Saturday, May 30, 2009

Torrey Academy, how I love thee!

Last night, I had the great honour of attending once again the Torrey Banquet.  Being surrounded by family and friends, being with those I had discussed and argued with all year long, meeting face to face those who before were only a colour and a font, a name without a background behind it, all these and more were blessings of the banquet.  
Congratulations to all who placed in the term paper contest!!!  Gabriel, your paper was amazing :)  Jonathan, I have to read yours.  Fellow FAT/FoOF winners, and to the Inklings winners, congratulations and I am honoured to stand in your company.  
Ahh, Torrey Academy, thou has been good to me.  From the first time I walked into Inklings, not knowing a soul and confident that I knew it all, to the final day of Foundations, rejoicing with classmates who had become friends, and learning with new humility, Torrey has been a journey of humility, of faith, of camraderie, of growth, of pursuit of goodness truth and beauty.  But most importantly, it has been a journey to find God.  Often I've lost sight of the ultimate goal, getting lost in the page long sentences of Locke, confusing theology of Williams, and late night reflection essays on Lewis and Lincoln.  But you my dear classmates and friends and tutors, never cease to bring me back and open my eyes anew to the wonder of God's holiness, wisdom, and love.  
This morning, I attended my younger sister's homeschool open house.  One of her classmates gave a dramatic recitation of the passage in Acts where Peter and John heal the lame man.  I had heard this story frequently, as all good Sunday School children have.  Today, however, I heard the story with a new understanding.  Too often we go through life begging for alms, asking for things, and in the case of Torrey, asking our tutors for the answers to hard questions, extensions or excused assignments.  We don't look up to glory and to God, but down at the papers to be written, books to be read, things to be done, and always ask ask ask.  But as Peter and John did, our tutors come along, and instead of giving us what we think we want, they command us, "Rise up and walk.  Take charge of your own education.  Own your beliefs.  Learn, think, grow."  They refuse to hand us the answers, but give us the strength to find the answers for ourselves.  And in doing so, our tutors point us up, ever higher, to God.  
Thank you, Miss Romero, Mr. Bartel, for your unfailing love for me.  Thank you for refusing to let me take the easy way out, but giving me the strength to look up to God.  Thank you, fellow classmates of Yorba Linda, for discussing with me and encouraging me and making this year such a memorable one.  Thank you, dear Torrey friends, for walking this journey with me.  
Thank you God, for Torrey Academy, which points me to you.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Soundtrack to my Life-Part 17

Hurrah!!!  Today was the absolutely final positively last day of Foundations of American Thought at Yorba Linda with Mr. Bartel.  It makes me sad...it's been a rewarding year and I shall miss it...but at the same time, summer will be a good rest :)  
1) From the Inside Out-Campaign-I actually like this better than the Hillsong version (not to mention it's another Speechless song...that I had a lead in ;)  I love the idea behind the song though, that God should be consuming all of us, from the innermost part of our being outward to our every movement.
2) Breathe-Anberlin-This is from New Surrender, which I didn't like as much as Cities at first...but I'm growing to like it more and more :)  I do like the acoustic songs more than the harder rock...the more emotional, deeply thinking as opposed to up front in your face hardness.

 3) Just Let Go-Mae-I didn't like most of Singularity at first, but Just Let Go has gradually become a favorite...not to mention Daniel was awesome and photoshopped some artwork for Just Let Go that is now my beautiful desktop background :)
4) The Best in Me-Sherwood-I really like the fun poppy bounciness of this song...it reminds me of a more mature version of Jump5 :)  They're going to be in concert the same time as I'm at Wheatstone :(  So sad, I would have loved to see them...
5) Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)-Chris Tomlin-this has always been one of my favorite hymns, and I absolutely love the arrangement Christ Tomlin's done of it...all the changes he's made, from adding a chorus and the original last verse, to changing the time signature to 4/4, fit and flow with the song while retaining the original meaning and beauty.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tuesday Shout Out

So I've decided...tradition is wonderful.  Particularly with blogs, keeping to the same routines is fun.  It gives your readers a sense of security, dependency, assures them that you are here to stay.  One of my favorite blogging traditions is the oft neglected Thursday music updates.  And so in light of that, I've decided to create another weekly tradition...the Tuesday Shout Out.  
First shout out of the year goes to Megan Moghtaderi.
Megan...is an absolutely awesome friend.  I met her through torrey academy via bubbs and first saw her in person at Wheatstone last summer.  Since then we've communicated regularly about books, faith, life, and cupcakes ;)  She reads great books, loved Scarlet Letter, listens to Taylor Swift, bakes cupcakes, eats Persian food, and is going to THI this fall!!!  Megan if you read this, you are Marvelous, Exciting, Godly, Awesome, and Near to my heart.  
Tune in next time to see who'll get recognized next...who knows, it could be you ;)

Monday, May 25, 2009

Current state...

