The Portrait of Zool

Aw, shucks. YFA, ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know. Edited by: Zool47 at: 6/17/02 9:42:06 am

Zool Zz - htw - eau - ou - aiough - ew - whl - lll Zz - Like the sizzling promise of a scorching summer day in the cool morning just as the rising sun first peeks over the horizon. htw - A silent transition from the vibrating promise of the sizzling 'Z' to the immediacy of the memmory of the fulfillment of having lived a compassionate and joyous life as the sight of your loved ones gathered around your death bed blur and fade into a brilliant tunnel of light. eau - The sound of someone's state of mind at the dawning of understanding of any comic punch line, before the actual thought "I understand", in any form, has formed. ou - The equivalent (if time was speeded up 10,000 times) unheard mating call of all taxidermalogical specimens. aiough (silent G, long O )The rushing hash of point radiated cosmic energy tinting space when a star red-shifts as it ages, millenia by ticking millenia. ew - the collected sound of all the wind that ever whistled over the top of the great pyramid of Giza from it's construction in 2560 BC to it's demise at the hands of three teenagers on a lark with a small nuclear device in 2584 AD. whl - the sound of a quiet rushing exhalation of the steam from a werewolfes nostrils on a cold moonlit mountain top with the reflection of the moonlight glowing from the unconscious pallor of his young female captive laying before him on the rocks gleaming in his eyes as he prepares to actualize his destructive sensuality. lll - The sound that preceeded the big bang, but which had to wait for creation to be heard and is now the sound to end all sounds, though usually the sound has decayed to inaudibility before it is manifested. . The name should be spoken all in one syllable, with invisible transitions between each tonality speaking the entire series of events in a single chest resonating exhaling tounge movement. Hope that clears things up. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Interesting, the metaphysical dilemnas a little yard cleaning can summon. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

You young whipper snapper. Electric Light Orchestra. ;p ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know. Edited by: Zool47 at: 6/11/02 6:35:51 am

*Hears ELO's Concerto for a rainy day in the background* Standin' in the rain can't seem to get out... Through the cold dark waiting days I see you standing there... I see it all so clear the tenderness the silent tears Up there in the stormy sky the big wheels keep on turnin' The cool moist sting of lime on the breeze, the dark concrete, and the light spray falling from the night sky are all that answers back Thanks for sharing that moment Rev. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

"i am a withered dancer within a dome of glass" These lines set a tone of unreality experienced by the subject of the poem that we share by the recurring methpors of the snow globe. "drowning in the snow of plastic and blinded by the lights that pass" "but no, i see, i'm trapped in a bubble oh so constricting" "so here i sit, wishing for wings that work an end to the oblivion of my glass-dome-cage" With the descriptions of bitterness and pain is the feeling of being trapped, and of being your own disconnected observer, much as suicide victims describe. This is a poem of very deep pain, and a description of a hidden dilemna that precludes resolution - not that there even realistically is a resolution, but that the subject is somehow unable to move beyond the situation, to accept, reject, or change. Thus, the metaphore of the title is absolutely perfect. Again, very well written. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Grappling with our own mortality is one pole in the ancient paradox of opening ourselves to joy and life while facing certain pain and destruction. Very well written. Hope you are feeling better soon!!

This poem resonates with... reminiscances. (sp?) Beautifully done. I would love to see a counterpart about living in the moment, now. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Nothing is scarier than happiness - except change itself, and changing from misery to happiness is therefore a double whammy. To be happy is to be vulnerable to disapointment. At least misery is dependable, at least with misery things can only get better. It is therefore very seductive. The answer is to make friends with your misery, with loneliness, with anger, with your addictions, and with disapointment. Accept and make friends with just what you are and what is going on at that moment. Do not be a lab rat that constantly reacts to life by striveing for pleasure and avoiding pain. When we cease to be dependant on happiness, it ceases to control our lives, and ceases to be scary. One word; Samsara ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know. Edited by: Zool47 at: 6/7/02 7:26:21 am

Hitting myself in the head always makes me smarter too! I just know it because afterward everything is much less... complicated... ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Yup. You got me. I used the word all, thus exposing my blatant assumptions and prejudice concerning my compatriots. I might point out, however, when you say "That he was ingrained with the guild structure so much that he assummed everyone was causes me to wonder about the Pen.", are you perhaps doing the same thing, including everyone (= the Pen) ? Tut tut tut... ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Mod privileges? Ptptptpt! I want, no DEMAND that I be given the secret handshake for the vending machine guy so I can control the content to the machines in the Elder breakroom! THAT'S what REAL POWER is ALL ABOUT! BuaHahahahahahahaha! ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Also, Ozy, I would like to redefine the Titles division into those who care, and those who don't care. I rest my case. Also also, what happened to the proposed resolutions about the critic's corner from this thread? pub79.ezboard.com/fthemig...=1&stop=20

