2010.09.12 13:00 - The Poetry Generating Machine

The Guardian for this meeting was Bruce Mowbray. The comments are by Bruce Mowbray.  This was 'supposed' to be a poetry session, but most of us forgot about that.  Nevertheless, the show did go on - - and became the most hilarious session I'd yet attended.  I almost fell off my chair laughing [during the session] and laughed even harder when I edited the chat, and laughed until the tears came when I read it all again.

Alfred Kelberry: haha!
Alfred Kelberry: so, where's this poetry thing?
Agatha Macbeth: here
Agatha Macbeth: supposedly
Alfred Kelberry: poetry session?
Alfred Kelberry: who's reading?
Agatha Macbeth: Whoever turns up
Alfred Kelberry: in voice?
Agatha Macbeth: Either, I believe
Alfred Kelberry: ok
Alfred Kelberry: any poetry or your own?
Agatha Macbeth: Either
Alfred Kelberry: neat
Alfred Kelberry: I could read some
Alfred Kelberry: not mine :)
Agatha Macbeth: Well that's the idea
Alfred Kelberry: what will you read?
Agatha Macbeth: Something by Khalil Gibran
Alfred Kelberry: *goggles*
Agatha Macbeth: No, not that
Agatha Macbeth: He didn't wear any                
Alfred Kelberry: :P
Alfred Kelberry: ok, a misprint :)
Agatha Macbeth: Indeed
Alfred Kelberry: can you read in Arabic?
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, but I don't understand what I'm reading
Alfred Kelberry: that would be neat
Agatha Macbeth: Allah hu akbar
Alfred Kelberry: poetry in its native language
Agatha Macbeth: Mm, always the best
Alfred Kelberry: so, you will read it in Arabic?
Agatha Macbeth: Strangely enough, no
Alfred Kelberry: Bruce the NY fan :)
Wol Euler: hello all
Alfred Kelberry: aga... :( please, do

