Showing posts with label MCVersions. Show all posts

Literary (Submission): The Ethereal Emporium of Mister Augustus Bishop




Several miles from Saint Peter’s gate
Stood a pretty little store
Knickknacks and tchotchkes
Hidden behind its baby blue door

The door swung open
As Schizein went inside
And a bell rang to alert
The seller standing by

“Hello!” greeted the man
His eyes twinkling like fireflies
Schizein just smiled back
As she was pretty shy

“Can I help you?” he asked
And Schizein nodded to assent
“I need some help, Mister,”
she said, looking up at the handsome gent

“Well, you have come to the right place!
This is the Ethereal Emporium of Augustus Bishop!
What do you need, little lady?
We have all that you need, a one-stop shop!”

Schizein was told
Of a store being sought out
For it sold all the things you needed
And she wanted to see what the fuss was about

The only thing she knew about the place
Was it resided in between of Heaven and Hell
But this store was all she found
So she might just as well

"Here in my emporium, I sell all sorts of things
That your heart desires the most
Love, happiness, and contentment
We got it in stock," he said as if to boast

The little girl felt nervous and busied her fingers
By tugging on the ribbon around her pink dress
She just kept looking down
And the gentleman saw her distress

He knelt on one knee and asked,
“Is there anything wrong, darling?”
“I don’t have any money, Mister,” she replied
But Augustus Bishop just kept smiling.

He replied: “It’s alright.
I don’t require my customers to pay
But I make them promise
To never put harm in people’s way.”

“You will get what you need
But you must not hurt anybody
For I will take back
The thing you wanted so badly.”

Schizein nodded and thanked the man
And then she told him what she needed
Before she goes back home
And continue living her life ahead

“I need silence, Mister Bishop,” the girl looked at him
“I need it to hush the voices in my head.
They have been shouting for so long
I just want to be alone up there,” she said.

“I’m afraid I don’t have silence in store,” he sadly replied.
“Then maybe you have any superpower?
Something to fight the creatures inside?” she asked.
He looked around his shop, from one shelf to another.

“I’m sorry, little girl. I don’t sell powers.
Just the most abstract of things.”
Her face painted disappointment
And the store fell silent as outside, angels sing.

“How about this: I sell you solitude?
You might be put in peace, continue life undisturbed.”
Schizein thought for a while and then nodded
“I will take it, Mister. I think it will work.”

Augustus gave her a glass of clear liquid
Which she drank and then fell asleep
When she woke up on a flat metal bed
The dingy room was quiet and she was finally free

Schizein continued living her life, her folks were quite surprised
She’s now alone with her thoughts and musings
The voices were gone, true enough
But the monsters live still and they kept on listening

She now has a voice of her own
She now lived a normal life
And one day she encountered a vagrant by the sidewalk
Who seems to be living in strife

The woman was talking to herself
Like what she did before Mister Bishop’s magic
So she went up to the woman and told her about it
Because her life seems to be more than problematic

“A magic store?” said the vagrant woman.
“I am Adelaide Bell! I own the Curiosity Shop!”
Schizein leapt, startled by her shout.
“Where can I find this Augustus Bishop because he has got to stop!”

“Schizein! Get away from that woman!” her mother pulled her close.
“We can’t lose you again, honey. Okay?”
They both walked away but the little girl looked back
At the woman who was now waving her hands, as if in a play

Schizein kept quiet during their ride home
Up until the family finished dinner, she felt rather uneasy
The next day, when she saw the vagrant again, reciting incantations
She heard three new voices from within saying altogether, “Isn’t she crazy?"

---

For more on this series, read

The Curiosity Shop of Miss Adelaide Bell
(http://upismc.blogspot.com/2018/08/literary-curiosity-shop-of-miss.html)

and

Miss Adelaide Bell and the Nine Circles of Hell
(https://upismc.blogspot.com/2018/09/literary-miss-adelaide-bell-and-nine.html)

Literary (Submission): Drowning in an Inch of Paradise





I veer through smoke and mirrors
And I see no sunlight on the other side.
I see a tiny ray from a flashlight.
But that's it.
Not even enough to light up
This small darkness in my palms.