...thinking about remembering...listening to Anberlin's New Surrender...relaxing from termpaperspeechlesspartieseverythingelseivehadtodothisweekend...praying for God's direction in my life...looking back on the past year...looking ahead to the summer...wondering who will win this year's term paper contest...loving the new Mae play and excited to write more...glad that Speechless is over...wishing I had more torrey papers to write...deciding that Anberlin-The Unwinding Cable Car/A Whisper and A Clamor-are two of my favorite songs...wondering if Mae will be replaced as my all time favorite band...wondering why I haven't ended this blog post yet...hoping people will comment on this blog...praying that I can be a blessing to someone this summer...loving God, loving family...waiting...

Friday, May 22, 2009

Speechless is tonight!!!!!!

So, as most of you probably already know, (since I've been talking about it so much for the past few weeks), my youth group is putting on a drama presentation called Speechless at Yorba Linda Friends Church.  Well...it's tonight!!!!!!!   If you aren't already planning on coming, please please please consider coming tonight.  It starts at 7:30PM, in the main sanctuary of Yorba Linda Friends, and runs till about 9:30.  For those of you who haven't been there, their sanctuary is huge...it actually can hold up to 3,000 people.  It hasn't been talked about much within the group, but I'd really really really like to be able to fill the auditorium tonight.  Which means...a lot of people need to come.  So I would absolutely love to see you all there tonight, along with all your friends and family.  If you need any convincing whatsoever, leave me a comment and I'd be glad to talk with you more about it.  And don't forget to check out our website.  
www.speechless-online.com   Hope to see you all there tonight!!!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Soundtrack to my Life-Part 16

Hello again and happy Thursday!  Hope you all have been enjoying yourselves.  I know you've just been dying for this, so here is another edition of soundtrack to my life :)  Comment lots!!!
1) Your Love Is Strong-Jon Foreman-I really hope this plays this time...it's one of my favorites by Jon Foreman, almost at least.  Really fantastic way to interpret scripture, and a gorgeous acoustic guitar.
2) Giving It Away: Acoustic-Mae-a beautiful acoustic version of giving it away, which I now have piano music for, thanks to Daniel :)
3) How to Save A Life-the Fray-I know I've talked about this song before, but I've been randomly thinking about it lately...esp. Tim's fantastic parody :P
4) Breakdown-Jack Johnson-I first started liking Jack Johnson when I heard his soundtrack for the Curious George movie, but lost track of him for a long time before picking him up again this summer...such a nice, laidback yet slightly melancholy feel to it...*sigh*
5) The Unwinding Cable Car-Anberlin-I'm just barely starting to get into Anberlin but this is already one of my favorites, its nice and laidback...you can probably tell im much bigger on acoustic ;)  

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Term Paper...

...is finally finished!  Rejoice with me, all ye fellow Torreyans, for a great cloud has been lifted from over us, and we are free once more to breathe in air unspoiled stress and fear.  The dragon named Term Paper has been slain, and I present him here to you as a gift from your humble fellow comrade in arms in this great battle known as Torrey Academy. 

Poetry: Songs of Self or Pictures of Paradise?


Poetry, the tuneless melody of the Muses, has been penned for many purposes.  To sing of sorrow and unrequited love, to praise the natural beauties of leaf and lake, to immortalize the dazzling beauty of one’s beloved, all these and more have been reasons for writing poetry.  However, without a true understanding of what poetry is and what purpose it serves, one’s poetry will be shallow and meaningless, centered in self.  To create meaningful poetry, the poet must have a purpose deeper than serving self.  Although Walt Whitman views poetry as mere self-expression or an outlet for self-centered emotion, Emily Dickinson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow write the most excellent poetry which depicts their visions of an ideal world because their poetry illustrates virtue, proclaims truth, and reveals beauty.