--BELL–

Agatha Macbeth: Hello Bruce
Alfred Kelberry: Wol!
Alfred Kelberry: i think you can bring Sidi
Agatha Macbeth: How's Jacques Cousteau?
Wol Euler: she's on her way
Alfred Kelberry: it's not started yet though
Agatha Macbeth: Who Jacques Cousteau?
Alfred Kelberry: ocean dude
Agatha Macbeth: Well he can dive in the pool
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, aggers, Wol, and My-Favorite-Cardboard-Box-in-the-Whole-World-Alfred.
Agatha Macbeth: Sit down Alf
Alfred Kelberry: he he
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Wol Euler: alf never sits
Agatha Macbeth: Or are you sitting down already?
Wol Euler: it'S against his religion
Alfred Kelberry: what religion?
Agatha Macbeth: Boxism
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Alfred Kelberry: it's not safe for tinies
Agatha Macbeth: I hear he was in the Boxer Revolt
Alfred Kelberry: oi, mick
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Mickorod.
Alfred Kelberry: lies!
Agatha Macbeth: YO Mick
Mickorod Renard: ayup me ducks
Agatha Macbeth quacks
Wol Euler: hello mick, bleu
Alfred Kelberry: quack in voice please, aga :)
Bleu Oleander: hi everyone :)
Agatha Macbeth: Quack
Agatha Macbeth: Hi Bleu :)
Bruce Mowbray: Plentitudinous day to you, Bleu.
Mickorod Renard: for those who don't know, that's a Derbyshire local greeting
Alfred Kelberry: is it?
Agatha Macbeth: Oo arr
Wol Euler: the quack?
Mickorod Renard: hi Bleu
Alfred Kelberry: wol :)
Mickorod Renard: nooo,,the ayup me ducks
Wol Euler: ah )
Bruce Mowbray didn't know that was a Derbyshire greeting.
Alfred Kelberry: ayup?
Bruce Mowbray: Greetings, Sidi.
Alfred Kelberry: or "ayup me ducks"?
Mickorod Renard: yes,, that means 'hi'
Agatha Macbeth: Or quack
Mickorod Renard: and me is for my
Wol Euler: I always thought it was "aye, up me ducks"
Mickorod Renard: and ducks means friends
Agatha Macbeth: Beanz means heinz
Alfred Kelberry: and ducks is for?
Mickorod Renard: friends
Alfred Kelberry: ah, ok
Bruce Mowbray loves "Ayup me ducks!"
Mickorod Renard: he he
Agatha Macbeth: With sauce
Alfred Kelberry: neat, learnt a new greeting :)
Mickorod Renard: Worcestershire?
Agatha Macbeth: Where?
Bleu Oleander: what kind of group is this?
Alfred Kelberry: oh, hey blue
Bleu Oleander: hehe
Agatha Macbeth: A mad one
Mickorod Renard: :)
Bleu Oleander: hey boxie
Agatha Macbeth: With talking boxes
Bleu Oleander: hey, are you all working on your photos for "Being Puzzled?"
Agatha Macbeth: Yep
Alfred Kelberry: oi, Sidi. welcome to "play as being" :)
Mickorod Renard: watz this pictures thingy?
Alfred Kelberry: bleu, what is it?
Bleu Oleander: http://wiki.playasbeing.org/PaB_Art/August_2010
Agatha Macbeth: You tell him Bleu
Mickorod Renard: ty
Agatha Macbeth slaps Mick's head
Bleu Oleander: ha!
Mickorod Renard: I have been a bit absent
Bleu Oleander: don't you all read your emails?
Agatha Macbeth: How's the garden?
Wol Euler chuckles
Mickorod Renard: no
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: he just hits delete
Alfred Kelberry: so, who will start?
Mickorod Renard: I must admit, I did tick all my messages and deleted them the other day,,nearly 500
Agatha Macbeth: See?
Alfred Kelberry: mick :)
Bleu Oleander: wow, 500
Bleu Oleander: you have been away
Agatha Macbeth: What time are we starting?
Mickorod Renard: sometimes u gotta be ruthless
Bleu Oleander: starting?
Alfred Kelberry: poetry reading?
Agatha Macbeth: It is the poetry thing tonight, no?
Bleu Oleander: oops, forgot
Bruce Mowbray: Wow. . . Is that tonight?  Really?
Bleu Oleander: now?
Alfred Kelberry: yes!
Agatha Macbeth: Well I THOUGHT it was
Wol Euler: Bruce, Sidi is a buddy of mine this is her first day in SL. I'm sitting beside her in RL :)
Bruce Mowbray: OK, Alfred. You read your poem first.
Bleu Oleander: (guess I don't read my emails either )
Agatha Macbeth: Oh boy
Bruce Mowbray: OK -- welcome again, Sidi.
Bleu Oleander: welcome Sidi
Alfred Kelberry: i just found out it's a poetry reading about 10 minutes ago :)
Agatha Macbeth: This day is going from bad to worse
Mickorod Renard: Hi Sidi
Bleu Oleander: or worse to bad
Mickorod Renard: Sidi
Agatha Macbeth: But not bad to verse
Alfred Kelberry: aga, maybe you just mixed up something?
Bruce Mowbray: From bad to VERSE!
Bleu Oleander: ha!
Agatha Macbeth: Snap
Agatha Macbeth: (He knows Oscar too)
Mickorod Renard: darn, i was gonna do a poem
Bruce Mowbray: Please, "DO" a poem, Mick!
Bruce Mowbray: I will if you will.
Agatha Macbeth: Looks like it got rained off Mick
Bleu Oleander: somebody "do" a poem
Mickorod Renard: I was going to do one for last week, but then found out it wasn't until this weekAgatha Macbeth: Well, let's see if this little gadget of Bruce's works
Agatha Macbeth: Shall I?
Bruce Mowbray: cool. That is a line reader.
Bruce Mowbray: Anyone else need one?
Mickorod Renard: is it a poem generator?
Bruce Mowbray: It will display the poem line-by-line.
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, but you have to put the poem in :)
Mickorod Renard: nice                
Mickorod Renard: ohh
Bruce Mowbray: yes.
Bruce Mowbray: I have not used it for months, though.
Alfred Kelberry: hmm
Agatha Macbeth: I tried it earlier, it worked for me
Mickorod Renard: do you have to put it in the right order?
Agatha Macbeth: Well yes, it helps
Agatha Macbeth: Anyway...
Mickorod Renard: what's the point of it then?
Agatha Macbeth: Point of what?
Mickorod Renard: having a poem generator
Agatha Macbeth: To read it out Mick