I veer through smoke and mirrors
And I see no rainbow nor butterflies.
I see but a tine drop of indigo
And a pair of tattered wings.
Not even enough to save innocence
From shaking death's hand

I am played
With the strings attached to my arms.
And the masters are smart enough
To make my strings made of
Licorice and not of chains
And I am enough of a fool to keep nibling on them

But I am tired
Of trying to chase after red laser lights.
I am tired
Of gasping at simple sleight of hands
I am tired
Of all the gimicks.

So the next time
I veer through smoke and mirrors.
I am gonna break all those goddamn mirrors.
And I am gonna get high on all those smoke.

Literary (Submission): Martyr






Ang ihip ng hangin sa araw na maulan
Himig na malamig ang mapakikinggan
Mga mata ay mistulang kalangitan
Patuloy na lumuluha, pusong nasasaktan

Ngunit ang pag-iyak ay kailangang patahanin
Mga hinaing ay ibubulong na lamang sa hangin
Panandaliang isasantabi ang aking damdamin
Pansamantalang itatago ang pag-ibig mula sa ‘kin

Ngunit ang nadarama ay patuloy na nagpupumiglas
Isang bagay na hindi na dapat pang ipagpalipas
Ngunit kapag sasabihin na ay biglang napapaatras
Parang ako ay nawawalan at nauubusan ng lakas

Lalo na kapag kayo ay nakikita kong magkasama
Anong dulot na lungkot at sakit ang aking nadarama
Kahit alam ko na ang nararamdaman ko ay masama
At ang aking pagkainggit at pagseselos ay hindi tama

Madalas kong naiisip at naitatanong sa aking sarili,
Ano ba ang mayro’n ako na nakikita mong mali?
Bakit ba siya at hindi ako ang iyong pinipili?
Kahit ako, ako ang magmamahal sayo hanggang huli

Subalit,ano naman ang aking karapatan?
Isa lang naman akong hamak na kaibigan
Na sa mga sulok ay patuloy kang pinagmamasdan
Nananatiling masaya para sayo kahit pa nahihirapan

Literary (Submission): Ikaw





Ikaw
Sa ikalawang araw
Ikaw
Ang nasa isip sa bawat galaw
Ikaw
Na pawang isang alaala na laging tinatanglaw

Ako
Sa pangalawang pagkakataon
Ako
Nasa isip ang bawat galaw mo
Ako
Na laging inaalala ang lahat ng tungkol sa ‘yo

Ngayon napag-isipan ko na
Ipipikit ang mga mata
Bubuntong hininga
Sasabihin sa sarili, itigil mo na
Ipinapangakong matatapos din ito
Makakahanap ako ng iba
Kung saan pareho kaming masaya
Susulitin ang oras na laging kami ang magkasama

Sa pagmulat ng mga mata
Alam ko na
Kaya't ako na ang mauuna
Hahakbang paatras
Pansamantalang iiwas sa iyong landas
Ngunit 'wag kang mag-alala
Mananatili kang isang alaala
Isa sa nagbigay ng panibagong aral
Mananatili kang isang kaibigan

