Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand

I read the books by the real Cyrano de Bergerac before knowing about Edmond Rostand's play (it's usually the case in Literature classes that you start studying from the old days on to modern days). The real guy lived from 1619 to 1655 and he was a rebel. He hated the writers who published whatever would please the nobleman à la mode. In order to control him, Richelieu offered him to be his sponsor, so he would not be able to broadcast his thoughts. Cyrano did not accept and he kept writing whatever was in his mind, which of course brought upon him persecussion, and ostracism. In fact, his life is extremely interesting; the political issues at stake are very much alive still today. He's satirical and caustic. I had much fun reading his "Les états et empires de la lune et du soleil" where he criticizes the monarchy from a common sense point of view. Highly skillful! Very talented!

Edmond Rostand imagined a love story around his controverted personality and inspired on the only surviving portrait of Cyrano, where he's depicted having a disproportionate nose!

Since the first time I read the play and saw the movie (Cyrano played by Gérard Dépardieu), the story became my all time favorite, I can watch the movie a hundred times and come back to the book a thousand and never get bored. It's such a fascinating story of unrequited love, self pride, honor, integrity and courage (which Cyrano calls, "mon panache"). The spectator feels automatically identified with the character because, who can say that hasn't had the experience of having loved without being loved in return? Who hasn't missed the love of the lifetime because he or she loved someone else?

I learned that the Mary Moody Theatre at St. Edwards University is showing the play in English this month of February and I can't miss it. I've been a Cyrano all my life, I have Cyrano's syndrome, I am a Cyrano de Bergerac. Like him, I always find ways to show off my courage, my strength, when in reality, my ugly nose makes me cry in front of my real friends. But I still hope that one day, someone will change the story, make Roxane cleverer... and bring comfort to Cyrano.

touched by compassion

I'm overwhelmed by the compassion of one person. I had shown my shortcomings and this person was so gracious and benevolent towards me that my heart was swolen with gratitude and sweetness. How good life would be if people knew how to forgive with grace and love! I've always had this person in high regard, but now I am convinced that is regal.

The incident, instead of the expected guilt, invaded me with inspiration and hope, willingness to be better, an injection of innocence and reverence only comparable to meeting Christ. Do all of us have the potential of showing divine qualities, or is it just sporadic and exceptional? I'm going to experiment with it. There should be an answer to that question. Somewhere ... inside myself...

slumdog millionaire

I was glad to see the theatre full to watch a foreign movie. Are people actually becoming more aware of the world outside? I hope. America (meaning U. S. of America) needs to look out the window to learn a few survival skills from other cultures. Especially now.
A journal radio article on NPR today talked about India becoming the future second world power. Is "Slumdog" an allegory? Has India learned all the answers yet? And for that matter, have the developing countries learned the answers by now? It's all about taking advantage of the learning opportunities, isn't it?
Although my childhood was not in a slum or in deep mysery and corruption, I know how hunger feels. Deprivation, uprooting, abandonment, treason, ignorance, abuse and some other visitors came from time to time to visit us. However, the circumstances in which we are born don't trace our future. We are placed in the right situations, we meet the right people, are given the right opportunities to develop ourselves into what we are supposed to become. No matter what happens in life, the decisions we make determine the outcome. We are always in charge, because we are the agents. The energy of our gear meets the energy of our realization.
Jamal and Salim prove it. Even though they had almost the same experiences, their reaction to them and actions differed much resulting in opposite outcomes.
I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it.

stop button

I'ts First of the Year 2009. This space shuttle is going too fast, please, someone knows where the stop button is? Speed regulator button? Slow motion button? So, if none of those are to be found, carpe diem! Happy New Year!

Ashes

Autumn leaves in your soul

Calm waters in the creek

Mud pads on the road

Ashes

Concentric waves on the lake

When you throw your rock

Extinguished fire in your heart

Ashes

Memories and pictures on your walls

Naked trees in your garden

Iced water in your mouth

Ashes

Quiet steps on the grass

Labyrinths of wind

Crackled clouds in the sky

Ashes

Yellow papers

Old dust

Dry rinds

Ashes

Silt

Winter

Past

Ashes

And this faint taste

Of your kiss

On my lips

Ashes

Take me tomorrow

Sí Pablo Neruda los escribió tristes, ya sé. Es hermosa la tristeza también...

Take me tomorrow

Take me tomorrow where the light is bright
Where the air is clear and the water limpid.
Take me to play with the children
To swim in the ocean, to walk in the woods,
Free of danger and fear.

Take me to the place where I can be me
Without withholding, or preparing for a challenge,
Take me where the mangrove grows
where life goes wild, and the wind blows strong,
where the wave is high and the fish can thrive.

Take me tomorrow to the place of peace,
Where we all can play in a safely way,
Where the tree is not bothered,
Where the lion roars,
the zebra runs and the sheep can sleep.

Take me tomorrow to the place of unworries,
Where I can open my eyes and see,
With no need for perfection or invention,
Where I can see my soul,
Where there is no difference between you and me,
Because we are One with You.
Copyright

driven by fear

I just realized (booooommmm!) that this people (me too?) is driven by fear.
Fear of other people, fear of the future, fear of the germs, fear of nature, fear of the air, water and the like elements, fear of the news, especially the economy, fear of the employer, fear of walking alone, fear of letting children play outside, oooohhhh my, where in the world this people got all that fear?

I also just realized how naive I am (boooooooommmmmmm!). Fear comes when you are used to concentrate toooooooo much on the negative. The more you do negative (it's like a drug addiction), the more negativity you need and attract. So, let's meditate please! Even if you don't believe in anything, you'd agree that you have a mind, am I right? Well, get rid of it for a while and discover yourself. Scary proposition, yes, I know, been there, done that. But that also will pass.

Let's train ourselves to turn around every negative mental chat and replace it by a positive one. Try for an hour, first. Then, try it for half a day, then a day, then see how long you can do it in a week. Train yourself! PMA (positive mental attitude) is a state of mind you create and also attracts the like. I've done it and it changed my life. So can you!