..my latest ramblings in the midst of an unwittingly entertaining financial accounting class, late Monday afternoon :)
Terrified innocence...
Terror on their faces
they huddle under the tarp
holding hands they tremble
children with tears in their eyes
Shrieks heard all around
as each one grows louder
they cringe and huddle closer
seeming to shrink as one
A river of blood
drenches the street under their feet
Their tears seem insurmountable...
All they want is the comfort of home.
A simple day
enjoyable in its simplicity
turned monstrous in a second
their innocence lost and peace shattered.
Running feet are all they see,
people screaming obscenities as they pass by
They retreat into themselves
muting the terror and the noise.
Mute eyes, clenched fists,
tears pour down their innocent faces
as they stare at the ignonimity
of being a child mute with terror.
A brief whimper
from the younger of the two...
quickly hushed by the older,
fear of recognition alive anew...
They hope it wasn't heard
by the brutes outside...
The wall their only friend
in a world suddenly gone awry.
Footsteps come thundering by...
and stops an inch from them...motionless they freeze
someone peeps under the tarp
and they scream in mutuality
Is it a friend?
Is it their family?
Is it a foe?
Do they live to know?
Innocence lost, terror their acquaintance
Does it matter if they live
When live in fear they always will...
Not for us to judge, the value of their life.
Children, our hope for tomorrow
Our innocence and our inspirations
their glow of immeasurable brightness
snatched away from us in a moment of terror...
By Angela Archana Vincent - 5.20pm Monday October 20th, 2008.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
whether the weather will change....
yep, today's very mundane topic is whether the weather will change (pun intended)..and I mean, specifically in Baltimore. I've been talking to my family in P'burgh and Toronto, and the temp there is mid 40 and 50 F. In Baltimore, we are still experiencing late 70s to mid 80 F...booohooohooo :( I want colder climes. It's the end of October, and I demand the need to use my thick fall jacket, not a sweatshirt..uuuggghhh!!
The saddest part...not a single soul recognizes my wish in Baltimore..lol :D...all my friends are ecstatic at the mild temperatures. Oh well, poor souls, I guess they will never understand the pleasures of bundling up in your winter jacket and trundling to work in a feet or two of snow..AAAAhhhhhhh...I miss Toronto and our beautiful weather... hehehehe...
ooooh and yes, my Tim Hortons Iced Frapps..totally miss that too!! I have a standing order with my closest friend and my sister to get me to a Timmy's as soon as I land in Toronto..the dreams keep me going forth :D
The saddest part...not a single soul recognizes my wish in Baltimore..lol :D...all my friends are ecstatic at the mild temperatures. Oh well, poor souls, I guess they will never understand the pleasures of bundling up in your winter jacket and trundling to work in a feet or two of snow..AAAAhhhhhhh...I miss Toronto and our beautiful weather... hehehehe...
ooooh and yes, my Tim Hortons Iced Frapps..totally miss that too!! I have a standing order with my closest friend and my sister to get me to a Timmy's as soon as I land in Toronto..the dreams keep me going forth :D
Friday, October 10, 2008
other words...
Back to my boring life. Baltimore and Hopkins have truly allowed me to explore my individual choices. I've attended classes, policy discussions by congressmen and delegates, debates about malaria vaccine vs. control, desi get togethers and so much more. I've made so many friends, and become so close to a few people in such a short time. It's absolutely amazing! It's still a learning curve with regard to my own idiosyncrasies and what I feel I need to improve. Yet, I find not knwoing everything is a boon in itself. Oh well! As usual, I'll end my ramblings with these few words...
Wondering...
Lost in the garden,
he walks alone
looking at the flowers
he wonders what they are
he doesn't recognize beauty
he doesn't recognize colors
he doesn't recognize their fragrance
and yet he wonders what they are
he reaches a brook
gurgling waters tumble past
he walks alone
wondering what it is
he doesn's recognize sound
he doesn't recognize serenity
he doesn't recognize it's strength
and yet he wonders what it is
he suddenly pauses
his hand about to pluck a flower
his feet about to dip into the brook
he hears something that makes him pause
a sound he never heard before
music that makes him pause
freeze as if someone said "statue"
he awaits to hear it again
every note touches him
opens the world to him
in all its beautiful splendour
he suddenly doesn't wonder any more
his hand soothes the flower
instead of plucking it
his feet play in the brook
in knowledge rather than curiosity
the music he heard
is his ignorance being stripped away
self knowledge or taught otherwise
felt internally or realized externally
he no longer wonders
abt what it is
rather he knows himself
and hence the world around him
by Angela Archana Vincent at 11pm October 10th, 2008
Wondering...