Literary: Unmasked




            She placed her hands on her mask, ending up frozen in place. Her mask’s bright smile was contrasted by the blue aura coming out from underneath. The usual yellow aura was no longer around her. Her hands started shaking and her breathing became ragged, as if at any moment she would break down. She threw her arms down and screamed, “I can’t…!”
            From the mask’s eyes, tears leaked out. Even though what she’s showing me is a smile, it’s clear that she isn’t happy at all.
            “I can’t take it off… I’m scared…”
            I stepped forward and grabbed her hands, “Hey, hey, it’s alright.”
            Before I could get any closer, she withdrew her hands from me and took a few steps back. She was shaking. She then looked at me, scared of what she had done.
            “It’s fine.”
            “It’s not fine.”
            “Really, it’s really fine.”
            “No it’s not! I want to show you what’s under my mask, but I’m too scared you’ll hate me. I’d rather hide under this mask than be hurt all over again…”
            She collapsed to the ground and started hugging her knees. “It’s cold…”
            Her aura was starting to get unstable. The blue that was leaking out was suddenly starting to bleed purple, and then into an even darker blue. There were countless things that passed through my mind on what I could do, but none of them seem to help with this situation. I… don’t want to be helpless again. I need to find a way to comfort her, but how?!
            Then suddenly, a thought popped up in my mind. It was a crazy idea, but… it might just work.
            I knelt down to her level, so that we could see eye to eye. When she saw me, she looked away. My hands slowly reached to a mask, not hers, but mine. In a slow, but fluid motion, I removed my mask in front of her.
            “W-what!? What are you doing!?”
            I contemplated about the answer to that question as I dropped my mask to the ground. I lightly chuckled as I told her, “I thought it was unfair for me to ask you to remove your mask on your own, so I took the initiative and removed mine first.”
            I took her hand, this time she wasn’t inclined on taking it away. “I’ve never even seen my face under the mask, so you’re the first person who has ever seen me.”
            She was too shocked by what I did. She looked at our hands and at my eyes alternately, trying to make sense of what happened. Her mouth was opening and closing, as if she wanted to say something. After a few minutes of silence, she finally spoke, “I’m sorry, I’m too scared to take off my own mask.”
            I nodded my head, “Yeah, it’s fine, I understand.”
            “And you wouldn’t be the first to see me.”
            “Yeah, again, it’s totally fine.”
            “Even though I can’t take my mask off myself… I can let you take it off for me. Would you like that?”
            “Yeah— ” I stuttered my words to a stop when I had realized what she had just said. I looked away for a moment before looking back into her eyes. “A-are you sure? This is your mask we’re talking about.”
            She was twiddling her thumbs as she looked down at our hands, “I’m sorry that I’m a coward, but could you take this step for me?”
            At this point, my heart was conflicted. I really wanted to see the person underneath, but I didn’t want to do it for her. I want her to be strong on her own and do it for herself. I don’t want her to rely on me to take the step for her, but… I can hear her say please. The blue aura around her is whispering me to do it. She really wants to, and she needs help with that first little step. After thinking for a while, I took a deep breath. “I’ll do it.”
            The aura around her flashed a hint of excitement. There was a moment where it flashed a patch of yellow, then suddenly it returned to a deep blue.
            Slowly, I reached for the mask that covered her face. My heart was beating so fast, and I was sure that hers was too. I took the mask and carefully removed it…
            Underneath her unmoving smile was a frown, with lips being softer than the stiff smile she shows to people. Her aura which was constantly shifting from radiant yellow to deep night blue turned into a sea blue, the color of a calm sea. As she stared back at me, her eyes filled my sight. Eyes that usually was so full of energy, now sparkling with tears. Her usual liveliness was replaced with a solemn quiet. As she waited for my reply, I just stared blankly at her with only one thought in my mind. Her everything is just so…
            “…Beautiful.”

Literary: What is it?





What?
What is it with you?
What’s wrong with you?

I look back at everything you’ve said:
Every single word that punched a hole through me,
Every single promise that sounded so hollow,
Every slip of the tongue that revealed your true nature.

I look back at everything you’ve done:
How you never stay true to your word,
How you get distracted so easily,
How insensitive you can be.

You do these still.
You never stopped.

After everything I’ve said,
Everything I’ve ever done,
Everything I’ve given up,
I guess I’m still not enough.

I guess I’ll never be enough,
For you at least.

I guess I should have known.
I guess I knew all along.

And so, I realize
Who I really should be blaming for my misfortunes.

It is I.

Tell me.
What is it with me?
What is wrong with me?

Literary: Sa Pagkakataong Ito





Sa pagkakataong ito, wala akong ginawa. Hinubog ko na lang ang buong pagkatao ko upang matulungan ang iba. Ngunit sila’y nagsawa.

Sa pagkakataong ito, ako ang nagtanong kung nangangailangan ba sila ng kahit ano, kung isang malaking problema ba ang bumabagabag at nagkukumawala sa kanilang ulo. Ngunit, ang sinabi nila ay wala. Ayos lang daw sila.

Sa pagkakataong ito, ako, na isang apatetiko dati, ang nagkaroon ng paki. Ngunit sa bawat pangangamusta ko ay lalo lamang silang napapalayo at kusa silang lumilisan sa aking tabi.

Sa pagkakataong ito, ang dating ako, na hindi kayang maging mapagkumbaba, ang mas ginusto ng mga tao. Sapagkat ang bagong beryson ko, ay siya ring bagong dahilan kung bakit sila ay lumalayo.

