too much too late

[rain_streaked]

What happens when we all have too much? What happens when we are so mired in shit we can no longer move? What happens when we cut down all the trees, conquer every mountain, mine every ore, drain all the lakes, catch all the fish, hunt all the animals? What happens when we've finished polluting the atmosphere and destroyed the ozone layer

Comments

[am3thyst]

Wow, this was hauntingly beautiful, especially the end with its vivid imagery. I love how the passage flows so well. It's true that so often we get caught up in the glitz and glamour of materialism and hedonism - whether it's the new iPhone, gadget, or fashion trend that we forget our deepest needs are actually quite simple. What's even more ironic is that we lose ourselves in the temporary lust of materialism in order to be more popular, more beautiful, more lovable. Yet these pleasures are fleeting, like the warmth of another's body after one night together, and once the initial high is over, we're left with nothing but emptiness and so we want more, buy more in order to fill that void.

Uh...I hope I can comment on this writing, even though it's not fandom related. *coughakakpleasewritemoreYunJaecough*

[rain_streaked]

Ohhh wow. This was a beautiful comment and of course you can comment on anything on my journal, I really don't bite. (I do bark a lot, though, mostly at things that I can't change, haha.) Yet these pleasures are fleeting, like the warmth of another's body after one night together, and once the initial high is over, we're left with nothing but emptiness and so we want more, buy more in order to fill that void. This was beautiful and so, so true. The irony is not lost on us, it seems. Also, glamour! Are you Canadian? ;)

[am3thyst]

I'm actually not Canadian, though I go to British Columbia and feed their economy enough times a year I should at least get SOME benefits of a Canadian. Nah, I'm from outer space and Changmin and I are a happily married alien couple the States. Where are you from? *insert Junsu accent*

[rain_streaked]

Wait, you come to BC to shop? That's... weird. LOL I'm so used to people going down to Washington to shop in outlet stores that I never imagined it could be the other way around. Or even just to tour. I was born in Korea, but I've been Canadian for almost all of my life. :') I live in BC, about an hour or so away from downtown Vancouver. Who knows, you might have passed me on the streets when you came to visit! Where in the universe States are you from?

[hongdae]

This is a very thoughtful, emotive, well articulated passage

[rain_streaked]

Thank you! Oh man, the comments I am getting on this are more eloquent than what I've written, haha. ;) I kind of do think that ignorance is bliss, but it has to be the kind of ignorance where you're ignorant of the fact that you're ignorant. I'm not sure if I'd wish for it, though - people ignorant of their own ignorance usually cause the most heartbreak and don't realize how terrible they're being, so I'd not wish my ignorance on anyone. Who wants to live a false life? Maybe some do, somewhere. "False life" is the perfect phrase for it.

And it is more than okay to comment! When you first added me I, er, kind of trawled through your journal and I love the poetry and lyrics and prose and pictures you post, so I wanted to ask you if I could add back. ♥ Comments are never a bother, especially on locked posts, and I hope you don't mind if I flail all over your comment boxes, too. :')

[hongdae]

Ah, you should give yourself more credit! Your post was beautifully expressed and you are deserving of all comments bequeathed! Oh absolutely, I do agree that most people who are in the dark about certain issues, are so, not of their own accord. Humans are generally, compassionate, empathetic, thoughtful creatures. Sometimes life takes over, and we get caught up in the construction that is our strange, fish bowl society. Yet, for the most part, we’re willing to stop, think and listen. Not to mention, help each other out. So there’s hope, and we have to hope, otherwise, what do we have

[rain_streaked]

You have such a way with words. ;) See, sometimes, in my moments of cynicism, I wonder if humans really are generally compassionate, empathetic, etc. Maybe our fish bowl society (which is a beautiful turn of phrase - did you coin it? it sounds kind of familiar...) was constructed because we weren't or didn't want to be thoughtful and compassionate. There are people who care, yes, but there are more people who see the news about Libya and Egypt and decide to watch Jersey Shore instead. I'm not saying that everyone needs to care about global politics and events, but sometimes it just seems overwhelmingly like people only stop to think and listen when it involves them directly. XD oh man, sorry for the outpouring of cynicism from my corner. Most of the time I am a very hopeful person!

Development Studies sounds awesome! :D What are you studying, if you don't mind me asking?

Hooray! I love the pictures and photos you post, too. Did you take all/any of them? Oh yes, intense comment box conversations ftw! ♥

[_happy_as_rain_]

I love this.

One of the things I love most about many good poems is how they start off with something (seemingly) completely different and at the very end, only then, it hits--the true idea, that greater thing, more powerful, more overwhelming, all come full circle. The second thing I love about good poems is how usually the end hits like a bam to the chest. The unassuming but powerful end.

I showed this poem to my one of my roommates actually, the one who is an Environmental Science & Policy Management (ESPM) minor, and took a class crosslisted under both the ESPM department & the English department--basically an ESPM intro class taught using literature and poetry. She told me a lot of the poetry they read for that class idealized nature, but your poetry transcends that. Even if the person reading doesn't care about nature, the message here is about the fundamentals of human nature. Is something relate-able and unavoidable by any human being who participates in our world, is something relevant to all human relationships.

♥

[_happy_as_rain_]

Actually, do you know what this poem somewhat reminds me of? 꽃 by 김춘수. Just wanting to be meaningful to someone, of having it matter.

[rain_streaked]

I looked up this poem online and even though it took me a few minutes to get through, oh. It was so beautiful; I especially liked the line "누가 나의 이름을 불러 다오." Thank you for bringing it up! I haven't read a lot of Korean poetry, but now I'm going to be on the lookout for it. :')

[_happy_as_rain_]

One of my favorite Korean poets is 윤동주. Tell me what you think of his works! :) His one book of poetry he compiled was only published after his death in prison in 1945. It's powerful and beautiful stuff, his poetry--loneliness, isolation, fragile hope.