A r i s e

6:30 a.m.

A comforter: Tinted green, creamy white
rustling against light friction
Distant clangs, faint passing
whispered-screams, sung-cantations

Arise

No period;

Continuous chimes
sounding time un-heard by common ears
Continuous chimes
sounding passion un-felt by mundane fears

Ink: Tinted blue, charcoal black
spinning against smooth friction
Distant clangs, faint passing
whispered-screams, sung-cantations

Poetry, like any other art, is for individual interpretation; however, abstract poetry is often misunderstood and confusing.  I don't normally include a detailed description of what my writings mean because much of it is personal; however, this piece is one of my lighter and more pleasant writings, so heres a peek into its meaning:

This morning, I woke up particularly early: 6:30.

My comforter is white with tinted green accents

I believe sounds like the light rustles of fabric against skin

are musical and pleasant to hear, hence the light friction.

Sounds from the distant construction and sounds from passing cars

seep through a cracked-open window.

The chirp of birds and their chatter remind me of sweet cantations

They sound so pleasant, but I sometime wonder if they're just whispering screams.

Arise is an imperative verb and it qualifies as a sentence,
to normally be ended with a period, symbolic of an end.

However, to arise means to begin; hence the exclusion of an end.

Chimes are the sounds made by nature - man included.

Sounds of nature - the beauty and simplicity of it and of nature itself go unnoticed/unheard by those who are "common" and "mundane" - those who are too busy and run by fear.

Ink depicts the literal act of writing a letter in blue/black ink

spinning against a smooth paper - letters I write to my missionary brother

"Distant clangs, faint passing

whispered-screams, sung-cantations"

Quoted once more to stress the sounds of nature and to tie everything back to continuous progress and time.

B L U E

"Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions."

The CaroLine Cantation

My most lovable, beautiful, fabulous readers,

It has most definitely been a while since I have posted on this blog.  

What has Verina been up to during this time of absence, you ask?!

If you qualify as my family or friend, you very well know with what I have been occupied, and you also know that I've been a little obsessed with something I call "The CaroLine Cantation"! - YES, what IS this so-called "CaroLine Cantation," you ask?

Two months ago, I met a wise and most pleasant woman named CaroLine at the homecoming of a close family friend.  With royally set locks of aged wisdom, CaroLine approached me with her aura of sophistication and class.  Her light and confidence immediately captured my attention, and within the first few minutes of our conversation, we had scheduled a time for our next visit.

Who was this stranger that I was so willing to drive an hour to see?!

The time for our first appointment arrived.  I sat down in a room filled with accents of green, turquoise, and lavender.  CaroLine suddenly my guru, my sensei, my personal counselor for no fee and I sat together.  Within moments, I felt a wave of love, a sense of being understood, and comfort - everything for which I had been yearning for some time.  How had we become such close friends within such a small segment of time?  

I opened up to CaroLine and expressed my then heart-felt insecurities, doubts, and fears.  With a look of surprise and the slightest outrage, CaroLine reprimanded me for allowing such negative thoughts enter my mind.  "How can you feel that way about yourself? - I look at you and don't see any of those things.  You are beautiful," she said.

CaroLine thus invited me to cite the following cantation multiple times daily and especially before dates:

I AM A BEAUTIFUL LOVABLE WOMAN,

AND THROUGH ME

OTHERS KNOW GOD'S LOVE.

Shortly following our first visit, I returned to spend a whole night and a day with CaroLine, who thus has called her abode "Slumber Party Central".  We stayed up late into the night drinking herbal tea, icing a chocolate cake, cracking jokes, and reading scriptures.  The next day was filled with the majority of our time spent in the kitchen cooking breakfast, lunch, and baking giant cookies to be delivered to neighbors together.  

CaroLine has always been there for me ever since.  I believe that God allows certain people to come into our lives, and I'm sure CaroLine is one of those angels in mine.  She taught me how vital it is to view ourselves the way God sees us.  She is an example of selfless service, sophistication, class, faith, and hope.  Because of her voice, I feel inspired to share the same love and happiness she has shared with me.

So here's an invitation to you, yes YOU to cite the CaroLine Cantation to yourself multiple times every day.  Make it specific to your needs.  Add to it! :) Just make it YOU because that's who you ARE -- beautiful, lovable, and fabulous.

EMPOWER YOU.

If I ever were to lose my mind
Well I'd say please don't give me up
This is not how I break
Down my mind still cage
That only opens up for you
So won't you please please stay

Maybe I'm already gone
These things living in my brain
Prove that I'm insane

Seems like the best way to see
I would go crazy if you weren't with me

You got me on your side, so say you know me well
You pick me up so high to drop me with your spell
You got me on your strings and pull me til I die
You say that I am great, but we should just be friends

Since I'm losing my mind
Well I'll say I would give you up, no not for all time
is such a valuable thing
I spend mind sitting wondering why you're not with me

If this line could change your mind
I'd say it a thousand times

Is everything gonna be alright?

Verina Chen Piano

Hello one and all:

I finally created my own website: http://chenv94.wix.com/verinachen .