Lost in the garden,
he walks alone
looking at the flowers
he wonders what they are
he doesn't recognize beauty
he doesn't recognize colors
he doesn't recognize their fragrance
and yet he wonders what they are
he reaches a brook
gurgling waters tumble past
he walks alone
wondering what it is
he doesn's recognize sound
he doesn't recognize serenity
he doesn't recognize it's strength
and yet he wonders what it is
he suddenly pauses
his hand about to pluck a flower
his feet about to dip into the brook
he hears something that makes him pause
a sound he never heard before
music that makes him pause
freeze as if someone said "statue"
he awaits to hear it again
every note touches him
opens the world to him
in all its beautiful splendour
he suddenly doesn't wonder any more
his hand soothes the flower
instead of plucking it
his feet play in the brook
in knowledge rather than curiosity
the music he heard
is his ignorance being stripped away
self knowledge or taught otherwise
felt internally or realized externally
he no longer wonders
abt what it is
rather he knows himself
and hence the world around him
by Angela Archana Vincent at 11pm October 10th, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
traditions...
What is it about being sick that reminds us about home and all the little idiosyncrasies...those little traditions which we have to make us feel cozy and safe.
I believe there is nothing quite like a bad cold to tease those memories of home - mama at hand with all my meds and food, my dad to whine about my day and my sister to keep me slightly sane :). Here in Baltimore, I don't even have the time to whine about my cold, although I must say my friends out here have been so solicitous of me these past few days, I treasure every single one of them.
Today marks the end of my fourth week at Baltimore, and it's been a good experience. I've learnt things about myself that I wouldn't discuss on this blog :), and I've made friends - friends with varied experiences, with different views and with very diverse cultural outlooks, so it's been a very 'enriching experience'.
Now, I have got to admit, I sound so unlike myself on this blog today, but I put that down to my being sick **whining about my cough and cold..here I go again..lol** and the fact that I completed my first mid-term at Hopkins today, and it did not feel like a total disaster..woohoo! Yes, I did celebrate my big midterm with chocolate chip cookies (yey!!).
I will end my blog with another rambling for those poetry geeks out there...
sightless world
the wind whispers in her ear
the sound of chimes far awar
She wonders if she will ever see
the light from that distant land
She feels her hand along the window sill
tracing its hard edges
searching for the knob
to close the window shut
The wind against her ear
is almost too much to bear
How can she withstand the thought
of always listening, but never seeing
Sight is lost but to a few
yet, it's value is known only to those few
The rest are blind to the value there is
content to meander sightless in their world
A strand of her hair
falls against her cheek
she brushes it away abruptly
unwilling to feel it touch her tears
Tears trickling slowly
as she gazes over the plains
the wind whispering in her ear
the promises of the world she will never see...
by Angela Archana Vincent @ 9.45pm Sept 26, 2008
I believe there is nothing quite like a bad cold to tease those memories of home - mama at hand with all my meds and food, my dad to whine about my day and my sister to keep me slightly sane :). Here in Baltimore, I don't even have the time to whine about my cold, although I must say my friends out here have been so solicitous of me these past few days, I treasure every single one of them.
Today marks the end of my fourth week at Baltimore, and it's been a good experience. I've learnt things about myself that I wouldn't discuss on this blog :), and I've made friends - friends with varied experiences, with different views and with very diverse cultural outlooks, so it's been a very 'enriching experience'.
Now, I have got to admit, I sound so unlike myself on this blog today, but I put that down to my being sick **whining about my cough and cold..here I go again..lol** and the fact that I completed my first mid-term at Hopkins today, and it did not feel like a total disaster..woohoo! Yes, I did celebrate my big midterm with chocolate chip cookies (yey!!).
