I'm Not Asleep, My Eyes Are Just Closed

Books 1. Cloud Atlas – DAVID MITCHELL . I must have bought this book somewhere in 2005 in Waterstones’ and left it to collect dust since. It still has it yellow ‘Buy 3 for 2’ sticker on the front cover; an impulse buy, a book I bought to make myself feel better. I finally picked it up two weeks ago and haven’t been able to put it down since. The book opens with the diary of one Adam Ewing, an American making a hazardous journey across the Pacific in the nineteenth century. Things get a bit hairy for the God-fearing Ewing as he crosses paths with criminals, cut-throats, warring Maoris and an alleged brain-eating parasite. Ewing’s diary ends abruptly on page just as I was wondering if he would survive with brain intact and we skip next to a one-sided correspondence from an impoverished, bisexual rake to his ex-lover while attempting to compose his musical masterpiece in 1930s Europe. Again, his breathless biting story stops short and we move on to three more subsequent characters, each m...

First of all, apologies for the embarrassment of bad poetry in the past 3 posts. Let's just say, I was seized by the Poetry Fairy and found myself so enthralled to its charms that I was unable to write any coherent thought in plain English without spraining myself. Having said that, I did derive a surprising amount of pleasure from writing poems - quite giddy, in fact - but I'm afraid my muse has left me for now. All has returned to normal. Almost. Hee. *looks dreamily out of moon-lit window for the flicker of Poetry Fairy's wings.*

How can one compare A giant to an elf One is broad and full of hair And the other short of self A giant’s grasp can make one gasp His sweetness lies in his strength But the elven charm will pierce any mask And make one smile at length A perfect set of ears A delightful manner of man A refreshing lack of smirks and leers The elf over the giant, that is my plan. Author's edit : I would like to dedicate this poem to my baby sister Maryam , who is sober, for planting the seed of 'Elf Lover' in my brain. It was next to impossible to resist it taking root and morphing into the above. Author's note : Elf love is not in anyway related to Lord of the Rings or any other fictional elves in the fantasy genre. Disclaimer : No elves were harmed in the making of this poem.

In his blue-green sea I am lost in fanciful dreams of sleepy melodies and promised ecstasy.

Sounds from the ether Drifting to earth A guttural growl A bass note that shivers. Swim in the depths of its windows Delight in the flash of pearls Sweet planes of its face Peak through its golden forest. Its slightness made big By its dance across the stage The long reach of its hands Dream of melodies in its sleep.

Because I am extremely bored and am itching to write something, anything, but have nothing new to say, I've posted some videos of live band performances that have been doing heavy rotation in my playlist in the last few months. (Yes, ever since I got a relaible broadband connection, plenty of time on my hands and gained internet literacy). 1. Outsiders - Franz Ferdinand on Later with Jools Holland (not quite sure which year it's from though) but fecking hell are they brilliant in this. Thing is with Franz Ferdinand, they always look real sharp and cool, then they add that drum orgy at the end with 7 drummers coming in and beating the hell out of the skins. They've played with up to 12 drummers at festivals but this one is fantastic as well. Posted by Elanorrose. 2. Alive - Pearl Jam at the Reading Festival in 2006. Still one of the best anthems Pearl Jam has ever done. Absolute classsic. Looks soooooo bloody good, wish I was there, but I wasn't, so bummer. The crowd...