to mention the other friends I want to meet before Uni starts.

Oh I watched Jodhaa Akbar yesterday, a Hindi movie (based on fact, i think) about a Mughal prince, Akbar, and a Hindu princess, Jodhaa. It was a beautiful movie, with rich colours and a good storyline and cast. It's a pity there weren't any subtitles, so though I understood the main picture, I didn't get some of the intricacies. Some help please, Simran =)

I was supposed to lend Sarah my Literature notes, since she's doing the same texts, but I don't know where I put them! Argh. Maths, Physics and Chemistry are all intact in one place but KI and my most-beloved Lit notes are not with them. I hope I find them before your prelims, Sarah =S

I was made to join the Peoples' Association Indian Orchestra and Choir for a programme in November, and though it's extremely time-consuming and I'm not sure how I'll manage after Uni starts, the music sounds fantastic! It's a fusion, so there are a couple of movie songs in there too. And a bit that sounds Chinese! Plus, the other members are really fun to be with =] The music keeps running in my head.


ஜன்னல் காற்றாகி வா,
ஜரிகை பூவாகி வா,
மின்னல் மழையாகி வா,
உயிரின் மூச்சாகி வா.

"And the world spins madly on."

Conducting violin lessons is quite fun, except when I keep hearing the same songs (often played out of tune) again and again. Thankfully I still remember how to play those songs.

Busy week ahead. Can't wait for next week, when I can finally meet the seniors and get down to my long-overdue writing. And cycling at the beach (Simmer! this is for you). And swimming (Haha Dhevy, we should go at the crack of dawn. I'll catch the very first bus from here). Not to mention lotsa movies with lotsa different people. And reading the lovely new poetry book I bought. I can't wait to do Literature at Uni.

I love the poems in The Lord of the Rings. Nothing too metaphorical, and they're beautiful. Here's one by Bilbo Baggins, sung at Rivendell (the House of Elrond), on the eve (I think) of the departure of the Fellowship. Read till the end.

I sit beside the fire and think

of all that I have seen,

of meadow-flowers and butterflies

in summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer

in autumns that there were,

with morning mist and silver sun

and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think

of how the world will be

when winter comes without a spring

that I shall ever see

For still there are so many things

that I have never seen:

in every wood in every spring

there is different green.

I sit beside the fire and think

of people long ago,

and people who will see a world

that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think

of times there were before,

I listen for returning feet

and voices at the door.

Sentiments after the final violin exam:

Oh crap.