I will end my blog with another rambling for those poetry geeks out there...
sightless world
the wind whispers in her ear
the sound of chimes far awar
She wonders if she will ever see
the light from that distant land
She feels her hand along the window sill
tracing its hard edges
searching for the knob
to close the window shut
The wind against her ear
is almost too much to bear
How can she withstand the thought
of always listening, but never seeing
Sight is lost but to a few
yet, it's value is known only to those few
The rest are blind to the value there is
content to meander sightless in their world
A strand of her hair
falls against her cheek
she brushes it away abruptly
unwilling to feel it touch her tears
Tears trickling slowly
as she gazes over the plains
the wind whispering in her ear
the promises of the world she will never see...
by Angela Archana Vincent @ 9.45pm Sept 26, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
flickering patterns
here is another set of my ramblings from early September...
flickering patterns
bright light flickering
outside my window
dust flecks scattering the light
in mysterious patterns all around
heated discussions gathering storm
in the quiet shade within a room
laughter to frustration to anger to fury
the changes within a mere second
I wonder how we adapt
to all those musical notes
Music in its various forms
from soothing to jazz to rock to metal
a new city, a new vibe
different me, i may have thought
yet here I am, with the same discussions
over-wrought, over and out...
by Angela Archana Vincent - Sep 7, 2008
flickering patterns
bright light flickering
outside my window
dust flecks scattering the light
in mysterious patterns all around
heated discussions gathering storm
in the quiet shade within a room
laughter to frustration to anger to fury
the changes within a mere second
I wonder how we adapt
to all those musical notes
Music in its various forms
from soothing to jazz to rock to metal
a new city, a new vibe
different me, i may have thought
yet here I am, with the same discussions
over-wrought, over and out...
by Angela Archana Vincent - Sep 7, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
new life...
So, I've finally settled into my sweet lil apartment in Baltimore, successfully attended the first few days of classes, made some very good friends, garnered enough reading to last me a lifetime (ah, the eternal pleasures of being a graduate student!).
Baltimore as a city seems to have a rather jaded voice. You hear about the sketchy neighbourhoods, the pollution scares, dark alleys, muggings and so on. Yet after coming to this city, I've also noticed how friendly people are, how beautiful the water looks through the big bay window at the Aquarium, the relatively clean and safe streets in Charles Village. I am not blind though. I do see the boards nailed shut in certain areas, the fact that people tend to travel in groups, and stay home after 7pm (unless you drive, and are with a group of 3 or more..lol).
Yet the city seems rather alive. My perception might be biased because of the people I interact with, whether it's at my apartment, the local student community in my area or the larger student community at grad school. Everyone seems friendly, welcoming and always willing to offer information. The key is to ask :) . In that regard, I guess it could be said that it's the same elsewhere. However, I like this city. I love Toronto (I know I'm biased, it's been home for a long time now!), yet this city will always mean something unique to me.
Baltimore as a city seems to have a rather jaded voice. You hear about the sketchy neighbourhoods, the pollution scares, dark alleys, muggings and so on. Yet after coming to this city, I've also noticed how friendly people are, how beautiful the water looks through the big bay window at the Aquarium, the relatively clean and safe streets in Charles Village. I am not blind though. I do see the boards nailed shut in certain areas, the fact that people tend to travel in groups, and stay home after 7pm (unless you drive, and are with a group of 3 or more..lol).
Yet the city seems rather alive. My perception might be biased because of the people I interact with, whether it's at my apartment, the local student community in my area or the larger student community at grad school. Everyone seems friendly, welcoming and always willing to offer information. The key is to ask :) . In that regard, I guess it could be said that it's the same elsewhere. However, I like this city. I love Toronto (I know I'm biased, it's been home for a long time now!), yet this city will always mean something unique to me.
home...
home...
where does that exist
i've heard it said
that it's where the heart is
yet many more weep
at the mere thought
of leaving behind bricks and mortar
the essence of home to them..
To me, it's a place with your family
yet, I feel at home when I'm alone
is that right
or is that strange..
I believe it need not be either...
I love both options..
sitting in my room in Toronto
with my cup of tea
my mom cooking in the kitchen
my dad watching TV
my sister browsing the net
or here in Baltimore
where I sit alone
on my bed
wondering whether I should cook dinner
or eat raisin bran :)
Home is where you feel secure
safe within the confines of your personal space
certain that if something comes your way
you can deal with it.
I am at home in Toronto
and in Baltimore
with my family around
or all by myself...
by
Angela Archana Vincent
where does that exist
i've heard it said
that it's where the heart is
yet many more weep
at the mere thought
of leaving behind bricks and mortar
the essence of home to them..
