“Hope is the thing with feathers,
That perches on the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops- at all.”
The poem goes on, but I can’t remember it. And I’m sure you get the general idea anyway.
I must start by saying I like this poem. It addresses something which interests me.. Which is why I chose it a few years ago for a speech and drama grade. It’s nice and simple and well.. it’s just likeable.
Tonight however I must express my current partial disagreement with the fourth line..
It’s not that I completely disagree with it, it’s that I don’t completely agree with it.
You see my feathered friend has been singing his tune a bit too loudly recently, and seems to have been bird bashed because of it. Not just once, but repeatedly over the space of a short while. He is now lying in the darkness somewhere in a critical feathery mess. And you know what? I’m reluctant to help. If I do what is it for? For him to climb back up, start singing and fall back down in a worse state than he currently is in? That’s a bit cruel don’t you think? The poor fella has been through enough.
But maybe... just maybe, this time when he reclaims his place he might stay there. Maybe he will keep singing his beautiful song. Maybe he’ll live through the frequent violent attacks; every little dig; all the daily pokes and jabs. Maybe they will strengthen him. And maybe with his newfound strength and some care and nurturing he will fly higher and higher; sing louder than all the other birds; grow into a creature of great strength and beauty and most of all never ever fall back down.
Pure fantasy, eh? Yes, I do believe so, but the fact that I’m writing this proves that my feathered friend is creeping up on me again. He’s beginning to hum. I however, am going to wait a while until I’m sure he is ready to make a full recovery.
So yes, I disagree with the fourth line.. I believe that hope stops singing, for a period of time at least, but eventually it will pick itself back up and sing again. Hopefully=/
Metophorical rant over=/
Dasha:]
x
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Apologies and promises!
Hello:]
I was informed late last night that I should start blogging again...
So I will:] Until my very short attention span gets the better of me yet again=/
Or maybe it won't! And I'll be a very cool bloggy person... just maybe....:P
So anyways, in future this will more than likely be filled with whatever ranting I need to get off my chest (I'll make it as interesting as possible I promise!); radio news:] (Tuesdays 6-7 Dundalk fm); possible rantage in irish; and also possibly(and hopefully) new lyrics and poetry...
So all I need to do now is wait for inspiration!!
I'll now go sit in a dark corner and wait for it to come.....:D
Back soon,
Dasha:]x
I was informed late last night that I should start blogging again...
So I will:] Until my very short attention span gets the better of me yet again=/
Or maybe it won't! And I'll be a very cool bloggy person... just maybe....:P
So anyways, in future this will more than likely be filled with whatever ranting I need to get off my chest (I'll make it as interesting as possible I promise!); radio news:] (Tuesdays 6-7 Dundalk fm); possible rantage in irish; and also possibly(and hopefully) new lyrics and poetry...
So all I need to do now is wait for inspiration!!
I'll now go sit in a dark corner and wait for it to come.....:D
Back soon,
Dasha:]x
Monday, October 6, 2008
Amazing children
After posting that article I've really begun thinking about certain things again.
First and foremost I miss the kids I was taking care of in the orphanage. I miss them an unbelievable amount.
It is impossible to describe such a thing as the love I experienced out in that country in a simple article.
These children had nothing of their own. Nothing except the love that they gave to those who passed through their lives and showed that they cared.
They shared everything, toys, clothes, cots...
None of these children had anything of their own, absolutely nothing (apart from the occasional child who was about to be adopted and might have a few special bangles).
But they were by far the happiest children I have ever come across in my life.
If you gave them a simple toy car or a crayon their entire faces would light up in this magical smile of delight and gratitude.
I soon found out that the more love and energy you put into the work the more you got out. If you smiled, hugged, carried, soothed, taught, fed, tickled and gave every single bit of energy possible into simple tasks you got this indescribable feeling inside you ready to burst from your chest. I've yet to come up with a suitable name for this amazing sense of well being. And it is this incredible feeling that gives your exhausted body the energy to carry on giving and giving and giving. I've never felt anything like it. Those smiles and giggles and hugs were like a drug to me. It is something everyone should get the chance to experience at some stage in their lives.
The sad thing about it is that these orphans who had no material possessions of their own were the lucky ones.
They had shelter, a bed, food, water, education, people who loved them and most of all an opportunity to be adopted and gain a better life.
