Mortalis and Immortalis

In R.A. Salvatore's DemonWars Saga, there are two poems. In the novels, the first was written by a despairing monk during a time of plague, the second by another monk years later in response. I've always liked them, especially together, so I just thought I'd share.

Mortalis

What miserable wretches we mortals be
To build our homes in sheltered lea,
To build our hopes in sheltered womb
Weaving fancies of the tomb.

What wretched souls we mortals be
To bask in false epiphany,
To see a light so clear, so true,
To save us from the fate we rue.
Deny the truth before our sight
That worms invade eternal night,
That maggots feed within the skin
Of faithful pure, devoid of sin.

Oh what hopeful children mortals be!
Castles in air, grand barges at sea,
Bed of clouds and angels' song,
Heavenly feasting eternity long.
What mockery made of endless night!
That prayer transcends truth and hope denies sight!
That all that we know and all that we see
Is washed away by what we pray much be.

So tell me not of eternal soul
That flees my coil through worm-bit hole.
For when I die what is left of me?
A whisper lost to eternity.


Immortalis

Misery's curse to those who let pride
Propel their journey as spiritual guide,
To count their hopes in finger's toil
And measure worth in corporeal coil.

What wretched fools these mortals be
Ignoring promise of eternity,
Denying reason's just reward,
Defending riches with the sword.
Averting eyes from higher light,
Existing in fear of eternal night.
How pitiful are those lacking the sense
TO accept the call of divine recompense!

What joke it would be to being of reason
If flesh and blood proved the only season,
If divinity's call is an outrageous lie,
And heaven sits not above earthly sky.
If consciousness falls to black emptiness
And maggots claim souls as part of their mess,
If all of our reason to brightest lights shine,
In false perception of all that's divine.

So tell me not of mere mortal coil
Denying the hopes in worm-holed soil.
I'll fly my way on angels borne
While faithless wallow in mud, forlorn.

Funny and true

cause it's cool

Update on life

My wife has now been accepted to UK, so it looks like I'll be spending at least the next 5 years in Lexington. My spring break will now be spent apartment hunting. Though the temptation to buy a house in this market is quite strong, I would miss the experience of living on Asbury's campus if we bought one. And for for those of you planning on staying on colder degrees latitude, you should stop by sometime.

I've realized that I'll actually have to replace my entire circle of friends! I don't know how to do that, it's not like I can basically be born next to another guy again, or have my parents take me over to another kid's house so they can be rid of me for a while. I'm sure I'll figure out something, otherwise my wife will never let me live it down. I kinda did that to her 3 years ago, after all.

I might have done this before, but meh

Copy and paste into your notes, then tag others to pass along:

1.YOUR REAL NAME:
Chris Basil

2.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:(mother and fathers middle names):
Nelson Ann

3.STAR WARS NAME:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name:
Basch

4.DETECTIVE NAME:(favorite color, favorite animal)
Blue tiger

5.SOAP OPERA NAME:(middle name, town where you were born)
Robert Middletown

6.SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning):
The red mountain dew

7.FLY NAME:(first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Chil (oh yeah)

8.STREET NAME:(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie):
Black raspberry chocolate chip

9. PORN NAME: (1st pet's name, street you grew up on):
April Aberdeen

10.YOUR GANGSTA NAME:(first 3 letters of last name plus izzle):
Basizzle

11.YOUR Drunk NAME:(2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name, last two letters of your first name then last three letters of your last name.):
Hsroissil

woot woot

I am now officially accepted to Asbury Theological Seminary. Just for those who care.

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