Here is a piece that I have written lately and would love to share with you all.
Nightbook Nostalgia
So I long for your world down below.
You pray to see your graceful leap
into the night, upon your wings
While I'm alone again.
All this time, through your truths
It whispers your dark insincerities
As the stars pull away, I cannot seem to hold you back
I draw near your voice, it breaks me down so carefully.
Lines that form perpendicular catastrophes
The forbidden fruit gives off it's sweet and tragic wonder
Too long have men strived to hold in their hands what was never there.
The canvas stands like a lonely soldier, waiting for a kind heart to bleed along the corners.
Words of a thousand years kept me wide awake, sleep is thus another scholars' portal.
I long to dream again.
~
An afterword: Nightbook Nostalgia was inspired by Ludovico Einaudi's beautiful piano piece called "Nightbook". In a sense, I've become so enraptured with this piece that I listened to it often on repeat of different versions to this piece: the orchestral version, then the piano solo and the live edition when he played at the Royal Albert Concert Hall which took place in London earlier this year.
For the concept of the word "Nostalgia" that appeared after the word Nightbook, I have always been fascinated by that word...in Greek, it means "the pain from an old wound". Nostalgia is thus a twinge in your heart that is far more powerful than one's memory can ever provoke, and for me that was simply how I felt in conjuring up a multitude of memories when I wrote this piece.
These past few days here in the city we have experienced quite a chill, reminding us how cold these winter months can hold us with its strong grip.
I had the fortunate opportunity to have moments I call "quiet silences". I had met up with a friend of mine, having come from Montreal, and the afternoon was wonderful as we were able to make a trip down to the St. Lawrence Market- something I have not done since leaves were beginning to fall from the trees and snow had not made its graceful presence known.
There was also another factor which enlightened the day: the thick clumps of snow that were falling... carefully, everywhere descending.
Light-hearted conversations were inevitable over walnut-chocolate cake and perogies. It gave me an overwhelming sense of peace to be able to enjoy weekends doing something heartfelt, where weekdays are steeped in non-stop classes, work and moments that define busyness in between.
As early evening came down upon us, we made the trip to go down by the Harbourfront.
Again, snow was descending in clusters, providing everyone an extra layer of white on their hair, coats, hats, and mitts.
As we slowly approached the lake, there was an eery sense of calm, the view in front of me gave me the atmosphere of entering into an abandoned landscape.
Ships loomed, frozen in slumber, giving a ghostly appearance. The lake beyond was white, and I could barely make out what was beyond the distant, where grey, blue and the white mix of snow gave the air of a dream-like feel- as if the ground where we crossed at the intersection to reach the border where land touches water, was moving itself, that we were pulling out on the open icy waters.
At that moment when we were crossing at the light with the heavy drifting of snow dancing all around us my friend says to me, "It is as if we are in Minsk..."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Photo by me- an image of what it looked like by the lake.
We arrived at the local coffee shop that is situated by the lake, where I came many times during the summer, as it gives off the quality of a lake house sort of feel. During the winter, it does give the air of a cottage/lodge feel, with a fireplace, couches and the wooden interior.
With our coffee and apple cider, I came across a nice setting that gave the view of the open lake, hovered with a couple of boats on dock. Night was falling, and so it brought a beautiful quiet feeling, looking past the pane of windows and out onto the frosty cold landscape.
Even now when I find myself catching a second or two of daydreaming, I can't help but recall that memory.
What a difference a season can change the appearance of places where you had such fond memories in previous engagements, yet the emotional release of resplendence remains intact.
Evenings hold the most promising of re-awakenings- this I found to be the most pleasurable of all in Life.
Joie de vivre,
Joanne
Note: Apart from the photo credited by me, other images are via weheartit
Often in the mornings when I see strays of light come pouring in from between the curtains, I realize how powerful the glow of light can be as it streaks on the edges of ceilings, corners behind the doorway, provides a ethereal spotlight on the drawings, postcards and paintings I would hang on the walls.
Walking into the brisk cold air, I find a sense of slow release, watching my breath sail away when I exhale, the tops of trees bare yet unashamed of it's nakedness to the world.
When I get the chance to walk, whether it be surrounded by the buzzing in the city, or a quiet stroll to the mailbox, I find myself reflecting on little orbs of everyday inspiration that illuminates life.
Here are some things that I've come to love these pasts few weeks:
~
I had a very fortunate opportunity to meet Tom Rachman, author of "The Imperfectionists", one of my favorite books I've read, this past Thursday. Rachman being a fellow U of T alumni, it was great to see those who have come before us, and gone off to accomplish extraordinary things.
Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, is actually going to adapt this novel into a film, which I cannot wait to see the final product.