To poets such as Walt Whitman, poetry is a method to express one’s emotions, likes, or dislikes.  Emerson holds this view of poetry, saying, “The poet also resigns himself to his mood, and that thought which agitated him is expressed” (Emerson 273).  In writing poetry, the author’s primary motivating force is himself; from his thoughts he draws his subject matter.  When he has an idea, nothing will suit him but to first surrender himself to this idea or feeling, and then express it to the world through his poetry.  Concurring with Emersonian philosophy, Whitman’s poetry serves as an outlet for one’s feelings.

In his masterpiece Song of Myself Whitman expresses his feelings and knowledge of himself.  “Dow-hearted doubters dull and excluded,/Frivolous, sullen, moping, angry affected, dishearten’d, atheistical,/I know every one of you, I know the sea of torment, doubt, despair, and unbelief,” laments Whitman (Whitman 43.27-30).  Through heavy, pounding rhythms and varied vocabulary, Whitman pours out his feelings of doubt and despair, expressing the mood which he is experiencing, as Emerson says the poet ought to do.  Furthermore, Whitman waxes eloquent on themes of himself, proclaiming himself as his key motif.  “If I worship one thing more than another it shall be the spread of my/ own body, or any part of it,/ Translucent mould of me it shall be you!” (Whitman 24.36-38).  The rest of the poem continues in a similar vein, an ode to man, and to one man in particular.  Self-expression is the essence of Whitman’s poetry.  Therefore, if Emerson is correct in his estimation of poetry as expression of one’s feelings, then Whitman’s 52 stanza song to himself is the pinnacle of poetry.

On the contrary, DeToqueville asserts that true poetry is a vision of something outside the poet.  Poetry is more than expression of self, or lines and stanzas on a page; it is “the search for and depiction of the ideal” (DeTocqueville 458).  When writing poetry, the poet should not seek to describe the world merely as he sees it, but how he believes it should be.  The best poetry is that which creates a new world for the reader, capturing images of perfection and weaving them together to create something new.  For DeTocqueville, the purpose of poetry is not “to represent the true, but to adorn it, and to offer a superior image to the mind” (DeTocqueville 458).  Rather than bare statements of fact, poetry should present the most beautiful images to the reader.  However, presenting truth is a major component of poetry, though not the essential purpose.  Though poetry is not intended solely to present statements of fact, the best poetry will be that which is true, as well as good and beautiful.  To become poetry that reflects the world truly, three characteristics—goodness, truth, and beauty—are needed.   

The first purpose of poetry is the illustration of virtue.  Not only must a good poem display a certain standard of right and wrong, it must uphold good while condemning evil.  Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha” sets a specific standard of right for Hiawatha.  When Hiawatha is commanded by the youth to “Make a bed for me to lie in,/Where the rain may fall upon me,/ Where the sun may come and warm me” he obeys, and is rewarded for his obedience by the gift of corn for him and his people (Longfellow, “Hiawatha’s Fasting” 2.23-25).  As Longfellow draws attention to Hiawatha’s virtues, he calls the audience not only to see and appreciate good but to act upon it, as poetry ought.  Longfellow’s poem sets certain actions, particularly obedience, as definite virtues to be emulated.

However, Whitman’s poetry blatantly rejects goodness, proclaiming the author to be “not the poet of goodness only, I do not decline to be the poet of wickedness also./ What blurt is this about virtue and about vice?” (Whitman 22.18-19).  In Whitman’s eyes, the key element of poetry is self, and both goodness and evil are merely aids to discovering and being oneself.  Whitman neither condemns evil nor upholds good; indeed he does not even praise evil nor revile good, but remains indifferent to both.  “Evil propels me and reform of evil propels me, I stand indifferent,” utters the writer, showing his utter disregard for goodness, the first criteria for true poetry (Whitman 22.21). 

In addition, poetry ought to proclaim some essential truth to its readers.  Its purpose is not only to depict a scene or story, but to present truth.  Through the story of Hiawatha’s fight with the young god Mondamin and subsequent receiving of the gods’ gift of maize, Longfellow illustrates, “How by struggle and by labor/ [One] may receive what [he] has prayed for” (Longfellow 1.33-34).  Longfellow’s poem makes a specific point; only by hard work will one reap rewards.  By working and waiting, Hiawatha’s prayers are answered, and the gods’ gift of corn is bestowed upon the people.  Poetry ought to avoid mere venting of emotions while speaking absolute, relevant truth unto its audience, as Longfellow’s does.  In doing so, Song of Hiawatha fulfills the second criteria of poetry in illuminating truth to its readers.