Others were not so lucky. These were the street children we saw every single day everywhere we walked. But one thing you have to understand about countries like this is that you can't help everyone and this is a very hard thing to deal with. The poverty is heart breaking but you have to take it one step at a time and just do your best.
First and foremost I miss the kids I was taking care of in the orphanage. I miss them an unbelievable amount.
It is impossible to describe such a thing as the love I experienced out in that country in a simple article.
These children had nothing of their own. Nothing except the love that they gave to those who passed through their lives and showed that they cared.
They shared everything, toys, clothes, cots...
None of these children had anything of their own, absolutely nothing (apart from the occasional child who was about to be adopted and might have a few special bangles).
But they were by far the happiest children I have ever come across in my life.
If you gave them a simple toy car or a crayon their entire faces would light up in this magical smile of delight and gratitude.
I soon found out that the more love and energy you put into the work the more you got out. If you smiled, hugged, carried, soothed, taught, fed, tickled and gave every single bit of energy possible into simple tasks you got this indescribable feeling inside you ready to burst from your chest. I've yet to come up with a suitable name for this amazing sense of well being. And it is this incredible feeling that gives your exhausted body the energy to carry on giving and giving and giving. I've never felt anything like it. Those smiles and giggles and hugs were like a drug to me. It is something everyone should get the chance to experience at some stage in their lives.
The sad thing about it is that these orphans who had no material possessions of their own were the lucky ones.
They had shelter, a bed, food, water, education, people who loved them and most of all an opportunity to be adopted and gain a better life.
Others were not so lucky. These were the street children we saw every single day everywhere we walked. But one thing you have to understand about countries like this is that you can't help everyone and this is a very hard thing to deal with. The poverty is heart breaking but you have to take it one step at a time and just do your best.
India....
In June '08 I went on the most amazing journey of my life.
This is an article I wrote about it to give you some small idea of how utterly incredible it was. I found it the other day on a missionary website!!!
If ever you get an opportunity this great you really should just go for it. I never regretted it for a minute.
From the very minute I heard about the Calcutta trip I knew I wanted to go. Opportunities like it don’t come very often and it would be a sin not to give it a go and try my best to do my little bit at making a difference.
I didn’t stress myself with imaginings at the start when I found out I was going because I had no idea what to expect, I really didn’t. So I decided to just go with it, not worry and see what happened. I think this was quite a good way to go about it. No one can be prepared for their first trip to India. Absolutely nobody can be totally prepared for those first few hours in the country when all the elements of Calcutta are unleashed on you. You feel the dead heat; you smell all things unpleasant; you can taste the pollution in the air; you hear the sound of the traffic and it’s non stop beeping of horns and most of all, you can see the utter poverty of the country.
It’s a very overwhelming thing to arrive in not just a foreign country but a completely different world with people you haven’t known very long. Very scary!
The meetings really helped. They gave us an idea of what to expect and one of the most valuable things we gained out of the meetings in my opinion was getting to know each other. At least we weren’t complete strangers going into a different world together. The trip to Lough Derg was also great. It gave us a chance to step out of our normal lives for a day and just slow down, think about things and pray. It was not unlike going to India. The world seemed to stop dead around us and we were just us, a little group, preparing for a big journey. People bonded a lot that day I felt, because it was the first time we’d all been together properly for more than an hour or two and we were away from home…on an island so there were no distractions!
We were warned about the heat many many times before hand but it was still a shock to finally feel the dead humidity hit you. I remember the first day quite vividly. Everyone’s excitement had died down somewhat because of exhaustion and the very long journey! The first journey into the city was the most unreal journey of my life, it was just so completely and utterly different from anything I’d ever known.
Getting used to the country was very hard. There was always something happening around you and when you’re grumpy and tired and still scared stiff of your surroundings the last thing you want is to have the noise of Calcutta’s traffic in your ears. But it dosen’t stop, ever, the noise continues on at all times without relenting. When you’re out it’s like you have to be alert at all times, and there’s no doubt about it, your surroundings make sure you are. Between avoiding taxi’s, rhickshaws, busses, cars, people, trams and even cows, it’s a bit scary. But I got used to it and I absolutely loved this mad new world.
I was a bit nervous about starting work at first but I needn’t have worried. I loved it. The kids were amazing. They were so adorable and they made me never want to leave, to stay there forever and take care of them. The day I had to leave them I was on the verge of tears but I’m hoping that they will all find loving families soon because they deserve it so much.
