Raw Version

These are lyrics to a song inpired by the arctic that I just finished. (I think). I wrote it after having been here about three weeks and I thought I was done. I have written quite a few things since I've been here, but I kept coming back to this one because it was interesting to revisit the feelings of shock and newness that I initially felt after having just arrived. I used it as a sort of way to measure my own personal growth and such.
A few days ago I listened to it again and decided that it was not really finished. I needed to add my current perspective in order to give the song the evolution that it deserved. So, the first half remains what I initially wrote and the second half is now.

Raw Version

White.
Horizon blurs with a billion shades of white.
Cry.
I'm missing someone and I don't remember why.

A raw version of myself,
Skin and bone against the grate.
A raw version of myself,
I feel the animal
The animal awakes.

Strip me clean of everything I know
Shove my fingers deep inside my coat.
I'm truly on my own
A strange feeling keeps me up at night
I grope for shadows
Somewhere in this light.

A raw version of myself
Claw my arm to keep me warm
A raw version of myself
I could die, or is it I could be reborn?

Go for a walk
There's no one to walk with me
But the sky does make great company
The sun my clemency.
I feel the pieces settle again inside
All the silence leaves me no where to hide
And now I know I've been living blind.

A raw version of myself
I feel innocent and pure.
A raw verson of myself
It's who I really am
And who I was before.

Hello, Winter...

Wind breaks across the water,
And I am way underneath the surface,
Towards the bottom.
Still, I can feel the slightest of movement
Like the faintest of echoes.

Silence has a way of penetrating you
Emptying you out
Yet, also filling you
Winter wraps around me like a dark velvet cloth
There is comfort in not being exposed.

It's getting darker
But I am not afraid
Cover me in this midnight robe
Let the colors inside of the night
Seap deep within my soul.
A different sort of beauty
Something pure
That reminds me of longing
Bitter sweet.
Beautiful and sad.

Time widens
Almost disappears
The space between us all seems bigger
So big, in fact
That it almost brings us closer
We're all like
Tiny ships
In the same sea
Trying to find our way back to somewhere.

Day 14

Ten places I want to visit before I die.

1.) France. I want to take a tour of the French countryside. Particularly the southeast part of France, but I would love to see Paris and Marseilles as well. I've thought of maybe taking a wine or food tour there...


2.) Egypt. I have always been fascinated with the Nile ever since I was young. I remember reading about it as a child and hearing of it in biblical stories. It always seemed so magical to me. It would be amazing to see it and touch it. I want to see the red sands of the Sahara as well. OH and the pyramids and the sphinx. Egyptian history and culture seems fascinating.

3.) Spain. Oh my. The culture, the food, the music, the agriculture, the art. How amazing! Madrid or Valencia would be cool...or anywhere really. I would like to see the countryside there as well.

4.) Budapest. I've heard it's one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. One of my best friend's mom and dad were born there also, so I've heard so much about it. The architecture is gorgeous! I love the old gothic looking castles, opera houses, buildings, etc.... Also, they have some amazing and gorgeous thermal spas. The best in the world I've heard. They are supposed to be medicinal.

5.) Tokyo. What a mind trip it would be to spend some time there. I hope I inherit about a million dollars so that I can go!

6.) Canada. Particularly Nova Scotia and/or Quebec. I admit my interest was peaked just because of some pictures I saw of Peggy's Cove harbor. Although, there are so many places in Canada that would certainly be worthy of visiting. It's huge!

7.) New England. I've never really spent much time on the east coast, but have always wanted to go. I have heard is lovely there in the fall. This picture is of a farm in Vermont.

8.) Iceland. There is so much to see agriculurally in this tiny country. volcanos, glaciers, waterfalls. Wow wow! It seems like a magical place.

9.) Australia. I need to go there, mate. I've learned from working here that Australian's love the arctic. And the Australian people that I've met are so cool and fantastical. They seemed to have a true adventurer's spirit and how could you not living there? It would be cool to see Sydney and some of the larger/more temperate cities but I would also like to go out a little further...perhaps to the yorke peninsula or farther west. It would be fun to spend a couple of days hiking there. I found this picture on the Nambung National Park's website. It is located in western Australia.

10.) Italy. Venice! The canals, the culture, the art, the architecture, the food. Ugh... it just seems like one of the most beautiful places in the world! So romantic. I also want to go to Rome.