Recommended: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Blah blah blah Hansel and Gretel is misogynistic & “witch hunt” is offensive & the whole thing is just one joke & blah blah blah I don’t know how to go to the movies and have some damn fun (h/t Ricky McAllister) I’ll give Moviebob, whose video review is linked above, credit for one of …

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February 3, 2013 – 3:19 am | By ashok | Posted in movies | Comments (0)

Tantric Buddhist Statue from the Crow Collection in Dallas, Texas

The Tantric Buddhist statue pictured above (credit: Mark Alonzo) is sexual and symbolic. Saw it with Mark and Laura this past Wednesday when we made a trip to the Crow Collection. I don’t remember exactly when or what region it is from, but Mark took a beautiful picture that gleams. The Tantric statues on display …

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February 2, 2013 – 4:45 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

I Went (after Cavafy)

C.P. Cavafy, “I Went” Let out a long breath – went, went and gnawed, only partially tasting. Thinking, thought I found a light, went to the brilliant night drinking a gallery of wine, toasting a victory savored elsewhere. Comment: I’ve saved a few phrases from the Keeley/Sherrard translation but I haven’t turned this into a …

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February 1, 2013 – 3:18 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged | Comments (0)

Rainer Maria Rilke, “The Panther”

The Panther (trans. Adam Cooper – 3 new translations of Rilke) Rainer Maria Rilke From passing over bars, his gaze is tired, And takes in nothing more. To him, there are a thousand bars–behind A thousand bars, no world. His massive footpads’ silent tread revolves In ever smaller rounds, Like power dancing round a midpoint, …

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January 31, 2013 – 4:21 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged | Comments (1)

As Much As You Can (after Cavafy)

C.P. Cavafy, “As Much As You Can” You cannot shape your life. I say to do away with too much world, too much business, too much speech. Don’t degrade, dragging life, bringing and boasting it in the intimacy of living rooms or contentious little parties until seen superfluous, begging for attention.

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January 30, 2013 – 6:54 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged | Comments (0)

If you don’t stand up to bullies, you will distort your mind

There’s someone I know who’s never stood up to a certain bully in his life. He thinks there is some grace to be had in toleration and accommodation. Maybe there is, but it resembles no earthly morality. Any reward for such behavior is between him and God alone. Watching him has been watching every step …

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January 30, 2013 – 12:51 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Tagged | Comments (0)

The Inexplicable Popularity of Some Online Personalities: A List

So you’re online and you’re doing your best to keep to yourself or make friends. Typically this means you’re either reserved or polite, which is normal. You’d expect people would get popular by bending but not breaking the rules – they might ask questions that resonate with others but still be polite, to take one …

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January 26, 2013 – 4:29 am | By ashok | Posted in blogging, media | Tagged | Comments (1)

Frederick Seidel, “Snow”

Snow (from Poetry) Frederick Seidel Snow is what it does. It falls and it stays and it goes. It melts and it is here somewhere. We all will get there. Comment: The being of snow is exactly its activity. I wondered for a little while why Seidel uses “it” in the poem so much after …

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January 26, 2013 – 3:51 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (1)

Klyde Warren Park, Dallas

Today was beautiful, warm and breezy: first seriously nice day in a while. Mark Alonzo had the right idea – go downtown, walk around, maybe see Klyde Warren park near the Art Museum. It’s still being built. There’s novelty at least, right? Turns out there’s more than novelty. The park didn’t fail to impress. The …

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January 24, 2013 – 3:23 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Links, 1/23/13

I haven’t written a lot in the past month, but I think what I have displays a certain maturity. I’m looking to explain basics better than ever and lay the groundwork for the insights that make revisiting a text a lot of fun. I used to hate rereading when I was younger. Think that feeling …

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January 23, 2013 – 2:13 am | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (0)