Mass every morning was lovely. The sisters have such an inner peace and tranquillity and it seems to shine out of them. I felt honored to be there with these women, women who gave up their entire lives for the people of Calcutta and for God. My respect for them is immense. Mother Teresa started of with one person and look how many people she and the sisters helped to date. It shows that anyone with determination and who has their heart in the right place can make a difference. It will start small but it can grow to be something huge.
I know I will be back to the City of Joy. Back to the noise, the smells, the poverty, the heat, the pollution, but is the people who make it all worth it. There are people who have hardly nothing but have this amazing spirit which I can never forget. It was the trip of a life time and hopefully there will be more to come.
Hope you enjoy it;)
Dasha
This is an article I wrote about it to give you some small idea of how utterly incredible it was. I found it the other day on a missionary website!!!
If ever you get an opportunity this great you really should just go for it. I never regretted it for a minute.
From the very minute I heard about the Calcutta trip I knew I wanted to go. Opportunities like it don’t come very often and it would be a sin not to give it a go and try my best to do my little bit at making a difference.
I didn’t stress myself with imaginings at the start when I found out I was going because I had no idea what to expect, I really didn’t. So I decided to just go with it, not worry and see what happened. I think this was quite a good way to go about it. No one can be prepared for their first trip to India. Absolutely nobody can be totally prepared for those first few hours in the country when all the elements of Calcutta are unleashed on you. You feel the dead heat; you smell all things unpleasant; you can taste the pollution in the air; you hear the sound of the traffic and it’s non stop beeping of horns and most of all, you can see the utter poverty of the country.
It’s a very overwhelming thing to arrive in not just a foreign country but a completely different world with people you haven’t known very long. Very scary!
The meetings really helped. They gave us an idea of what to expect and one of the most valuable things we gained out of the meetings in my opinion was getting to know each other. At least we weren’t complete strangers going into a different world together. The trip to Lough Derg was also great. It gave us a chance to step out of our normal lives for a day and just slow down, think about things and pray. It was not unlike going to India. The world seemed to stop dead around us and we were just us, a little group, preparing for a big journey. People bonded a lot that day I felt, because it was the first time we’d all been together properly for more than an hour or two and we were away from home…on an island so there were no distractions!
We were warned about the heat many many times before hand but it was still a shock to finally feel the dead humidity hit you. I remember the first day quite vividly. Everyone’s excitement had died down somewhat because of exhaustion and the very long journey! The first journey into the city was the most unreal journey of my life, it was just so completely and utterly different from anything I’d ever known.
Getting used to the country was very hard. There was always something happening around you and when you’re grumpy and tired and still scared stiff of your surroundings the last thing you want is to have the noise of Calcutta’s traffic in your ears. But it dosen’t stop, ever, the noise continues on at all times without relenting. When you’re out it’s like you have to be alert at all times, and there’s no doubt about it, your surroundings make sure you are. Between avoiding taxi’s, rhickshaws, busses, cars, people, trams and even cows, it’s a bit scary. But I got used to it and I absolutely loved this mad new world.
I was a bit nervous about starting work at first but I needn’t have worried. I loved it. The kids were amazing. They were so adorable and they made me never want to leave, to stay there forever and take care of them. The day I had to leave them I was on the verge of tears but I’m hoping that they will all find loving families soon because they deserve it so much.
Mass every morning was lovely. The sisters have such an inner peace and tranquillity and it seems to shine out of them. I felt honored to be there with these women, women who gave up their entire lives for the people of Calcutta and for God. My respect for them is immense. Mother Teresa started of with one person and look how many people she and the sisters helped to date. It shows that anyone with determination and who has their heart in the right place can make a difference. It will start small but it can grow to be something huge.
I know I will be back to the City of Joy. Back to the noise, the smells, the poverty, the heat, the pollution, but is the people who make it all worth it. There are people who have hardly nothing but have this amazing spirit which I can never forget. It was the trip of a life time and hopefully there will be more to come.
Hope you enjoy it;)
Dasha
Radio Gaeilgeness
Heya,
Every week I have a radio show as gaeilge and every Monday night I sit here on my laptop racking my brains for ideas of decent music I can play and interesting topics I can discuss:-/
I usually end up improvising which does work I must admit but it would be nice to have a plan.....sometimes!!