Unlike Longfellow, Whitman also ignores this essential mark of good poetry, choosing instead to proclaim his subjective feelings rather than objective truth.  Preferring to dwell only on himself, Whitman declares, “Your facts are useful, and yet they are not my dwelling,/ I but enter by them to an area of my dwelling” (Whitman 23.17-19).  Using truth as a method to its own ends when convenient, but discarding them when they are not, Whitman’s poetry presents to the readers no vital truth which they may incorporate into their lives.  However, as the title clearly indicates, Song of Myself is filled with praises of “Walt Whitman, a kosmos, of Manhattan the son,/ Turbulent, fleshy, sensual, eating, drinking and breeding” (Whitman 24.1-2).  His primary theme here and throughout the poem is not focused on speaking truth to his audience or conveying anything worth knowing.  Instead he merely uses poetry as a platform to proclaim self.  Here as in the issue of goodness, Whitman fails to live up to the standard of good poetry.   

Revealing beauty is the final purpose of poetry.  In his descriptions, Longfellow paints a vivid scene of “a youth approaching,/ Dressed in garments green and yellow,/ Coming through the purple twilight” (Longfellow 1.9-11).  With colorful adjectives is shown the beauty of a young man coming to Hiawatha at the end of the day, clothed in the colors of the woods and framed with a royal coronet of golden hair.  Also, beauty is displayed within the poem through a melodic rhythm and further descriptions.  By repeating key phrases, keeping a steady flowing meter, and describing the scenery, Longfellow incorporates the beauty of his setting with the beauty of his words, fulfilling the third requirement for poetry.

In beauty too, Whitman fails to meet this even more crucial standard for the best sort of poetry.  In description of his own body Whitman proclaims, “The scent of these arm-pits finer than prayer,/ This head more than churches, bibles, and all the creeds” (Whitman 24.35-36).  While Longfellow’s vision of beauty weaves images of the gods with a rhythmic melody, the most beautiful image Whitman can present to the reader is his own sweaty body.  Praising his own aroma as a finer scent than prayer, Whitman’s attempts at depicting beauty fall into mere exaltation of self.  His form too, lacks Longfellow’s flowing style as he fails to incorporate any sort of structure into his poetry.  Without a consistent rhyme scheme, meter, or indeed any other form of consistency from one line to the next, Whitman’s poetry is instead the formless ramblings of a self-absorbed man.   

Contrary to Whitman, Emily Dickinson’s use of goodness, truth, and beauty masterfully achieves the standard for good poetry, as she weaves images of nature and beauty with strongly punctuated, vibrant words.  Her poem number 729 embodies all the criteria for poetry—goodness, truth, and beauty—in one brief but brilliant poetic image.  First, Dickinson illustrates a primary virtue, loyalty, through this poem.  “Alter!  When the Hills do—,” she pleads to an unknown man, urging him to change only when unchanging nature does (Dickinson line 1).  When the hills change, when the sun questions himself, when the heavens and the earth pass away, only then will she change or waver in her love.  With images of nature in all its glory, Dickinson pleads for the virtue of constancy, promising faithfulness and requesting it in return.   

Dickinson’s poem also proclaims truth in her image of ideal love.  She promises her lover that she will have had her fill of his love “...When the Daffodil/ Doth of the Dew—” (Dickinson lines 5-6).  Throughout the poem, Dickinson uses images in nature, such as the radiant daffodil, unchanging hills, and ever-shining sun, to illustrate the truth that true love never changes, and never fades.  When the daffodil becomes tired of the nourishing dew, only then does she want her lover to tire of her love.  She too determines to follow the example of nature and never tire of her lover’s affection.  The truth of constant love is painted through Dickinson’s images of nature in her poetry.  

