Famous Last Words Week 7

Tough Young Man

"John Wayne portrait" by Howard_Hawks'Rio_Bravo_trailer_(26).jpg: Trailer screenshotderivative work: Liorek (talk) - Howard_Hawks'Rio_Bravo_trailer_(26).jpg. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Wayne_portrait.jpg#mediaviewer/File:John_Wayne_portrait.jpg

You tough young man,
Rough and tumble grass stained jeans,
You play your games,
“I’m the Cowboy, you be the Indian,”
You run, you jump, you fight, and you fall,
Dry those eyes because men don’t cry,
Rub some dirt in it and dust yourself off,
Be a man,
Be a man,
Be the man that we’ve been told to be,
Drink your milk and grow up strong,
Being a man,
Being a man,
Being the man that you are supposed to be is for you to decide,
It’s ok to cry when it hurts,
Some pains hurt in places you create,
And it is ok to cry,
Shhhhhh keep those things to yourself,
Bundle em up and hide them away,
Throw away the key,
I said bottle em up and watch them shake,
Shake, shake, and shake,
Until they explode on whoever wishes to take a drink,
On the woman you love sips your insecurities,
But you don’t care,
All you know is how to be a man,
Be a man,
How to be a man that has never been taught how to care,
What does it mean to be a man?
On your throne with your crown you’re a king,
Your queen subject submitted,
Object objectified walking ten steps behind,
And it’s ok because that is what they advertise,
A sexualized identity you must dominate,
Absent of thoughts, wants, and needs,
You damage them one, then two, then three, and so many more,
A cycle of daughters for generations to destroy,
Is this what it means to be a man?
Of this I am unsure for sure,
I do know I cry,
I think about my son,
Don’t be as insecure as the men they want you to be,
Tell me your thoughts, your hopes, and your dreams,
Leave those tears alone, it’s better to let them fall,
Let me dust you off and give you a hug,
Be a man,
Be a man,
Be a man and tell me what is wrong,
I can help you if you share why you’re feeling this way,
Unravel, unlock, and open up,
Being a man that knows how to be a man,
A man that posseses only himself,
Knowing it’s okay to walk behind,
Falls in love with,
Her heart,
Her mind,
And not his eyes,
Tough young man with your grass stained jeans,
To be strong you must hurt learning to cry leaving others unharmed,
Because this is what it means to be a man.




Author's Notes
I wrote this as the other part of my last poem because I think we have a real problem with how we force young children into gender roles. I think it is ok to be a tough guy as long as that is just one part of who you are, and not your complete identity. I think that as young men we are never taught how to deal with our emotions and that we are shown images of what it means to be a man, along with negative images of those men and the way they treat women. This is terrible thing and I would like to see a more well rounded approach in the way we teach children to handle their gender roles in society because by doing this we will be able to create a society in which people can be equals.

Tech Tip Week 7

Twitter Hashtag

@OnlineMythIndia I spend so much time writing for this class, but it is time well spent, #OU4993,#ou3043
Though I have to admit it would be nice if people actually read my storytelling and other posts, but it is Ok I am secure enough to talk to myself, so writing stories that only I will read is something I am cool with.....#livawesome

Story Telling Week 7

Scent of a Woman?

“Hey wake up!” the voice said as I felt a palm lightly tap my cheek three times. “Joe, wake up!” it was my brother Lance.

I must have been overheated and passed out. That would explain why I am on the floor. I hate this feeling, it is like a thousand needle pricks all over my body. As I open my eyes the light rushes in and assaults my pupils. I can see my brother Lance standing over me asking me “What happened,” over and over again. It takes me a second for everything to come back to me and then I tell him, “I was getting a drink of water and then I don’t know, I must have passed out or something.”

“Are you ok?”

“Yeah, help me up, oh man I just had the weirdest dream…” he stops me.

“Hey, your wife is in your office.”

I think to myself, “What is he talking about I don’t have a wife?” As my hands brush down my face to remove the grogginess from my body I feel a cold piece of metal graze across my skin. I hold my left hand in front of my face and extend my fingers to see a gold band wrapped around my ring finger. With my thumb I begin to play with the wedding band, it is a familiar and natural feeling, like I playing with it is something I have done for years though I am unable to figure out why I am wearing this ring. I have never been married.

This all feels like a joke that in my mind I agree to play along with for the moment. I feel dizzy again and my brother is quick to sit me down in a chair. My brother tells me he will be right back and leaves me in the room alone. This must be what it feels like to have your brain melt like cheddar between two slices of Texas toast. I close my eyes in hopes of gaining some form of timeout from the abuse my eyes are suffering from the sun. Images of monkeys, bears, and blood begin to flood my mind, and even though I know this is just some weird side effect from passing out, these images feel like memories. Memories of things that haven’t happened yet.