Sa pagkakataong ito, aking naintindihan na hindi ang pagiging apatetiko ko ang dahilan kung bakit pag-iisa ang napupunta sa akin. Aking naintindihan na ang mga tao ay hindi ko kayang intindihin.

Sa pagkakataong ito, aking naintindihan na kung sino ang katatawanan, ang katutuwaan, pinagkukunan ng kasayahan, nagiging dahilan at paraan upang ang problema ay pansamantalang makalimutan, sila ang tatabihan. Sila ang sasamahan. Sila ang dadamayan.

Sa pagkakataong ito, humihingi ako ng kapatawaran. Sapagkat, hindi ko alam na ako’y naging makulit lamang at ang kailangan niyo ay wala sa mga beryson ko.

Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi ko na susubukang tulungan kayo. Dahil simula pa lang naman ay hindi niyo na ito gusto.

Sa pagkakataong ito, aking natamo, na ang piliin kayo ay isang malaking pagkakamali ko.

Literary: Sinta





Sa paglipas ng panahon akala ko mag-isa na lang ako
Lahat ng aking niligawan, lahat sila ako’y tinanggihan
Hindi pa raw sila handa para sa pangako na pang matagalan
Kahit sabi nila sa akin na ako ang bumihag sa puso nila

Nagtataka ako kung bakit ganoon ang nangyayari sa akin
Wari’y ako na lamang ba ang magtitiis sa ganitong pangyayari?
Wala na akong nagawa dahil iyon lagi ang aking naririnig
Umaasa na lang na darating ang panahon na tapos na ang aking hinagpis

Sa hindi inaasahang pangayari ikaw ay biglang nakilala
Sa simula ay pinakilala lang na kaibigan ng kaibigan
Hanggang sa tayo’y nagkakilala na
Sa isip ko na ikaw na talaga ang aking magiging sinta

Paglipas ng panahon tayo’y mas naging malapit sa isa’t isa
Tinanong kita kung nagkaroon ka na ba ng mahal na iba
Sabi mo na wala pa at ako’y umasa
Tinanong kita kung pwede ba na ikaw ang aking maging sinta

Sabi mo’y walang pangako na tayo’y magtatagal
Pero para sa akin ay papanindigan ko na lamang
Sa dami kong pinagdaanan ay handa na akong magtagal
Mabuti na lamang ikaw ang nagpakita sa akin ng daan

Sa simula ng ating panliligaw hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin
Ako ay nagpasalamat sa’yo dahil binigyan mo ako ng tiyansang mag mahal ulit
At sinabi ko na sana’y hindi tayo magkamali sa pagpili
Dahil ngayon ay tama ang iyong sinabi na tayo’y magtatagal kahit anong mangyari

Sa kasalukuyan tayo’y limang buwan nang mag-kasintahan
Marami na tayong napagdaanan sa oras na ating napagsamahan
Salamat sa lahat ng iyong naturong leksyon aking mapa
Sana sa dulo’y tayo parin ang magkasama, ‘o aking sinta

Literary: In Light of Darkness





I am darkness, you are light
I run and hide, you stay and fight
As day goes down and night draws near
You shush away my doubts and fears

You say I'm light and you are darkness
Yet in my world, you are my Highness
Ready to follow you day and night
'Cause I am darkness, and you're my light

I flee from voices in my head
That tear me down with bad thoughts said

I also flee from hate and scorn
from lies and eyes and life forlorn

But in my cries, I saw you near
I hold out my hand, “There's nothing to fear.
I'm here for you, through thick or thin
In miracles, or times of sin.”

You saw through what I show the world
Behind the smile's an unknown whirl
“I'm also here, till death do we part.
You're the sunshine of my cloudy heart.”



At times, the world tells us it's wrong
We're different, we don't belong
But when light and darkness comes and collides
We go hold hands, and say, “It's true, it's right.”


Red and Blue
And
Night and Day

Silence and things left to say
Hide from disappearing sights
No more darkness, we are light

Literary: Almost Morning





It is almost morning.

Before the sunrise, I must forget the troubles of this day.

I must bury the memory of silent stares and shattered glass of the afternoon.

I must forgive all the pain and confusion that filled our night.

To start anew is what I have to do.

Breathe in, breathe out.

“You can do this. You have to,” I whisper quietly to myself.

As the sunlight starts to seep through the curtains, I wipe away the last of our yesterday’s
tears.

