I'm sure I'm not going to say anything original with this post, but I just wanted to elaborate on the role music plays in my life! Seriously, music probably influences my writing more than anything else...even more than other writings. I can't hear music while I write, but I do need to have it to be inspired to write. Sometimes there are songs that just so perfectly repeat back to me what I'm feeling I can't help but be inspired by them.

Some days though I feel like an emotional roller-coaster or a girl (if the female readers would please pardon the sexist remark) . For example, here is the playlist I've gone through just today! Have fun figuring this one out!

"Good Life" One Republic

"Just A Kiss" Lady Antebellum

"Kiss Me Slowly" Parachute

"Love the Way You Lie" Eminem

"Snuff" Slipknot

"Drugs Don't Work" The Verve

"Apologize" One Republic

"When You Were Young" The Killers

"I Need A Doctor" Eminem

"Snuff" Slipknot

"Snuff" Slipknot

"She Is Love" Parachute

"Snuff" Slipknot

Slipknot, Slipknot, Slipknot...

Oh boy, probably explains where half of my poems come from. Well, there's a day in the life of London Rush, musically speaking. Maybe one of you psych majors can figure out what it means. Help me figure myself out!

~London Rush~



 

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I'm thinking that I may make a poetry review forum in the coming week. I have already seen several on Writing.com, so the idea isn't new or original. But I do see a legitimate need for in-depth and constructive reviews on poetry, particularly traditional poetry that involves such nasty things as iambic pentameter. I have noticed that there are many poets who write sonnets, and though the rhyme scheme and the syllable count is fine, the iambic pentameter is choppy or fairly non-existent.

Now I'm certainly not trying to toot my own horn . But I also feel that I have finally developed such a grasp on iambic pentameter, that it's time I turn around and help other poets who might still be having some issues with it. I was in that boat once upon a time not so long ago. It took me forever to even understand what iambic pentameter was, and much longer to become decent at writing it. Once a poet learns to write in proper iambic pentameter, it is amazing how much better their structured poems become. A good poem becomes excellent! It truly is the difference between honorable mention and first place in a contest!

The reason I want to start a review forum to focus on the technical aspect of poetry, is because I believe this is where many other poetry review forums fall short. I have received a plethora of reviews in my past with comments such as, "It didn't flow right," or "something sounded off." While these are not untrue, they are altogether unhelpful to an emerging poet. In contrast to this sort of review, I feel like I have a good eye for catching what precisely threw off the rhythm. I want to create a forum that does not simply throw out a subjective star rating and a few kind words, but genuinely seeks to create better poets.

I definitely don't think I have all the answers, and I still have much to learn. But I also am mature enough to acknowledge that there are certain aspects of poetry that I have finally mastered without becoming conceited. Rather I want to take this experience and use it to help out other poets who are struggling with the same issues I once was.

Any thoughts?

~London Rush~



 

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For those of you who are dying to know who I am, who are mildly curious, and who don't give a damn but stumbled upon this entry, this is a short autobiography of that wishful writer who calls himself London Rush.

Firstly, I've been asked before if London Rush is my real name, my pen name, or if it's referring to rushing off to London, as I do have a certain love-affair with the city. Well, it is not my real name, and as for the latter two, I think both apply. My real name is Andrew, as any one of you could have deduced by simply reading my user name.

I am a 23 year old college student living in North Carolina. I attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and am a history major. I plan to one day go on to graduate school. However, I am uncertain what area I would like to pursue my masters in so there is a very real chance I may take some time off to simply travel and work odd jobs to find my niche in the world. It would not be unlikely to find me roaming the streets, cafes, and pubs of London either, as I do adore the city and its people. Of course, money permitting, which is chronically in short supply.

My passion and dream job would be writing. I have been published before and have earned a few hundred dollars from these sales, so I can officially say I am among the ranks of those actually paid for their writing. But these are few and far between--nothing to pay the rent. But if the opportunity presents itself one day I will certainly take it.

Initially, I don't want to dive too deep into my personal life, but then again, any one who reads half of my writing can pretty well guess what sort of experiences I've had in life. To be specific, I was recently in a relationship that ended after 4 years and 8 months. We were engaged as well and had been for a couple years. So now the best way I can describe myself is as a ship at sea with no sails, no anchor, and no heading. I'm not sure where I'm going in life, what I want, who I want, and frankly, who I am is quite a mystery in itself. Writing has encompassed my life over these past few weeks and I find great solace and comfort in it.