Memories of things that haven’t happened yet. I hear the door to the kitchen open again, it must be Lance coming back to get me, though his footsteps sound lighter on the tile floor as he walks to the sink and turns the water faucet on and off. There is scent that possesses the room that was absent before the door opened, I feel a cold towel against my forehead, what is that scent. I know I have never smelled it before though for some reason it feels extremely familiar. “What is that smell?”

“You know what it is; I have told you the name before. It’s Illusion by Louis Cardin”

I open my eyes and see a woman I have never met before. Her name is Mary. I don’t know why I know her name, but for some reason I just know her name is Mary. The scent intrudes further into my body forcing its way into my lungs. It is not crisp and clean like a scent you would find in nature. It is an intoxicating lust manufactured from synthetic elements; it has an unnatural feeling about it. “Should I kiss your boo boo and make it feel better?”

“No….no need for that.” I hold my hand up allowing the sunlight to reflect off the gold ban on my left hand. The reflection of the light is insulting to her eyes.

“You sure about that?” She is a beautiful woman. Perfection embodied within her flesh. Her clothes are expensive and they hug her curves perfectly, too perfectly. There is no wrinkle to be found on her skirt or her blouse. The fabric from her blouse hangs off her shoulders the same way it would if it were dressing a mannequin. “I mean there is married and happily married.”

She catches me off guard with her flirtation. She is masterful in her overcoming my objections by diverting my responses. When I tell her that I am married, she asks if I am happy, when I say I am ok she just laughs it off and counters my response with softening of her eyes and a flick of her hair. She is perfect, from the way she smells, her clothes, and the distance between her eyes. She is the canon of beauty....

...yet her lack of imperfections casts a shadow of ugliness over her. I fain dizziness again in hopes of achieving and end to her advances, but I am unsuccessful.

“You’re probably just hungry. How bout I take you to lunch?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t my wife is waiting in my office for me.”

“Oh, if she is a secure woman she won’t mind if I steal you away from her for a while.”

“I’m sure she would.”

“Well if it is that big of an issue she can join us, I don’t mind sharing you with her.” She attempts to laugh it off as if it was a joke, but she continues to study my face for a sign that would give her an opening to continue to press on.

“I really just don’t feel good.”

“You heard him Mary, he doesn’t feel good, now leave him alone.” My brother had slipped into the room unnoticed and had been listening to the entire conversation.

“Shut up Lance he is a big boy. I am sure he doesn’t need you butting in.”

“Hey Mary why don’t you and your fake face, fake designer clothes, and fake personality get out of her and leave him alone.” My brother was more forceful than I would have been.

“Who do you think you are talking to, don’t you know who I am? No one talks to me that way and gets away with it!” There is an uncomfortable silence in the room for a moment then Mary looks at me and her soft features turn to rage as she stands up and storms out of the room.

“Hey calm down Mary. Don’t huff and puff too hard or your blow your nose job off!” Though I feel bad about it, I couldn’t help but laugh at my brother. He asks me if I am feeling better and I tell him that I am as I stand up to walk out of the room and head to my office to finally meet the woman I am married to, but before I open the door.........










Author's Notes
This is a retelling of the temptation of Rama by Ravana'a sister. Obviously I could not have his brother chop off her nose so that is why the comment of about her nose falling off at the end was put in there. I wanted her to be beautiful but also fake in every way from her scent to her looks she is unnatural.



Attributions
Pic 1 : By Johann Carl Loth [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Pic 2 : "Wedding rings" by Jeff Belmonte from Cuiabá, Brazil - Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons-http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wedding_rings.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Wedding_rings.jpg
Pic 3 : "Wat phra keaw ramayana fresco" by unknown, photo by "Thaths" - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34816987@N00/1392410389. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wat_phra_keaw_ramayana_fresco.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Wat_phra_keaw_ramayana_fresco.jpg
Pic 4 : "Louis Cardin Illusion" by Ahmer82 - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louis_Cardin_Illusion.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Louis_Cardin_Illusion.jpg
Pic 5 : By Patrick Doheny (originally posted to Flickr as French Maid) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Pic 6 : „Mona Lisa detail eyes“. Lizenziert unter Public domain über Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mona_Lisa_detail_eyes.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Mona_Lisa_detail_eyes.jpg

