Descends the Drape
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan
Descends the drape
guillotine of the run
celebrated and mourned
in voices loud and whispers soft
The whine of tools
Passes the set
to bones and vacuum
The cast's final exodus to home
while from the ashes rises
the next
It lives on, the run, immortal
in memory and legend
a thousand moments
and bonds new found or renewed
This poem was written after I got home from the theatre on the closing night of “Inherit the Wind” at Ottawa Little Theatre. As the final curtain fell, it seemed, in a flash, to be an executioner’s implement – bringing a final, irreversible ending. It goes through my mind every time a production closes.
Microsoft Live Writer 2011 – A Love Affair
a cool tool for bloggers
Every now and then something happens and your life is forever changed. I suppose this is usually encountering that special someone and sliding down a silver slope into bliss. For craftspeople and tech geeks, sometimes it's just finding the right tool for a job you do often. The day I was introduced to Microsoft Live Writer was just such a day, and it was renewed with the release of the 2011 version.
Live Writer is a freebie blog authoring tool from Microsoft that works with pretty much any blogging technology out there. Equipped with dozens of plug ins (my favorite slides a flickr photo into the post with a couple of mouse clicks). You can include photos, video and maps, slide them around, wrap text around them and apply a bevy of pre-set styles - even give a graphic a little tilt (as shown by my ink to the right).
The application connects to your blog, downloads the blog's theme (some themes play better than others), category and tag lists, and you then work on your post offline. Once you're ready to roll, you upload your post as a draft (and it'll upload photos automatically to your site if need be - some configuration may be required). Once uploaded, you can inspect it and hit publish from the admin panel.
The Groves of Fionntán Senechs
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan
One autumn evening three companions huddled against the cold and damp. Each felt their lot to be most unfortunate and were warming to a long evening of complaint. They were interrupted by a passing bard, seeking succor against the night. Reluctantly, they took him in, fearing he had a faerie look to him.
As evening drained into night the bard was ignored. The company moaned protest piled on grievance and scorn. Only after the moon had come and gone and the litanies waned did the bard speak.
“Seldom have I heard lamentations stretch to such epic length as yours. It is clear I have neither song nor story to cheer you in thanks for your fire. There is, however, a place of which the faeries speak that may relieve your misery.”
At the mention of faeries the three exchanged satisfied glances, glad to have read his appearance correctly.
“On the mountain south of here there lie two magical groves ringed in willow and yew. On the equinox the lines between worlds thin and mortals may enter the henge. Seek out the groves and their keeper to gain mastery over your plight.”
Privilege
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan
for Wendy
What calling
what meaning
minor wanderings
and fleeting effect?
From earth’s womb
emerges consciousness
seeking purpose
cause great or small
Unique, perhaps,
amongst rock
fire and ice
to come and to pass on
What more
is required?
to be
is sufficient privilege
This follows a late night discussion... one of those "meaning of life" chats. We are both pretty driven folks but we recognize that our efforts will result in things destined to pass in time. We came to the conclusion, however, that conscious life is so rare in the universe (indeed - perhaps we are the only self aware consciousness? Who knows?) that to be here is enough. Legacy is a nice idea but not required.
The image is a capture of a structure I built that portrayed this poem for Burn2 2010, an official (if virtual) affiliate of Burning Man.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan, 2008
Forbearers forged
a mighty order
with bloody mettle
to defend and provide
Kiss
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan, 2008
Dark, but for flickering flame
and burning souls connected
and touching, trembling mouths
and breath
Shell Shock
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan, 2008
Vivid rush
ancient terror fear
Adrenalized panic crush
smeared me
Farley
by Mike (Binary Rhyme) Heffernan, 2007
I heard from a friend
who heard from a friend
a short little tale
about Farley