To go a little further back in life, I was born in Maine, lived a few years in Tennessee, then moved to North Carolina when I was 6 and have lived here ever since. So I'm a Yankee living in the South. When I'm with locals in NC they accuse me of being from the north, but the Northerners say I talk like a Southerner. I guess I'm a mutt of sorts. Either way, I am proud of my heritage, wherever it may be found. Speaking of heritage, my family's lineage includes German, English, Norwegian, and a speck of French--perhaps enough to explain where my love of fashion and sarcastic wit came from?

Beyond that, I don't know what else to say about myself. Feel free to talk to me, ask questions, break the ice, shoot the breeze, whatever you want to call it.

Until then, may the muse be with you...or something to that effect...

~London Rush~



 

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In the beginning God created Adam and Eve. They screwed up, thus plunging this world into abysmal darkness. Though collectively, humanity may not be in high regard of this unfortunate occurrence, however, the poet and his lonely craft practically owe their existence to human sadness and suffering. For that, I say thanks, Eve (I think).

~London Rush~



 

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I am becoming appalled, annoyed, irritated, and disturbed by 1) the complete lack of effort by readers to review when giving a rating, 2) the inability or willingness to give a half-way legitimate review when bothering to write anything at all, and 3) the inability of some to differentiate between personal taste and the subjective nature of literature. To break this down and spell out in no uncertain terms what I mean, here it goes:

1) Unless you rate an item 5 stars, in which case one can assume there is no room for improvement, leaving a rating less than 5 with no review is incredibly rude, tacky, and lazy. I have no problem if you rate my item 2 stars. But, tell me where I can improve or do differently. When readers rate and do not review they defeat the entire purpose of the WDC feedback system.

2) When a review says nothing more than "Nice job..." accompanied by a 3 star rating, it is nearly as bad as what I just described. "Nice" is, well, nice and all, but if it isn't nice enough to warrant a 5 star rating, then do enlighten me so that I may improve my craft! Also, the reviews that go on an in-depth monologue about how wonderful the piece was then rate it 4.5 are unhelpful. I am not greedy as some would call it, but if you list nothing as needing work, then why not 5 stars? I personally make a point to either give a writer 5 stars or specifically tell them why I chose a lesser rating. As a reviewer, it's the least you can do.

3) Just because you do not "like" something or personally agree with the ultimate theme does not necessarily determine the literary value of what was written. This is not a political forum or religious debate. If a poem is well-written, is a perfect 5 star sonnet, do not rate it 3 stars because it is Christian-themed and you are an ardent secular humanist. Likewise, do not rate a perfect work 3 stars because it comes across as antagonistic to your religious worldview. The issue here is literary value and talent, not your personal worldviews.

Just my 2 cents. I'm sure people will disagree and that's fine. Just tell me why!

~London Rush~





 

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Firstly, yes, I am well aware that my entry title is a Coldplay song. Secondly, no I do not care.

What is death? Is it an end or a beginning? Can it simultaneously be both?

If such self-proclaimed prophets such as Stephen Hawking and Richard Dawkins are correct, then death is the utter end of life. It is the cold, hard exclamation point--or the fragmented hanging sentence--that marks the end of existence. Nothing comes after it. It is final. Irreversible. Eternal.

Christians, Jews, Muslims, however, take death as simply the end of this dismal world and the beginning of a new experience in the presence of God. If this is the case, then death is both an end and a beginning. Most importantly, it is simply a vehicle for change.

So what do I think of all this?

Whether death is the end or the silent transition into a greater state of being is beside the point. One thing I am adamant of. If there is an afterlife of any kind, if it does not surpass what I have left behind on this world, then I want none of it. This world was enough for me. I've had my taste, I've had my fill. Give me something more, or give me eternal silence.

Rest.

I'm not questioning God's ability or His existence. I am simply coming forward and saying out loud what many are too afraid to verbalize. What awaits me on the other side, I am not entirely sure of. I know what the Bible says. I am vaguely aware of what the Quran says. The Torah and Talmud too. I know the beliefs of Hindus, Buddhists, Daoists, Wiccans. I am not an atheist. But I am an idealist. As I said, if whatever awaits me is no better than Earth, then I formally request my name to be withdrawn from consideration. Thank you.

~London Rush~



 

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