Thomas Merton

This is the book I am curently reading. I have been reading his books and have found a kindred spirit in the late monk and poet. When I finish the book I will comment on it.

POEM

Don't walk in front of me,
I may not follow;
Don't walk behind me'
I may not lead;
walk beside me,
and just be my friend.

-Albert Camus

QUOTE

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

TODAY'S WORD

INDIGENOUS

Native to a particular region.

Characteristic of and originating in a particular region or country.

WORDS OF WISDOM

We mold clay into pot
but it is the emptiness inside
that makes the vessel useful.

-Lao Tzu, Chinese spiritual teacher

WORDS OF WISDOM

A USELESS LIFE IS AN EARLY DEATH

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German novelist (1749-1832)

TODAY'S WORD

POIGNANT

1: emotionally painful
2: deeply moving.

TODAY'S WORDS

COMPLIMENT

1. Flattering remark. 2: greeting-plural in this sense. Verb- pay a compliment to.


COMPLEMENT

1: Something that completes. 2: full number or amount.


P.S. These are two words that I get mixed up.

Radical

If you like things on the radical side, the website below may be your cup of green tea.

http://www.bluestockings.com/

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)

I had planned to pen this during women's month as a biography. After reading more about Zora Hurston's life, I felt that a straight bio would do this controversial and intelligent woman an injustice.
I don't know if being 'politically correct' was the buzz word during Ms Hurston's heyday, but politically and culturally correct she was not. I find a woman who went across the grain what was expected not only in American society but in black society as a whole.
Born in Alabama in 1891, Zora Neale Hurston was outspoken and had definite opininons about matters of race, her life, and the positive aspects of black culture. She was a folklorist, novelist, and an anthropologist. Hurston believed that black American should look inward for their spiritual and cultural center. It was in contrast to the 'seeking the government to solve our problems' approach.
Though Hurston was part of the Harlem Renaissance, she was somewhat of an outsider. She was stridently anticommunist and believed that school integration would not benefit black people. This is some of the reasons why she was alienated from other black writers. Looking at it now perhaps Hurston was right.
Though Zora Hurston's most famous book is Their Eyes Were Watching God, she did write a number of other books. Her first novel Jonah's Gourd Vine was published in 1934. Hurston also wrote short stories, plays, essays and articles. She had a pulse on the audiences she wrote to. Hurston you could say marched to the beat of her own drum.
I am always drawn to controversial figures, especially those who may fly under the radar of classical authors. Zora Neale Hurston falls under these terms and yet she had much to say. She had that inner craving to speak her mind. I confess that I have never read any of Hurston's books but having studied would she was, I'm going to purchase everything that I can find. At some future date I will critique a piece of her work. Those who have read Hurston's works, I implore you to look deeper and she if what she was saying in the 1930's resonates with audiences today.

Tormented Genius

Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite authors. Though his was filled with tragedy and torment, it did not take away his genius or his eye for description of surroundings. I wouldn't say that Poe flew under the radar in literary circles but he was an enigmatic person.

I have read his famous poem The Raven but he wrote many other poems. Hs stories are a great example of what makes a great author. In the story 'The Fall of the House of Usher', Poe's description of the acoustics inside the castle made me feel that I was his sidekick. I felt like we walked side by side in this strange and scary place. I read 'he Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Pit and the Pendulum (which was a movie in the early 1960's), The Mask of the Red Death, and The Cask of Amontillado. Poe showed his genius by the description of the surroundings, by the building of the story to its horrifying climax, and by the seeming casualness of the survivors.

Edgar Allan Poe did not live a long life (1809-1849) but he left an indelible mark in my mind as a literary icon.

Effecting Change

Writing touches the deep recesses of my minds and hearts. We can point to books read that inspired, challenged, educated, and spurred us to activity. It is the last description that I will touch on.

Over the years many writers have written books, poems, stories and commentaries about the world as they see it. While writing can open our minds to new worlds, it should spur people to change the inequalities in our world. Much is happening as I write. The mortgage crisis, recession, the war in Iraq, the economy, medical care, and high prices are affecting all of us in some way. To me what makes a great writer is the way they can communicate with the readers. Poe, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Langston Hughes come to mind. After I read Malcolm X's autobiography, I could see where he was coming from and how he came to his conclusions.

I just want to say that whatever genre you choose to write, remember that you are effecting change no matter how subtle. Writing is not an idle pursuit of entertainment but affects those who you wish to affect.

Working on a mystery story

I am formulating a horror mystery story in my mind. Now I have to get the outline on paper. I like horror that forces the character to face their fears, biases, and preconceived notions. I also want to have the characters have a positive change in their lives. I believe that horror can alter the course of a person's life in a positive way. Is there anyone that has felt the same way? Love to hear your ideas and stores.

Horror/Mystery Fan

I am a big fan of horror mystery genre. I love it when characters are confronted with their worst fears-an are challenged as to how they will get out of thier predicament. There are some places that can be a great back drop for a horror story. I love castles, dungeons, dark rooms, empty streets, hotels, motels; the list is endless.

I am a fan of Edgar Allan Poe. Stephen King is good. I'm searching for some of the great horror fiction writers of the present and the past.

MAYDAY!

Today is International Labor Day. May is Labor Month. It's odd but some countries such as China and France (I believe) have week long celebrations. THe US has only one day; and labor of poor and working men and women built this great country.The labor movement was an integral part of working people securing fair wages, benefits, and medical care.

Over the past several decades we have seen government and business literally takes away those gains. Industries such as steel and the auto industries have been decimated by restrictive laws, cheap sources of labor, and union busting. It is time for all working and poor people to organize and unite to change this trend.

I am searching for books about labor history, biographies, organizing and any thing to do with labor. If there are any suggestions you have, I welcome them.

Friday Nights and Beyond

Listed below are some websites where you can hear poetry, talks and readings.

www.bowerypoetry.com
www.nuyorican.org
www.poetz.com

COMMENTARY

Sometimes I think an idea for a story has to be something spectacular. As I get older I had discovered that one small word can germinate into a poem, short story or even a novel. For example the word 'urges' germinated into a poem that I wrote. Park scenes have led me to write some stories about love, redemption and serenity.
There are ideas all around us if we slow down and 'smell the roses'. I wrote some prose describing a rainy day. Another time, a woman on my job led me to write a story called 'Eve'. I think that this is the best story I have ever written because I completed it in one setting. Cold days make me think of fireplaces and drinking hot chocolate. See what I'm driving at.
Write on a piece of paper a word, phrase, or describe a person or place and see if you don't come up with some ideas. I love castles and now I am creating characters and settings for a mystery/horror story. When you get some ideas and do some research you will be amazed at what you can create. Happy writing!

Quote

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

-Aesop, 550 B.C.

A NEW LOOK

I have given the blog a new look. 'Mocha Literary Lounge' is now 'The Literary Lounge'. I decided upon green as a background not because of the upcoming earth week activities but because spring is here and summer is on the way. My love of green tea is also a factor. I hope that you like the new look. I do hope to post much more often than I do presently.

Poem

GOD MADE TEACHERS

God understood our thirst for knowledge,
and our need to be led by someone wiser;
He needed a heart of compassion,
of encouragement, and patience;
Someone who would accept the challenge
regardless of the opposition;
Someone who could see potential
and believe in the best in others...
So He made Teachers.

-Author Unknown