And with this, I turn and catch myself watching you as you sleep by my side. I let out a
sigh and smile.

“I can do this. I want to.”

Breathe in, breathe out.

I reach my hand out to touch yours.

Breathe in, breathe out.

“Good morning, love.”

Literary: Begin End, End Begins





Me is where it begins          ‘Cause it ends with you
You are where it ends         And starts with me

Ends meet once more                                                                         Pause and go
Thus, the cycle begins                                                                        For, the youthful cause

Begins as is and new is what we name it                                                                    Get ahold of stubborn wills
Yet old is what it really is                                                                            And, somewhere here in quiet pause

Is it really how it seems? And could it be?                                                                     Possibly still, possibly yet
A fragile feeling, flighty, and light                                                                                  There’s still so much we do not get

Light in weight, gentle in nature                                     Eyes look towards something in the distance
But yet boiling, beating, ebbing, flowing                       Is it there? Maybe. Possibly.

Flowing towards somewhere, maybe
A vague view, hidden behind fog and closed eyes

Literary: Music Box





With a flick of the wrist
The music box is opened
The ballerina steps out
The audience awaits

Arms held up high in a perfect, practiced arc
Her sequined pale silver tutu shimmers in the stage lights
A doll-like, porcelain smile trained for months is ready in place
And thus, she begins to go through the motions of her dance

Raising her pointe shoes high up in the air
She leaps across the stage, tutu swishing, her twirls on repeat
Presenting pure, youthful grace and poise
To captivate the crowd through a rehearsed display

How easily their gasps of awe and unquestioning stares come!
In their eyes, she is a pristine, untainted picture of beauty
All glitter and sparkle, no hint of any misfortune nor struggles
And yet the ballerina dances alone

And now, the ballerina bends to execute her final pirouette
The audience, satisfied, stands up for the applause
They leave only to return again soon
Their expectations high for another great show

Then the curtains fall down, and the music box rests
Until needed to put on another replay of the performance
Time is of little importance, so long as the ballerina spins
A never-ending, monochrome spin

Literary: Show Me





Awaken your spirit residing within

Bide all your anguish and let it go
Choose to release the hasting flow
Decide on the path that you want to follow

Engage in a change that you hope to see

Fixate on your goal and even go beyond
Get on your feet so you can act thereon
Have everything all said and done

Ignore all your worries to assert what you think

Justify your opinion and go make a stand
Knock off from excuses and take matters to your hands
Learn from your mistakes so later on you'll have a plan

Make your move and keep your position

Neglect anything that could hold you down
Outshine all the stars and let your voice resound
Push through to achieve that distant crown

Question your doubts and get back on track

Rise from the bottom to uncover what's hidden
Speak from your heart and express what's within
Tell them your purpose and surely you'll win

Use your skills to their highest potential

Value yourself and what you can do
Wake up the individual sleeping inside of you
X out the bias and all that's untrue

Yearn for the person that you want to be
Zero in to this version of your identity

Literary: Breaks





Worry, stress, strain, pressure, and the like.
They continue to bombard us for ages.
It's time to take a break from the harsh realities of life.
And make our dreams and fantasies a reality.
So, without further ado, it's break time!

It's time to break free from those monotonous, stringent traditions!
They have forced us to follow the boring trends of conformity.
And prevented us from openly showing our individualities.
It's time defy the antiquated Successions of Convention!
Ta-da – the mold has been broken.

It's time to break the chains that keep us from having fun!
Gazillions of projects, homeworks, groupworks –
They have tormented us with boredom, anxiety for too long.
It's time to flee from this so called Ravine of Requirements!
And lo – the promising break of the day has come.

It's time to make a clean break from those people!
Who have caused us much ill will, resentment, anger–
They have plagued us with their malice for too long.
It's time to get out of this so called Nexus of Toxic!
Voila – this bad relationship has been finally broken.

It's time to break the tension that has divided us!
Those who have been betrayed, isolated, heartbroken–
They have hindered us with their inhibitions for too long.
It's time to release them from the Clam of Frost!
Alas – icebreakers have happened in succession.

All these plans of taking a break from the actual world–
Are about to be fulfilled as we dream and unite.
It's time to break out of reality and make way
To the grand performance of the life we yearn on a stage.
So, without further ado, break a leg!

See the different sides



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