Finally, Emily Dickinson’s poetry contains the third crucial element of good poetry, namely beauty.  With her images of nature in all its glory, Dickinson conveys her message in a way that is clear and direct as well as beautiful in both form and content.  “Falter!  When the Sun/ Question if His Glory/ Be the Perfect One—,” she commands (Dickinson lines 2-4).  The image Dickinson paints of the sun, ever-shining in all its glory, resplendently confident in itself, resembles a confident lover, never questioning the beloved.  In addition, the beauty of her poetry manifests itself in form, with rhyming quatrains, alliteration, and a bold meter punctuated by exclamations commanding the lover to follow certain actions.  Through images of nature as well as structured rhyme and meter, Dickinson’s poetry clearly possesses beauty, the third mark of good poetry.

Because Dickinson and Longfellow’s poetry demonstrates virtue, declares truth, and displays beauty, they fulfill poetry’s purpose of depicting the ideal whereas Whitman’s poetry fails in all three categories while viewing poetry as self-expression or an outlet for self-centered emotion.  The best poetry is not merely an ode to self, but an image of perfection.  To depict this ideal, three essentials are needed in poetry—goodness, truth, and beauty.  By upholding good and condemning evil, poetry meets the first criteria of illustrating virtue.  In addition, the best poetry will express some key truth or intent.  Finally, poetry must reveal not only external beauty through form, but reveal the inherent beauty of goodness and truth.  The greatest poetry is that which is not merely an artistic expression of the poet’s emotions, but an articulation of some vital purpose or image.  To write truly good and beautiful poetry, the poet must not sing odes to oneself, but use his words to paint a picture of an ideal world.  Through poetry, the poet takes his readers out of themselves, and on a journey to paradise.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

A Sonnet in Three Movements: Movement two-Lento

Movement 2-Lento

Dark shadows drift across a dying sun

And hide the light from hearts still needing warmth.

In summer’s light their two hearts beat as one

In winter’s cold, harsh wind blew from the north

And chilled the fire that flowed between the friends.

Hearts torn asunder, left to bleed and die.

They long to love again and make amends

But hardly have the strength enough to try.

Resounding thunder echoes, bringing doom

In hearts as shattered as a broken glass.

And etched upon the stone above love’s tomb

Are these last words spoken before the blast.

“Your heart from mine was never torn through strife

But now we’re torn apart for this long life.”

Picture post

Me being awesome and leaning up against Eliot (the car)
What is the meaning of faith, Miss Sheegog? (our torrey thinking pose)
Dave towards the beginning of the show, sadly my camera died so I barely have any pictures of the actual show.
Zach rocking out on guitar...go Zach who lent his name to a character in my play!!!
Dave singing an acoustic version of Sun at the end of the show.  So wonderful to hear everyone singing along :)

post-Speechless discussion

Hello all!
I know this was quick, yes, but I'm back with details about the post-Speechless discussion :)  For any of you interested in talking about the role of the arts, particularly drama, in the church and in evangelism, it'll be at my home on Saturday, May 23, from 2-4:30.  If you need directions or my address, contact me via Bubbs for you torrey kids, or via my email address which I assume the rest of you have :)  Hope to see lots of you on both Friday and Saturday!

Speechless!!!-reminder

Just a reminder to y'all...Speechless is this Friday May 22nd at Yorba Linda Friends Church at 7:30 in the main sanctuary.  Come and bring all your friends, saved and unsaved, for a fantastic evening of music, drama, and the redemptive power of the gospel.  Also, check out our website...www.speechless-online.com.  For those of you interested and living in the area, there may be a post Speechless discussion the next day.  More details will be to follow, when I have those details planned ;)  And even if you are unable to come, please keep the cast and crew in your prayers that day, as well as the hearts of all those attending.  Thanks!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Soundtrack to my Life-part 15

Here we go again :)  Does anyone actually listen to this, I'm curious?  And have I inspired anyone to check out any new bands?  ...maybe not, but still, I hope you enjoy the music :)
1) Southbound Train-Jon Foreman-at first, it wasn't one of my favorites on his Limbs and Branches...but I'm growing to love it more and more.  It has such a beautifully melancholy rhythm to it. :)
2) Someone Else's Arms-Mae-one of the most fantastic songs they played at the concert last week, and one of my absolute favorites by Mae, although the new EP is absolutely gorgeous as well...
3) Be Thou Near to Me-Selah-great great hymn, and fantastic arrangement.  
4) 15 Step-Radiohead-another great song that we're using for Speechless...come see us next Friday at Yorba Linda Friends!!!
5) Brink of Disaster-Mae-definitely my favorite off Singularity :)  