That's only half a comment Nyyark. Please, give us your definition. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

I feel the love! I agree, as Bob and I remarked earlier. I think Bhurin's comment; "...currently our format has us one half 'guild' and one half 'free gathering'" is right on. We try to be welcoming and open as possible, but actually being a part of this site has wrankled more than a few in the form of that 'not-free gathering'. There are those who are on-again off-again contributors, and there is a group of regulars. The on-again off-again Contributors, or OAOACs, come here because they like to write things, and they like the atmosphere. A lot of the regulars here started as OAOACs, just like I started on the AM UBB. I am somewhat expanding on this issue because I think it is central to attracting new members AND finally putting the age-old rank issue to rest. How to make your above average writing capability EZboard surfer make a home here? I think with Bhurin's distinction in mind, it becomes clear that having someone show up and immediatley asking them to conform to our demands is somewhat in contrast to the "open, welcoming forum" we want them to think we are. Even several of the regular members, having already "jumped through our hoops" have expressed distaste for the mandatory initiation procedures and uniform labeling of title. If you think about it, this problem is inherent in the initial vision of the Pen as an 'Accepting Guild'. In those two words, we have the opposite meanings of 'no-demand' and 'demand' on the member, as Accepting means, well, accepting, and the word 'Guild' infers structure, loyalty, duty and accomplishment. You can't have it both ways, yet as Bhurin has pointed out we DO have it both ways. Orlan has suggested dropping ranks all together, but Nyyark countered that he "belive(ed) it would add to the division, lack of structure, and confusion that is haunting The Pen." Then he went on to ask if "unity" was even a goal of the Pen. Again, our dual nature is laid out before us. No one really answered Nyyark's question - but I put forward that what Jechum meant in his reply was that 'unity' was inherent in the guild-like structure of the Pen. I think it is less a matter of unity, and more a matter of identity. We call this a Guild because that is the RP structure we are all familiar with. However, we aren't here to do battle with anyone, but to provide a place to write, to learn about writing, and yes even to find support for writing in what limited way we can give to each other. What we have is less against anyone, but more for our common interest as a group. We identify in our common interest of writing - that is what it is all about. Again, I think Bhurin's suggestion is right-on, "and we should figure out if that's how we like it". So... Having been to other boards, I see that for someone who initially posts on some of these boards a title can be automatically given, and the title can then be incremented depending on post count on that board. I think for those who are just visiting the Pen, or for OAOACs ( ), this 'ranking system' is fine. It conveys welcome and belonging without really loading any obligation on either side. For those who simply like to write or enjoy participation purely on a surface level, I see nothing wrong with it. Second, for those who have been around a while and decided to do the Quill-Quest and all that, there is the formal joining of the Pen. I move that such membership allow the successful initiate to have his own title. I've talked with other board admins about this, and it really isn't difficult. Lastly, are the actual administrative positions in the Pen. These should have the title structure we have now, with "Bard", Troubador", and all those being Mod positions for various forums, and reflecting their specialty. Comments? ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

I'm with Bob. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

I really like this. Finally, something other than a whining lament of passion's frustrations. Well done - good structure too. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Corners

Interesting. Kind of deconstructs the long line of moments that lead to this one. Defines the focus of our existence in a perpetuity of destructive acts. SObering. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

So what was so great about our old social norms? Knowledge is power - but that knowledge sure didn't head off this disaster. But what is this disaster? Again, knowledge is power. But the heady sensual experiences of the body can be so overpowering, so seductive. Many learn too late the consequences of ill conceived debauchery. Doing and being. One must maintain a balance. Right action and right oppenness come from right knowing. I'm glad you're waiting till you have some semblance of the whole story. Nicely phrased word work, btw. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Well, at least you spelled his name right. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Riiiight.

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I always thought that was Shakespear. ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

Like I could resist? ROFL! ~Zool~ Ancient, The Pen is Mightier than the Sword. Bard of Terra, Patron Saint of Aspiring Bards. Elder than dirt, more foolish than a jester, able to trip over the smallest logic in a single step. It's... Oh, you know.

(Conversion Confusion, this is the second post in the thread) Wow, that is an amazingly painful, terrifying, lonely and tragic story. I don't know what to say. I don't know if there is anything to say. If this is fiction, it's damned good. If it's not, I hope you find the strength to put this pain down for a better life.