To me, it's a place with your family
yet, I feel at home when I'm alone
is that right
or is that strange..
I believe it need not be either...
I love both options..
sitting in my room in Toronto
with my cup of tea
my mom cooking in the kitchen
my dad watching TV
my sister browsing the net
or here in Baltimore
where I sit alone
on my bed
wondering whether I should cook dinner
or eat raisin bran :)
Home is where you feel secure
safe within the confines of your personal space
certain that if something comes your way
you can deal with it.
I am at home in Toronto
and in Baltimore
with my family around
or all by myself...
by
Angela Archana Vincent
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
a new start...
Ever wonder how time flies by? I usually don't, either I'm too busy to notice the time or I'm so relaxed, I enjoy the spare time..lol..yep extremes exist, even in my mundane life. I remember talking about grad school in August last year, and it seemed so far away. Now it's here already. Tomorrow, I fly out to Baltimore to start grad school at Johns Hopkins - this experience is a first for me in a multitude of ways - my first graduate program, my first time without my family or close friends, my first time in Baltimore..I could go on and on. It's scary, thought provoking, exhausting (never knew planning a move was such a massive task!) and downright exciting. I was talking to a very good friend a few minutes ago, who was preparing to defend her Master's thesis tomorrow (besta luck you-know-who-you-are), and she described our emotions perfectly. I quote "It's scary, exciting and extremely scary!"..lol..couldn't word it better!
I'm actually amazed at the student community at JHU. Even before I land in Baltimore, I've made friends - other incoming and continuing students. Helpful and friendly. Let's hope the next year is as calming, exciting and educating, although I wouldn't mind if it's a little less scary.. :)
Well, for the next few days, I'm going to be busy shopping, cleaning, settling in and typically driving everyone around me nuts! To that end, Baltimore here I come.....
Oh, and before I end today's ravings...I was feeling a little lost the other day because I felt like I couldn't write 'poetry' lately..kinda like a writer's block. I just realized that this year alone I've written 3 poems so far..woohoo..the feeling cannot be decribed or understood unless you've experienced it yourself.. :) :) :)
I'm actually amazed at the student community at JHU. Even before I land in Baltimore, I've made friends - other incoming and continuing students. Helpful and friendly. Let's hope the next year is as calming, exciting and educating, although I wouldn't mind if it's a little less scary.. :)
Well, for the next few days, I'm going to be busy shopping, cleaning, settling in and typically driving everyone around me nuts! To that end, Baltimore here I come.....
Oh, and before I end today's ravings...I was feeling a little lost the other day because I felt like I couldn't write 'poetry' lately..kinda like a writer's block. I just realized that this year alone I've written 3 poems so far..woohoo..the feeling cannot be decribed or understood unless you've experienced it yourself.. :) :) :)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
un-named words...
dark thoughts swirl around
taking shape in the shadows of my mind
obscure and faint
yet with the definition and clarity of an architect's blueprint
emotions so difficult to describe
trickling like raindrops on my windowsill
echoing in the emptiness of the room
while my mind scrambles for rest...
a thousand words yearn to spill forth
spewing meaning, anger, contentment or peace
i look at the nonstop swirling motion
mute, in the face of such confusion
words must be set free
when the mind is calm
fickle words start torrents
they do not soothe troubled waters
calmness is hard to strive for
when the mind yearns otherwise
anger and confusion are sisters
bound tight like conjoined twins at birth..
be rational, i must
awhile it may take
lessons learn, i must
the hard way always...
by Angela Archana Vincent @ 6.35pm August 9, 2008
taking shape in the shadows of my mind
obscure and faint
yet with the definition and clarity of an architect's blueprint
emotions so difficult to describe
trickling like raindrops on my windowsill
echoing in the emptiness of the room
while my mind scrambles for rest...
a thousand words yearn to spill forth
spewing meaning, anger, contentment or peace
i look at the nonstop swirling motion
mute, in the face of such confusion
words must be set free
when the mind is calm
fickle words start torrents
they do not soothe troubled waters
calmness is hard to strive for
when the mind yearns otherwise
anger and confusion are sisters
bound tight like conjoined twins at birth..
be rational, i must
awhile it may take
lessons learn, i must
the hard way always...
by Angela Archana Vincent @ 6.35pm August 9, 2008
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