Reading Diary Part B week 7

The warriors ride out on a thousand horses,
Rama takes his sandals off the Elephant
Bharata returns the kingdom to Rama
The animals and five demons are present
Sita is driven to see her mothers
Every is excited waiting to see what Rama would do, the kingdom is rejoicing
Rama is told to rule as far as the world last and as far as the world goes
This is the greatest celebration
Sita sits by a fountain in the palace and the hunchback asks her for her forgiveness
The hunchback is told that it is because of her that Ravana is dead and everyone is free
Everyone gathers around to see Rama Crowned
Lakes of wines, hills of food
Rama will reign for eleven thousand years
Strong and gentle
Twelve years till the end of his rule Sita is pregnant
Sita wants to go on a retreat
Rama gives her his blessing
His ministers tell him that there are whispers of Sita’s infidelity
Rama seeks counsel from his brother
Rama tells his brother to take Sita to the river the next day and leave her there in exile
Dharma law is mentioned and Lakshmana agrees to what his brother asks him to do
Sita asks Lakshmana what is wrong and he tells her that she is being abandoned
Lakshmana questions his brothers motives
Sumantra explains it to Lakshmana
Sumantra tells the story of how Kakayi got her wishes
Dasharatha was wounded in a battle and kakayi nursed him back to health and was promised two boons
Indra restores Dasharatha to complete health
Demons went to Ayodhya searching for protection
Vishista the priest cursed Narayana
Sita accepts her fate
Sumantra and Lakshmana return to Rama
The river goddess speaks to Sita and tells her to let go of life
A hermit comes to her and tells her that she can live with him and his wives
She has twin son and lives with the hermit for twelve years
Valmiki is mentioned by name
Rama gives a celebration
On the first day of the festival the Ramayana is sung
On the last day Rama sees his son’s returning home
He sends for Sita to tell her that he will take her back into her home
Sita returns to Rama
Sita asks to prove her innocence
Rama gives her his permission
She tells mother earth to take her home if she has been true to Rama
From the earth rises a throne and sitting on it is Mother Earth
Mother earth takes Sita and they descend into the earth
Rama smiled
Rama realizes that he will never meet Sita again on earth
Rama rules for another thousand years
Time shows up dressed as a Hermit to see Rama
He tells him it is time for him to die and return to heaven
Lakshmana interrupts the meeting and must die because of it
Rama tells his brother good bye
Lakshmana goes to the river and is at peace and he is ready to die
Lakshmana’s soul is carried to Heaven
Rama is prepared to Die
Bharata tells Rama to take him with him
Laksmi and mother earth walk with Rama
Rama gave hanuman the bracelet he was wearing
Hanuman destroys the bracelet
Vibishina tells hanuman to destroy his flesh so hanuman rips his flesh off
His bones have Rama written on them
Rama heals Hanuman
Hanuman’s character is described in detail
Rama and his followers jump into the river and are taken to Heaven.

Reading Diary Part A week 7

Buck describes Ravana’s dance as something beautiful.

Then Ravana heads out to meet Rama for the battle and meets time.

Time tells him that he is going to hell and will be forgotten.

Ravana calls time the bad one, because he will kill more men for less.

Ravana seems to know he is going to die.

He seems somewhat heroic because he says he is willing to die for love.

Ravana leaves lanka through the fifth gate

The Gate of illusion

He hits the ground and sees Rama facing him on foot. Ravana is in a Chariot.

All the animals goto Rama but he tells him to go away.

Partly a warrior and partly a king.

A chariot comes down to Rama from Heaven drawn by 10 silver horses

Matali gives Rama Indra’s celestial car.

Ravana shot a million arrows at Rama

Rama shoots all the arrows from the sky

Rama shoots Ravana’s head off of his body but they grow back

Rama almost knocks Ravana off his chariot

Ravana attacks Rama with his mace

Rama throws a spear and breaks Ravana’s flag pole

Matali steps in the way of Ravana’s mace to save Rama

Rama revives Matali

Rama fights Ravana on foot

Rama uses the arrow given by him by augustia

Ravana takes the form of Indra and fools Rama into not shooting his arrow

Matali told him it was false and told him to shoot his arrow

Rama shoots his arrow and it goes through Ravana and at dawn Ravana dies

After Ravana is dead Shuka gives Rama a stone letter from Ravana

Ravana seems to be grateful to die at Rama’s hand

He says that he never hurt Sita and only took her to get Rama to come to Lanka so that Rama could kill him and tells him the war is over and to welcome back Sita

He sends Hanuman to Sita to tell her that they had won the war.

He finds Sita alone under the gold tree dressed as a princess.

Sita asks how Rama is and Hunaman tells her to come by and find out.

Everyone bows to her, vibishina looks in the sky to see two chariots and petals in the sky

The fire Lord leads Sita to Rama

The fire lord calls him Narayana

Rama asks why he calls him a great god

The fire lord tells him he has forgotten

Indra appears and tells him who he is and asks him why he is acting like he doesn’t know that he is Narayana and then tells Sita that they all serve you.

Vabishima takes hunaman to a treasure your cut out of the heart stone cut out of a great mountain and gives him a book that will bring back all the dead animals

Rama tells him he must be home or his brother will die and asks if there is a faster way home.

Rama uses Pushpaka to return home

Everyone climbs in the chariot with Rama

The sea is freed as a gift