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Death by Term Paper

..somewhat like death by scratch-and-sniff, only for Torrey students ;)  
So next Tuesday, I have my final Foundations term paper due...I actually do like this paper, it's a comparison of Whitman's poetry to Longfellow's and Dickinson's, arguing that Whitman's poetry fails because it is too self centered.  Fun paper!  But it's due next Tuesday...and this Friday I tutor all morning, and have Speechless dress rehearsal that afternoon/evening.  Then Sunday is my sister's birthday...and Tuesday is my term paper.
After that...next Friday is Speechless!!!  Then Saturday a potential Speechless discussion, followed by my sister's birthday party/ a movie party with some friends from the Shakespeare class...death by term paper, yes?
P. S. brownie points to those of you who got the pushing daisies reference ;)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Mae concert

Last night was my first ever live concert...plus my first concert at Chain Reaction...plus my first Mae concert!!!  All of these firsts combined for a fantastically mindblowingly memorable evening.  First off for those of you who may not have known, I am a die hard Mae fan as of last September...I'm in the midst of writing a play based off The Everglow, if that tells you anything ;)  So this concert was a treat.  Mae is even more fantastic in person than they are on recordings, their energy level is just fantastic and you can see their love of music as they perform.  Unfortunatly my camera battery died before I could get many pictures, so you'll only get a couple here :(  
First off, a local band called Set to Sea played...I wasn't a huge fan, personally, but they were ok.
Next, Person L.  The music was a bit hard for my taste, but their vocalist/lead guitarist had some awesome energy (plus he reminded me ever so slightly of Mr. Tumnus ;)  
Barcelona...they were really really good.  After Set to Sea and Person L, I wasn't expecting much, but Barcelona was surprisingly fantastic :)
Mae...ahh, where shall I start.  They had an amazing setlist :)  They started off with the new version of Embers and Envelopes, then their January song The House that Fire Built (my favorite off the new EP), then Suspension and Breakdown (both excellent visuals as well), Someone Else's Arms...this has always been one of my favorites, but hearing it live...wow it was fantastic.  After Someone Else's Arms came Painless, then the new version of Crazy 8s-a Singularity song so I didn't know it well.  My favorite of the entire concert though, was The Ocean.  It's a gorgeous song...plus...their new EP smells like the Ocean!!!!!  Utterly amazing!!!!   Next came Just Let Go (another singularity), summertime, Boomerang (another one off their new EP), and Anything.  Afterwards, Dave came back out and did an acoustic of Sun...that was fantastic to hear the entire audience sing along to the chorus, oh so wonderful...then the rest of the band came back and did Night/Day (the April song off their new EP) .  Fantastic setlist, indeed.  The only things I would have added were the Sun and the Moon and Soundtrack to Our Movie...but fantastic show :)  
I got a Mae t-shirt as a birthday gift from a friend...their new morning t-shirt (check it out on the website)...and I bought their (M)orning EP...it is wonderful!  I am already in love with it :)  
Go to the concert if you can, buy the EP even if you dont' make it to their concert.  
Mae, you are utterly fantastic!
P. S. Pictures are coming in the next post ;)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Duck!!!!!

We have ducks!!!  They are so adorable, and I'm very excited.  Since I was only a year or two old, I've been enthralled with ducks, don't ask me why.  They are so cute though!!!  I love ducks :)
Ok, sorry for the odd rambling...but I'm excited about our adorable new ducklings we're raising.  We only get to keep them for a month though *sniff*  Any suggestions for naming mine?  Chesterton?  Henry?  Autumn?  Those are my top three ideas right now...anyone have something better?

Monday, May 4, 2009

A Sonnet in Three Movements: Movement one-Andante

Two souls that searching, find each other’s hearts

In love, they reach across an endless gap

To bridge this chasm.  Dreams can only start

To plan this journey, having for a map

The songs and tales of al who’ve gone before,

Who’ve crossed the bridge that only lovers trod.

Eternal love shall show the distant shore

Where live are laid on alters of their god.

True love, their only god and guiding light

Shall bind their souls together for all time

So even when they face the blackest night

Hearts have each other; Ever upwards climb

They never dream that rushing on them fast

A shadow ‘cross their cloudless joy is cast.