--BELL–

Mickorod Renard: ahhh
Sidi Daralia: i would like to find out if any publisher or magazine like the Spiegel or the ZEIT are available in SL?
Agatha Macbeth: (Oy vay)
Alfred Kelberry: why not just read it in voice?
Agatha Macbeth: I don't use voice
Alfred Kelberry: mick does :)
Sidi Daralia: does anybody has an idea about this? (sorry for my bad English)
Agatha Macbeth: It's ok Sid, I'm confused too
Bleu Oleander: ty Bruce    
Mickorod Renard: your English is lovely, Sidi
Agatha Macbeth: Better than Mick's ;P
Mickorod Renard: Derbyshire is my native tongue
Alfred Kelberry: sis, I just did a search in sl for spiegel and found nothing
Agatha Macbeth: I think I know Debby Shire
Agatha Macbeth: Try mirror
Mickorod Renard: :)
Bruce Mowbray: OK -- Some of you might have heard this one before. . .
Bruce Mowbray: but I will now recite a sonnet. . .
Agatha Macbeth: Yay
Bleu Oleander: :)
Wol Euler: is this in Voice?
Bruce Mowbray: I cannot do voice, sorry.
Bruce Mowbray: The sonnet is titled:
Bruce Mowbray: "In Praise of Ninety-Second Breaks"
Bruce Mowbray: Here we go. . . .
Agatha Macbeth feels a headache coming on

Bruce Mowbray:

There lies in every crude and common crag
An opening through which to find and flag
The cosmos down (in wordless wonder's wake).
A brief hiatus, hole, or postern break
That naughty nature notches everywhere
To catch our contemplations unaware.
And in serenely self-determined mode
Each one of us will find herself abode
Therein.  A hermitage, an inward home,
Through which imagination's stallions roam
Unbridled.  Nature made it so in every bind,
Specific speckle, particle, and mind.
    A penetrating argument for Grace:
    That puny perforations offer space!

Mickorod Renard: applauds
Agatha Macbeth looks round
Agatha Macbeth: ***** APPPPPPPLLLLAAAUUUSSSSeeee***********
Agatha Macbeth: clap
Bleu Oleander: !!! APPLAUSE !!!
Mickorod Renard: a very nice, if somewhat seductive poem
Mickorod Renard: is that another one Bruce?
Agatha Macbeth: Thanks, Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Welcome, arabella!
arabella Ella: Hiya!
Mickorod Renard: very nice
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Ara :)
Mickorod Renard: that last one could be developed into a much more erotic one
Agatha Macbeth: So could most things...
Bruce Mowbray: (I won't read the erotic version, Mick.)
Bruce Mowbray: sorry.
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Not dressed like that anyway ;P
Bruce Mowbray: OK. . . someone else!
Agatha Macbeth: Shall I try this reader and see if works for me then?
Agatha Macbeth: h
Mickorod Renard: I tried it and nothing happened
Bruce Mowbray: "h" is a good start, aggers.
Agatha Macbeth: Sod it, here goes
arabella Ella: Hiya again
Agatha Macbeth: There ya go
Wol Euler applauds
Bleu Oleander: !!! APPLAUSE !!!
Bruce Mowbray: [`·.] APPLAUSE!! [.·´]
Agatha Macbeth: Well it works Bruce...
Agatha MacBeth:
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Mickorod Renard: I am impressed
Wol Euler: thank you, Agatha!
Agatha Macbeth: And it appears in the log too
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Impressed
Sidi Daralia: thank you for your poetry Agatha -
Wol Euler: Sidi and I have to be off, alas, she has to work early tomorrow, and I have to go because we are sitting side by side in RL :)
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Mickorod Renard: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Bye for now
Bleu Oleander: bye Wol and Sidi :)
Mickorod Renard: ok,,bye Wol and Sidi
arabella Ella: bye W and S
Sidi Daralia: I have to say goodnight and goodbye for today
Wol Euler: goodnight all, enjoy the poetry :)
Bruce Mowbray: Bye Sidi and Wol.
Agatha Macbeth: Schlaf gut Sid
Mickorod Renard: have fun and be well
Bleu Oleander: have to go too .... bye all :) enjoyed the poetry!
Agatha Macbeth: Whose session is this?
arabella Ella: bye Bleu
Agatha Macbeth: Ah thx Bruce
Agatha Macbeth: Bye Bleu
Mickorod Renard: bye bleu
Sidi Daralia: it was nice meeting you - and thank you to Wol's help and really surprising circle of friends !
Wol Euler: bye bleu
Bruce Mowbray: I just claimed this session - - -
arabella Ella: nice meeting u too briefly Sidi
Bruce Mowbray: Yayyyy!
Agatha Macbeth: That's what friends are for ;-)
Mickorod Renard: come again please
Bleu Oleander: nice meeting you Sidi :)

