K. Morris's Blog, page 774
September 2, 2014
Tonight I can Write The Saddest Lines, By Pablo Nerud
Until yesterday I was unfamiliar with the work of Pablo Nerud. His poem, Tonight I can Write The Saddest Lines is beautiful and poignant. My only criticism (of the reading, not the poem) is the music which accompanies it, which, to my mind acts as a distraction to the reader.
For the reading please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zR7brOA3E
Keep It Short
This is very well done and I love the ending.
Originally posted on belsbror:
“People are staring at us!”
Rural folks often got curious when strangers visited their quiet surroundings. Their curiosities bordered on the simplest, wishing to see new faces, to the strangest, suspecting of ill motives against their way of life. Luckily, we were categorized with the former.
“It’s probably the first time they saw an actor,” my cousin’s husband quipped, obviously referring to himself. He was tall, dark and not handsome. :)
“I don’t resemble the face of a known artist. Maybe a foreign one. I am not so sure.”
“The news was out early on,” our male host interrupted our make-believe conversation. “Some of the ladies are overjoyed that foreigners came.”
“Where?” I asked without thinking. “Are they Americans? I can talk to them.”
“My cousin is referring to us,” Rolly laughed, enjoying himself with the banter. “To them, we are foreigners. Your long hair gave them the idea.”
“If…
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September 1, 2014
New Word
At school I, along with my fellow pupils was encouraged to create a mini dictionary. Each time I discovered an unfamiliar word I would look it up in the dictionary and enter it into my little book. This practice kindled in me a love of words and to this day I still make a habit of looking up unfamiliar ones.
Yesterday I came across the word demythology. Turning to The Fontana Dictionary Of Modern Thought I found the following definition of demythologize, (a meaning for demythology isn’t rendered):
“Demythologize. To confess disbelief in the legends and mythological ideas present in the Bible, while translating the Bible’s message into a religious understanding compatible with modern science and philosophy …”. Yet another word to add to my vocabulary although not one I can envisage utilising any time soon.
Free Book Promotion!
The following stories written by yours truly will be free to download from the 2nd to the 6th of September 2014:
Samantha:
Samantha tells a story of a young girl forced into prostitution in the city of Liverpool. Can Sam’s love for Peter, a man she meets in a nightclub, save her? Or will Sam end her life in the murky waters of Liverpool’s Albert Dock?
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samantha-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00BL3CNHI and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/Samantha-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00BL3CNHI
Sting in the tail and other stories:
A collection of short stories, many of which have an unexpected twist in the tale. The stories range from ghostly happenings through to tales of crime and moral conflict.
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-5 and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-5
An act of mercy and other stories:
A collection of dark and intriguing tales encompassing blackmail, murder and sex.
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-3 and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-3
And lastly, Streetwalker and other stories:
In this collection of flash fiction we meet a variety of characters, many of whom have been deeply damaged by life. The stories range from a young prostitute who walks the dangerous streets of London to tales of vengeance and comeuppance. Serious issues of abuse of power are touched upon. Anyone who is looking for a comfortable read should avoid this book.
Click here for the UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-1 and here for the US http://www.amazon.com/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409595786&sr=1-1
If you download any of my books please do consider leaving a review on Amazon.
Many thanks, Kevin.
Ian Mcewin: Very Few Novels Earn Their Length
In a recent interview the author, Ian Mcewin argued that very few novels earn their length. Mcewinn states that he likes to read novels in one sitting and many longer works would benefit from being considerably shorter. Personally I believe that both short and more lengthy works have their place. A good long novel which holds my attention is well worth the effort while a shorter work which fails to engross me receives the thumbs down.
Mcewin makes a number of other interesting observations including his statement that several Amazons competing against one another would be good for the book industry, (I am inclined to agree with him).
For the article please visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11067429/Author-Ian-McEwan-Very-few-novels-earn-their-length.html
Magpies
As I walked my guide dog, Trigger this morning, in The LawnsI heard the familiar chatter of a magpie, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXoTUS5I_ks. I am fortunate in living close to The Lawns, historic parkland in Upper Norwood which attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Sometimes in the wee small hours I hear the sharp bark of a fox or the mournful hooting of an owl as he prowls? (can an owl prowl, probably not)! In search of his prey.
Upper Norwood is, as it’s name suggests high above sea level. When going into central London for work I certainly notice the difference in the air quality, Upper Norwood being far less polluted than London itself.
(There is an interesting entry on The Lawns here http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=CRO040).
August 31, 2014
I Am
I am the shadow which follows hard on your heels late at night, hood covered face, feral eyes gleaming under the street lamps.
I am the teenager aimlessly hanging around decrepit shops, their windows plastered with ads for “massage”.
I am the 14-year-old child who asks you to buy cigarettes or alcohol on my behalf. You pretend not to hear as you hurry on by.
I am the single mother, yelling at my kids,my once pretty face lined with care.
I am the drug addled thief, householder’s beware.
I am the one the press like to blame, “Those feckless people, have they no shame?”
You fear or placate me. I am your shame. Stubborn, immovable the underclass is my name.
