Forced Peace

In a reading for Law and Regulations, Charles Tilly affirms that capital creates cities, while coercion creates states. The emergence of a state or a city is said to be inevitable. Because humanity by nature is skeptical of trusting. Family, allies for generations expand territorial boundaries thus creating a city or a state, for the sole purpose of protection. Protecting the capital, the individual.

Stumbling on Lester B. Pearson's quote carved on the United Nations Peacekeeping Monument yesterday was by coincidence. It is no surprise, that Pearson's use of the word 'force' twice in the same statement conjured the notion of coercion subconsciously in the back of my head. Peace acquired through a legitimate force seems contradictory to me. What does 'legitimate force' even mean? Who pronounces its legitimacy? Yet it echoes Tilly's premise for a state and city, centering the notion of protection.

Somehow, the notion of peace weighted in as justification for force left a bitter after taste on my tongue....ironic, to say, this is my skepticism speaking.

Think Afghanistan.
Or what could have happened if the Suez Crisis went the other way.

Cement

Wake, in a dream of twenty yellow seams,
Breathe, I can't sleep suffocating thoughts won't seem to leave
Hide underneath, my mind wanders between these sheets
But I decided to let things be,
Let the ghosts continue to haunt me.

Sun seeping in, slide through sides of my window pane
Sits on my desks, a hundred reasons why I'm to blame,
Hang in my closet, borrowed excuses all too lame
& I never thought we'd be here
Deceived to believe in an illusion so clear

Cold cement floor, touched the bottom of my feet
Arms to my sides, embracing scars left in too deep
Stale coffee in a cup, I swallowed every drop with all my pride
Bitter left the taste in my tongue
Better days choked in my throat,
From words spit I'd let stung.

We've burnt every bridges in front of us,
The only way to move ahead is to build new ones. =]

Grass and Tree

I want to run bare feet on the grass,
You can chase me around that tree-
The African Baobab, with a swing of rope and wooden plank
Hanging on a branch,
I'll watch you soar, smile, and feel free

Climb the trunk and hide with me,

Tell me stories, giggle about silly things
Away from everything, just the two of us-
What adventure we'd imagine our lives to be

The boundless lines, of kings and queens
You, with your magic hat and I with my sword,
Nothing to scare, nothing to steal,
Only places to see and somebody to be

And when the night comes, the moon rises to sleep,
We'd lie and watch the star underneath the leaves
You'd teach me constellations and sing to me

Someday, you whispered,
Life and love are pickle things,
Some things are less simple than they really seem.
That be the day, you decided to leave

With a kiss on my forehead,
You looked into my eyes and grinned
You freed my wrist
& you became to me, my imaginary

·         “The soap opera stuff comes from court materials” –Prof B

Pretty much reaffirms why I am enjoying what I study. Plus, I was a drama student back in high school. If you can't handle the double dosage of drama, I suggest you keep away from this queen.

Signed,
-Her Royal Highness

The most important things are the hardest to say.

Harmony

At Harmony Square, beside the water fountain.
While Bob Marley sang, and summer night was in full blossom.

The cross between contemporary and antiquated
Of downtown Brantford reminded me of Streetsville.
& while green hydrangeas sent us both into a giggling fit,
I realized that I can make 'home' be anywhere I want it to be.

:) This town, and your company makes me feel classy, and a little less dorky today.
.