When I asked him thoughts about the film, and if there was any certain actors he had ever thought would play his characters, he says it differs from the image of the characters he had come up with, but will be excited to see how it would turn out. Towards the end I told him my aspiration with my book and the challenges I would often face. He gave me words of encouragement and ended up writing a lovely message:
The February 2011 issue of Harper's Bazaar featuring Nicole Kidman on the cover:
These editorials are simply wonderful and it was so delightful to find her on the cover. I love the whole summer garden feel and she looks absolutely beautiful. I have always admired how strong her roles are in films that illustrate her as a true actress, and she is simply golden.
I have watched her latest film, "Rabbit Hole" and it is truly a powerful film, having to deal with the theme of the aftermath of losing one's child. It is definitely a dark issue, but there is a sense of cope and faith and strength in the human heart that leaves you assured.
Erin Fetherston's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection:
As always, Erin never fails in delivering the feminine elegance that all her designs aspire and succeeds in portraying.
Love Scarlett Johansson'sMoët & Chandon photo shoot:
I am in love with this music video. It's Taylor Swift's "Back to December" and the scene where she's in a white interior of a house, captures a simplistic loveliness-especially where she's in her room, and snow is carefully descending on her shoulder, on the white fireplace with the old books- I loved it. Also I can definitely relate to this song, as I too have let go of my first love long ago... I wish I knew what I know now.
I'm having wonderful time so far studying Fashion and Textiles at the Royal Ontario Museum. To be able to look upon actual artifacts acquired by the museum and being able to write about certain costumes and textile pieces is amusing!
Certain scenarios that always haunts my mind:
One of them would be how I would walk into a breathtaking place of splendor, rich in art and history that spills from all four corners of a room. I would then walk further into the room and find a gentleman working on a task or preoccupied, always with his back facing me.
I would then feel my heart churning as I would imagine he would be the missing fragment that I have been looking for all my life. Finally, his face would slowly turn to look at me, and I would picture faces that have melted my heart all these years, whether it would be an actor, a writer, or someone I know in my life, or better yet, a face I have conjured up in my mind. But always the straight and solid back greeting my view and then that significant slow turn.
Another would be that I would walk along the seaside. It would be one of those summer day's that fill you up with the highest trust of beauty life could portray. The warm wind tousling my hair, rippling my turquoise dress. I gaze outwards as far as I could see along the stretch of water to the distant line the meets the sea with sky. A rush of contentment and release would reach deep into the caverns of my heart, and I am complete.
"I will have poetry in my life. And adventure. And love. Love above all. No... not the artful postures of love, not playful and poetical games of love for the amusement of an evening, but love that... over-throws life. Unbiddable, ungovernable - like a riot in the heart, and nothing to be done, come ruin or rapture. Love - like there has never been in a play. "
-Shakespeare in Love
Hello all,
There's something so bright and so delicate about the turn of a new year. It reaps promise of a new beginning, illuminating those goals and hopes you've yet to stride and the feeling you get which starts to glow in your mind when you realize that Spring (which equals warmer weather) is not so far away.
January, you remind me of opportunities and happiness to come. We all one way or another attempt to hold onto resolutions throughout the months to come, and in particular with 2011, I want to really hold steadfast to it.
Looking back there were definitely some "What was I thinking?" moments, and this time around, I've learnt all the lessons and will stick to better judgement.
More than ever I've realized the importance of family and friends - individuals that really care about you and have truly been the light when all the others have gone out.
Recently I have come under the tide of being extremely ill- and am slowly recovering from it. The worst part was that I missed out on New Year's Eve celebrations- sleeping in by 10 pm was more of my festivity. This had really taught me the importance of getting better, and keeping things simple and moderate: eating well, sleeping well. Balance has never been so important as now.
Aspirations of being able to achieve one's goals- for example, I want to go back into ballet once more, and am thinking of taking lessons again sometime in the late Spring at Canada's National Ballet School. I'm very excited.
Also, being able to own and learn the violin is one of them- it would be really amazing to learn such an extraordinary instrument.
Learning better at my French-thank goodness I have close friends who are French and can properly refine this language- I grew up learning it but am not exceedingly fluent.
Finishing up my book- you wouldn't believe how hard it is for me to actually sit down and write words- some ideas come and go through different pages of Moleskines, or even on napkins- and so this time around, I must concentrate and follow it through.
The search for the perfect tiramisu in the city- always a fun goal.
Paint- to find the time in the busyness of my life to take the brush and bring the blank canvas into different worlds.
Can't wait to get a copy of the February issue of Elle UK- Cheryl Cole is on the cover. I've always liked her songs, and her new album I really enjoy. I especially love "The Flood" - she has a music video to accompany this single and it's so lovely by the seashore.
I melt when I hear the words Tom Ford. His vision for menswear is the very essence of what every gentleman should be and how he dresses women is how every women should be.