So if anyone has any ideas or requests for tomorrow's show I'd greatly appreciate it:D
Dasha
P.s- tune into Dundalk fm 100 tomorrow at 6pm to listen in;)
Every week I have a radio show as gaeilge and every Monday night I sit here on my laptop racking my brains for ideas of decent music I can play and interesting topics I can discuss:-/
I usually end up improvising which does work I must admit but it would be nice to have a plan.....sometimes!!
So if anyone has any ideas or requests for tomorrow's show I'd greatly appreciate it:D
Dasha
P.s- tune into Dundalk fm 100 tomorrow at 6pm to listen in;)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Random almost song...
This was a rewrite of a song for some music we're working on at the moment.
Basically I love the idea of these lyrics, really and truly.
This version is unfortunately much too long to work with the actual song but I'm still proud of it.
Please give me feedback.
I especially want to know if people can find themselves relating to these lyrics as this was what I wanted to ahieve within the song.
Young Angels
Scabby knees and toothy grins,
Playing catch, running to win,
No challenge too big or small,
Climb the tree, try not to fall.
Giggles filled the enchanted air,
All without worry or care,
Joy filled the whole of my heart,
Nothing could tear friends apart.
Chorus...
Memories fade away,
Young angels turn to clay,
The magic has now all gone,
All these things we've come from.
Dear land of sweet innocence,
Nobody cared much for sense,
Power to run wild and free,
But none of us seemed to see...
The future it came oh so fast,
Nothing ever seems to last,
Pretty faeries and make-believe,
Nothing left but stricken grief.
*Chorus*
Falling down and dressing up,
Our small world without hiccup,
Life so pretty, pleasant, pure,
Never was prepared to mature.
Dasha
Basically I love the idea of these lyrics, really and truly.
This version is unfortunately much too long to work with the actual song but I'm still proud of it.
Please give me feedback.
I especially want to know if people can find themselves relating to these lyrics as this was what I wanted to ahieve within the song.
Young Angels
Scabby knees and toothy grins,
Playing catch, running to win,
No challenge too big or small,
Climb the tree, try not to fall.
Giggles filled the enchanted air,
All without worry or care,
Joy filled the whole of my heart,
Nothing could tear friends apart.
Chorus...
Memories fade away,
Young angels turn to clay,
The magic has now all gone,
All these things we've come from.
Dear land of sweet innocence,
Nobody cared much for sense,
Power to run wild and free,
But none of us seemed to see...
The future it came oh so fast,
Nothing ever seems to last,
Pretty faeries and make-believe,
Nothing left but stricken grief.
*Chorus*
Falling down and dressing up,
Our small world without hiccup,
Life so pretty, pleasant, pure,
Never was prepared to mature.
Dasha
Here we go.....
I'm going to make this clear from the start....
I am no fantastic writer and am not under any illusion that I am.
I write merely for the pleasure of it and a lot of the time because I like to have an outlet for my many long winded rants.
It works, believe me. Once it's on paper all those icky thoughts tend to leave you for a while and you also sometimes feel a sense of achievement because (hopefully) you've created something worth reading(for yourself anyway). But if you write at all I don't need to be telling you this because you hopefully already know;)
So this blog is under no circumstances going to be filled with amazing pieces of writing and poetry(like some I know). It's going to consist of whatever I feel like sharing with the world(or possibly the one or two people who bother to read it if I'm lucky)
So dive in, take a read and tell me if you like it please.
Also feel free to criticise(that's your cue, Ri), there's always room for improvement:D
Dasha
I am no fantastic writer and am not under any illusion that I am.
I write merely for the pleasure of it and a lot of the time because I like to have an outlet for my many long winded rants.
It works, believe me. Once it's on paper all those icky thoughts tend to leave you for a while and you also sometimes feel a sense of achievement because (hopefully) you've created something worth reading(for yourself anyway). But if you write at all I don't need to be telling you this because you hopefully already know;)
So this blog is under no circumstances going to be filled with amazing pieces of writing and poetry(like some I know). It's going to consist of whatever I feel like sharing with the world(or possibly the one or two people who bother to read it if I'm lucky)
So dive in, take a read and tell me if you like it please.
Also feel free to criticise(that's your cue, Ri), there's always room for improvement:D
Dasha
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)