--BELL–

Bruce Mowbray: Come back when you can, Sidi!
Agatha Macbeth: Read us one in Russian, Alf
Mickorod Renard: I love poetry
Bruce Mowbray: Could you share one of your favorites with us, Mick?
Mickorod Renard: erm, you caught me on the hop actually, Bruce
Agatha Macbeth: That's assuming he has one :)
Bruce Mowbray: me too!
Bruce Mowbray: on the hop.
Mickorod Renard: I will have to think very hard, and that may be difficult tonite
Bruce Mowbray: arabella, have you a favorite poem?
Agatha Macbeth: You don't have to WRITE it Mick
Mickorod Renard: yes, hop meaning unprepared
arabella Ella: you caught me off guard there too, Bruce
Mickorod Renard: am thinking hard
Agatha Macbeth: Hard is a good way to think
Bruce Mowbray: OK. Well, I have another sonnet I wrote---
Agatha Macbeth: Yay
Mickorod Renard: firm is nice
arabella Ella: oh go on then Bruce; we are listening
Bruce Mowbray: but I don't want to push out anyone else who wants a turn.
Bruce Mowbray: OK.
Agatha Macbeth: Looks like it's just us Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: This time I will give two lines at a time, OK?
arabella Ella: ok
Agatha Macbeth: Go for't
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
Bruce Mowbray: Its title is:
Bruce Mowbray: "Forest Chat"
Bruce Mowbray:
A week ago I wandered in the wood

With no intent, instruction, or incline
Than friendship with the forest as I stood

Among the willow, sycamore, and pine.
A giant oak and I had just begun

A confidential conversation there
Beside the creek, beneath a shadowed sun,

When two heroic hunters stopped to stare.
I only saw them as the ancient oak

Was branching out beyond his usual themes.
For fear of interrupting, neither spoke,

Though wonder on their faces uttered reams.
The heart of nature speaks to him who hears

As saplings sing the music of the spheres.

— by Bruce Mowbray 6-8-10

Bruce Mowbray: [the end]

Agatha Macbeth: ***** APPPPPPPLLLLAAAUUUSSSSeeee***********
Agatha Macbeth: clap
Bruce Mowbray: THANKS!
Bruce Mowbray: OK, aggers.
Bruce Mowbray: You got another one?
Agatha Macbeth: Was that your own Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, they were both by me.
Agatha Macbeth: Wow
Alfred Kelberry: it's a good one, Bruce :)
Mickorod Renard: I am very impressed Bruce
Agatha Macbeth nods
Bruce Mowbray: someone else, please!
Agatha Macbeth: I wish Eden was here
Bruce Mowbray notes the stunned silence.
arabella Ella: i am impressed too Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: thank you. . . [blushes....]
Mickorod Renard: I have some haiku i did but on other pc

The Poetry Generating Machine

arabella Ella: we should take turns and say a sentence each and make up a poem
Agatha Macbeth: Actually I think i have a headache coming on, so will go now
arabella Ella: owwww poor Ags
arabella Ella: gws
Mickorod Renard: owww,,bye Ags
Agatha Macbeth: Take care everyone
Bruce Mowbray: That's a great idea, ara!
Mickorod Renard: feel better soon
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, aggers.
Bruce Mowbray: OK, bye, Mick!
Mickorod Renard: I am still staying, Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Oh -- You're not leaving. SORRY, Mick.
Mickorod Renard: its ok
arabella Ella: ok with four of us here
arabella Ella: let's try to compose a poem amongst ourselves ok?
arabella Ella: one line each
Bruce Mowbray: OK. One line each.
Mickorod Renard: :)
Bruce Mowbray: Are we ready to do this?!
arabella Ella: who would like to start?
Mickorod Renard: ok
Bruce Mowbray: I will start.
arabella Ella: ok
Bruce Mowbray: OK?
arabella Ella: and clockwise
arabella Ella: then mick me and alf and back to you
Mickorod Renard: ok
arabella Ella: yes
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
Bruce Mowbray: Alone and weary did I walk
Alfred Kelberry: (i see you like walking alone, Bruce :)
Mickorod Renard: treading through long grass and stalk
Bertram Jacobus: hi everybody
Bruce Mowbray: ha!
arabella Ella: but my step was light and felt so feathery
Alfred Kelberry: oi, berty
arabella Ella: Hiya Bert
Bertram Jacobus: :-) alfi ... :-)
Bruce Mowbray: [be careful where you sit, Bert!]
Mickorod Renard: Hi Berty
Bruce Mowbray: OK.
Bruce Mowbray: Let's tell Bert what's going on and start over, OK?
Bertram Jacobus: [why?] ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: we are writing a poem.
arabella Ella: we are composing a joint poem
Bruce Mowbray: clockwise around the circle.
arabella Ella: each one says a line each following the previous one
Bruce Mowbray: one line at a time.
Bertram Jacobus: something's going on ? ah - i see - i listen
Bruce Mowbray: each of us writing the next line.
Bruce Mowbray: understand, Bert?
Bertram Jacobus: you know : my English is too bad, sry. but i appreciate to listen !
Bruce Mowbray: That's why you need to be careful where you sit.
arabella Ella: Alf will you join in too pls?
Bruce Mowbray: PLEASE, do join in!