August 30, 2014
Richard Dawkins: Immoral Not To Abort If A Foetus Has Downs Syndrome
Scientist and author Professor Richard Dawkins has caused considerable controversy by stating that it is immoral not to abort a foetus with Down’s Syndrome, http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/21/richard-dawkins-immoral-not-to-abort-a-downs-syndrome-foetus. I have scant knowledge of Down’s Syndrome. I am, however disabled so have a highly personal interest in Dawkin’s comments. Having been born fully sighted I lost the majority of my vision at around 18-months-old as a result of a blood clot on the brain. I have gained a MA in Political Theory and live independently although I must confess to employing a cleaner which stems from my dislike of cleaning rather than the inability to perform household tasks.
As stated earlier, I have scant knowledge of Down’s Syndrome. Due to my lack of understanding I wouldn’t dream of advising women carrying a foetus with Down’s regarding whether the pregnancy should proceed. I most certainly wouldn’t advise a lady facing such a difficult and highly personal decision that they should opt for an abortion as to carry the foetus to term would, in the words of Dawkin’s be “immoral”. The fact is that many parents with Down’s Syndrome children love and cherish them and the danger with Professor Dawkin’s comments is that they can be construed as devaluing people with Down’s Syndrome.
A civilised society should value all people irrespective of disability. Individuals with Down’s will not become leading scientists or world leaders but they are non the less human because of this.
As a disabled person I am used to people making erroneous assumptions regarding my life. I well recollect passing by 2 elderly ladies and hearing one remark “He’s blind” to which I aught to have responded, had I been on the ball “but he isn’t deaf”.
The above comment demonstrates the “pity” which many in society feel towards people with disabilities. In effect such people are putting their own fear of becoming disabled onto people with disabilities. I have, on several occasions had individuals say words to the effect of “I admire you. I don’t know how I would cope in your situation”, failing to realise that I and many other disabled people cope extremely well.
The fear of disability causes people to believe that the lives of Down’s Syndrome individuals and other disabled persons are a constant trial rather than realising that, in many instances our lives are fulfilling.
As stated above I am not an expert on Down’s Syndrome and I am sure that parents of children with Down’s face many issues. However I wouldn’t be arrogant enough to presume to tell potential parents of a Down’s child that they aught (or aught not) to give birth to a baby with the condition. I most certainly wouldn’t tell potential parents that they should abort a foetus with Down’s on the grounds that to carry the pregnancy to term would be “immoral”. Professor Dawkins is a great scientist but ethics and science do not necessarily meet.
“As a god self slain on his own strange altar death lies dead”
As I stood at the Customer Services counter, in the supermarket, the strains of that beautiful hymn, Abide With Me, played by the Salvation Army came wafting through the open door,
“Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me”.
One does not need to be religious (I am an agnostic) to appreciate the power of this wonderful music. As I listened the fragility of life was brought home to me. How, in the blink of an eye that life which is so precious to most of us can be snuffed out.
The message of Abide With Me is that death is inevitable and that Christians call on God in times of trouble “in life, in death” to abide with them. Yet there has, since the birth of story telling been tales of people wishing to avoid death. In Chaucer’s The Pardoners Tale, for example a group of revellers in Flanders incensed at the death of their friend swear vengeance against death. In their quest to destroy him the drunken revellers come across an old man and question him regarding where death can be found. The elderly man tells the men they will find death under a tree. On reaching the spot they discover a pile of treasure and forget all about death. The youngest of the group goes off to procure wine while his 2 friends remain behind to guard the treasure. While the youngest of the group is absent his friends determine to murder him on his return so as to secure the treasure for themselves. On his return they murder him and fall to drinking the wine he has procured. However their friend, wishing to retain the whole treasure has poisoned the wine and the 2 men die in agony.
In The Pardoners Tale all 3 men find death in the form of treasure which leads to their destruction. The revellers perhaps also meet death personified in the shape of the elderly man who directs them to the treasure. However as the elderly man is, himself seeking death some have argued that he is not, in fact death but simply an elderly man who is (as he himself says) in search of death.
The Pardoners Tale derides the notion that one can escape death. Any attempt to avoid “that fel sergeant death” is futile and may actually hasten his approach.
A school of thought known as Transhumanism has grown up which postulates that all human suffering and even death itself can be vanquished by the onward march of technological progress. If we can slow down and (eventually) switch off the gene which causes ageing it will be possible to extend life indefinitely they argue. Other Transhumanists place their faith in artificial intelligence. At some point in the future they contend it will be possible to download (or upload) one’s consciousness into artificial brains which, in time can be placed into new artificial bodies thereby enabling the individual to live on long after there biological brain has ceased to function. Some Transhumanists, for example the inventor Ray Kurzweil believe that people will be able to choose whether to continue their existence (after uploading) in either the real world or virtual reality (I.E. on the internet). Consequently the future invisioned by Transhumanists is one in which death ceases to exist or becomes an option which may be embraced (optionally) by a few Transhumanists in the new utopia.
Will The Pardoner or the Transhumanists have the last laugh I wonder?
