Caged Bird by Maya Angelou
Aug. 15th, 2025 02:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conulyA free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
********
Link
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Link
No verse.
Aug. 12th, 2025 10:42 pmhannah2.3 miles in 30 minutes today. That plus getting up early left me fairly tired most of the day, but in a way I don't mind because it feels good. It helped me stop feeling upset, too - I keep thinking I don't need a career counselor or coach, especially not the ones I've met, because it always strikes me as unhelpful and impractical compared to doing the work of finding a job.
What I really don't like is feeling like I have to get upset and agitated to talk and voice my concerns, and if anyone has any suggestions, I'd welcome them.
I'll say something else good about the day, though, which was small but positive: turning off all the notification settings on my Brooklyn client's phone, and managing to get a fair number of double-bagged planes of glass out for recycling. Hopefully the next batch of planes will be out next week.
What I really don't like is feeling like I have to get upset and agitated to talk and voice my concerns, and if anyone has any suggestions, I'd welcome them.
I'll say something else good about the day, though, which was small but positive: turning off all the notification settings on my Brooklyn client's phone, and managing to get a fair number of double-bagged planes of glass out for recycling. Hopefully the next batch of planes will be out next week.
PokePod is Back!
Aug. 12th, 2025 06:54 pmpeasina
Mine and
javert's beloved little Poké Fest is back for another round! The DW is ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
pokepodproject and signups are open for another eight days (though they'll close early if 100 writers sign up, and we're about halfway there right now so run lol!) PokéPod Project aims to create a fic and podfic about every Pokémon. This is our second round and will focus on the Johto region (Generation Two.) I had so much fun modding this last year, and I'm so excited to fall in love with new mons thanks to there being stories out there for me to sink my teeth (and ears!) into. I hope my Pokemon-inclined friends here on DW will give it a go if it sounds like something you'd enjoy (or return and have fun with us again 😊)
💙💙💙
Topic Tuesday - Failing Enthusiasm?
Aug. 12th, 2025 07:20 pmdancing_serpent posting in c_entWelcome to Topic Tuesday! Right away I want to stress that discussion posts are always welcome to the community, you don't have to wait until a Topic Tuesday rolls around, and then maybe be disappointed by the current topic of discussion. Whenever you want to talk about something, please simply make a separate entry to this comm, no matter the week, the time, or the topic. All right? *g*
The topic I picked for today is Failing Enthusiasm?. This is another prompt that was suggested to me on a post I made on Bluesky, asking for ideas.
Quoting directly: Have you ever felt your enthusiasm for C-ent failing? How did it made you feel?
As usual, if you want to talk about spoilers, please use one of these codes to hide them.
or
The topic I picked for today is Failing Enthusiasm?. This is another prompt that was suggested to me on a post I made on Bluesky, asking for ideas.
Quoting directly: Have you ever felt your enthusiasm for C-ent failing? How did it made you feel?
As usual, if you want to talk about spoilers, please use one of these codes to hide them.
or
More mostly useless advice!
Aug. 12th, 2025 11:54 amconuly posting in agonyauntDEAR HARRIETTE: As parents, I'm sure most of us have experienced a squabble or disagreement between our kids. I definitely have, but they're usually short-lived. Currently, two of my girls aren't speaking and haven't been for a few months. This all started because my older daughter made a joke about me owing her back pay because my younger daughter's college tuition was more expensive than hers. My younger daughter, who is usually quite docile, blew up at the comment. She called her older sister ungrateful, rude and spoiled. They argued like I've never seen before, and they haven't spoken since. I tried talking to my younger daughter about it, but she won't apologize. I don't think her sentiments were wrong; the joke was in poor taste. I think as a family we should never be so hostile toward each other. How do I get my girls back on track? -- Family Disagreement
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Harriette's advice here isn't bad, per se, it's just aggressively useless
Aug. 12th, 2025 04:46 amconuly posting in agonyauntDEAR HARRIETTE: Over the years, my mom and I have struggled to forge the ideal smooth-sailing mother-daughter bond that other people have. We used to bump heads a lot. Now that we no longer bump heads, we just have a hard time connecting and enjoying each other. I want things to get better, but she often compares my relationship with her to the one I have with my dad. My dad and I are pretty playful together, and he's easy to talk to. I think my mom constantly mocking the dynamic I have with my dad is her version of banter or "breaking the ice," but I wish she would stop comparing so that she and I could find our own groove. How do I get her on the same page as me? -- Mommy Issues
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Lake Lewisia #1289
Aug. 11th, 2025 04:44 pmscrubjayspeaksThere will be a memorial service for all appliances, gadgets, and personal technology items that died this past year, held outside the Shipwreck Repair Collective storefront. This is an opportunity to mourn the data lost in hard drive crashes and SIM card drownings, as well as a chance to safely recycle the remains of our departed electronic companions. The representatives of the Collective assure us that all dead equipment will be treated respectfully and any remaining personal data will be safely wiped before parts are used for mad science purposes.
---
LL#1289
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LL#1289
The PokéPod Project - Gen Two
Aug. 11th, 2025 08:17 pmpeasina posting in podfic_calendarTitle: The PokéPod Project - Gen Two
Link: pokepodproject
Schedule/Timeline
Podficcer sign-up date/s: 11 Aug - 12 Sep
Podfic submission date/s: 12 Sep - 28 Sep
Anthology release date: 9 Oct
Podficcer Requirements
Minimum: 100 words
Maximum: 1000 words
Other: You can sign up to podfic 1 - 5 stories created especially for this this project.
Additional Info
The PokéPod Project is a collaborative, multi-medium project that aims to create a fic and podfic about every Pokémon. This is the project’s second round and will focus on the Johto region (Generation Two.) Once this year’s project is complete, a podfic anthology will be created containing all gen two stories in Pokédex order. To view last year’s anthology, click here.
Writer and podficcer signups are open now!
Signups Open!
Aug. 11th, 2025 07:44 pmpeasina posting in pokepodprojectSignups are open for both writers and podficcers. They will close for writers at 20:00PM UTC on Wednesday 20 August. Click here for a countdown. Signups for podficcers close at the writing deadline on Friday 12 September.
As our event isn't a traditional AO3 exchange or prompt challenge, signups will take place via Google Forms. Assignments will be sent via email, though final works (fic and podfic) must be posted to our AO3 Collection. If you do not already have an AO3 account and would like one, please contact a mod to request an invite code.
Signups for Writers - Open
Click here for the writer signup form. It will ask for your email address, AO3 handle, preferred Pokémon to write about, and how many stories you would like to write for this event. Please ensure that the email address you enter is one you regularly check, as your mods will use it to let you know which Pokémon you've been assigned and may reach out at any point during the project. The project email address is pokepodproject@gmail.com
Signups for Podficcers - Open
Click here for the podficcer signup form. It will ask for your email address, AO3 handle, preferred Pokémon to podfic, and how many stories you would like to podfic for this event. Please ensure that the email address you enter is one you regularly check, as your mods will use it to share the stories you've assigned to read and may reach out at any point during the project. The project email address is pokepodproject@gmail.com
If you're feeling adventurous and would like to sign up as both a writer and podficcer, please fill out both forms.
Have questions or need assistance? Visit contact a mod for a list of ways to reach out to us, and we'll be happy to help.
As our event isn't a traditional AO3 exchange or prompt challenge, signups will take place via Google Forms. Assignments will be sent via email, though final works (fic and podfic) must be posted to our AO3 Collection. If you do not already have an AO3 account and would like one, please contact a mod to request an invite code.
Signups for Writers - OpenClick here for the writer signup form. It will ask for your email address, AO3 handle, preferred Pokémon to write about, and how many stories you would like to write for this event. Please ensure that the email address you enter is one you regularly check, as your mods will use it to let you know which Pokémon you've been assigned and may reach out at any point during the project. The project email address is pokepodproject@gmail.com
Signups for Podficcers - OpenClick here for the podficcer signup form. It will ask for your email address, AO3 handle, preferred Pokémon to podfic, and how many stories you would like to podfic for this event. Please ensure that the email address you enter is one you regularly check, as your mods will use it to share the stories you've assigned to read and may reach out at any point during the project. The project email address is pokepodproject@gmail.com
If you're feeling adventurous and would like to sign up as both a writer and podficcer, please fill out both forms.
Have questions or need assistance? Visit contact a mod for a list of ways to reach out to us, and we'll be happy to help.
A few unrelated questions
Aug. 12th, 2025 02:23 pmconuly(Some of which I may have asked before, in which case, forgive me.)
1. People often do say that the English subjunctive is in decline. However, literally nobody I've ever heard say this has provided any sort of evidence. Is there any data on this other than "yeah, feels that way to me"?
1a. I've also heard that the subjunctive, or at least some forms of the subjunctive, is more common in USA English than UK English, from somewhat more authoritative sources but with roughly the same amount of evidence.
2. I got into it with somebody on the subject of "flammable/inflammable". I am aware that there are signs that warn about inflammable materials, and also signs warning about flammable materials. Is it actually the case that anybody has ever been confused and thought they were being warned that something could not catch on fire? Or is that just an urban legend / just-so story to explain why the two words mean the same thing and can be found on the same sorts of signs?
3. Not a language question! I've recently found one of the Myth Adventures books in my house. Gosh, I haven't re-read these in 20 years. Worth a re-read, or oh god no, save it for the recycle bin?
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1. People often do say that the English subjunctive is in decline. However, literally nobody I've ever heard say this has provided any sort of evidence. Is there any data on this other than "yeah, feels that way to me"?
1a. I've also heard that the subjunctive, or at least some forms of the subjunctive, is more common in USA English than UK English, from somewhat more authoritative sources but with roughly the same amount of evidence.
2. I got into it with somebody on the subject of "flammable/inflammable". I am aware that there are signs that warn about inflammable materials, and also signs warning about flammable materials. Is it actually the case that anybody has ever been confused and thought they were being warned that something could not catch on fire? Or is that just an urban legend / just-so story to explain why the two words mean the same thing and can be found on the same sorts of signs?
3. Not a language question! I've recently found one of the Myth Adventures books in my house. Gosh, I haven't re-read these in 20 years. Worth a re-read, or oh god no, save it for the recycle bin?
( Read more... )