--BELL–

arabella Ella: Alfred?
Bruce Mowbray: you too, Alf.
arabella Ella: hallo?
Alfred Kelberry: um, no, thanks
arabella Ella: owwwwww
Bertram Jacobus: [no silence?] ...
Bruce Mowbray: owwwwwwwwwwww.
Alfred Kelberry: i'm not a poetry person :)
Bruce Mowbray: [silence, now.]

The Poetry Generating Machine #2

arabella Ella: The silence hit my ears like dumbbells cracking an ancient skull
Bruce Mowbray: OK -- Shall we let that be the first line of our new poem?
arabella Ella: if u wish?
Bertram Jacobus: don´t wanna disturb your poetry slam
Bruce Mowbray: Are you joining in, Bert?
Bertram Jacobus: no sry don´t feel able to do so
Mickorod Renard: where are we up to now?
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
arabella Ella: Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: yes?
arabella Ella: The silence hit my ears like dumbbells cracking an ancient skull
Bertram Jacobus: your turn bruce i guess ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: OK. . . shall we return to our first effort or shall we start over?
Bruce Mowbray: OK OK OK.
Bruce Mowbray: The silence hit my ears like dumbbells cracking an ancient skull
Bruce Mowbray: and I, of olden days inclined,
Mickorod Renard: my stomach ached will memories of being full
arabella Ella: my head i slowly raised and delighted in the splendor of the glorious moon
Bruce Mowbray: Alas, good moon, cried I and
Qt Core: hi all
arabella Ella: Hiya Qt
Bertram Jacobus: [hi qt] ;-)
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Mickorod Renard: running thru the forest i began
arabella Ella: don't die now Bruce!
Bruce Mowbray: Welcome, Qt!
Mickorod Renard: hi Qt
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha ha!
Bruce Mowbray: OK.
Bruce Mowbray: Shall we begin again?
arabella Ella: crushing with my leaden feet all that lay in my path

Mickorod Renard: totally weeping from laughter
Mickorod Renard: ok
Bruce Mowbray: begin again?
Mickorod Renard: ok
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
Bruce Mowbray: Qt --
arabella Ella: will you join us, Qt?
Bruce Mowbray: we are writing a poem line by line.
Bruce Mowbray: each of us taking turns.
Bruce Mowbray: going clockwise around the circle.
Bruce Mowbray: This will be our THIRD start!
Qt Core: ohhhh
Bruce Mowbray: ohhhh is right!
arabella Ella: hey we finished the previous one i think
Qt Core: ever finished one ?
arabella Ella: yes of course!
Qt Core: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: we did?????
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
arabella Ella: yes the second one is finished i guess IMHO
Bruce Mowbray: Let's do another one so Qt can be part of it.
arabella Ella: ok

The Poetry Generating Machine #3

Bruce Mowbray: Mick, you start us off, OK?
arabella Ella: who will start?
Mickorod Renard: we could put it into the poetry generating machine
Mickorod Renard: who, me?
arabella Ella: yes
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers., You Mick.
arabella Ella: give us a line Mick please?
Mickorod Renard: ok
Mickorod Renard: 2 secs
Bruce Mowbray: take your time.
arabella Ella: shall i start?
Mickorod Renard: ok
arabella Ella: ok
Bruce Mowbray: ok, ara.
arabella Ella: Little did I know what my future would portend
Bruce Mowbray: [your turn, Qt]
arabella Ella: (not sure if portent is right word?)
Bruce Mowbray: ['portend is cool - poetic]
arabella Ella: :)
Bruce Mowbray: ok.
Bruce Mowbray: Let's start again....
Bruce Mowbray: Little did I know what my future would portend
Qt Core: neither my past would clearly tell
Bruce Mowbray: Yet each and every moment now
Mickorod Renard: I would not wish a life that may offend
Bruce Mowbray: [how long will this poem be?]
Bruce Mowbray: Or should we begin another? -- now that we're getting REALLY GOOD?
arabella Ella: so I gaze into the infinity and depths of the crystal ball
arabella Ella: which of course will reveal all
arabella Ella: (finished)
Bruce Mowbray: [`·.] APPLAUSE!! [.·´]
Mickorod Renard: yeaaaaaaaa
arabella Ella: LOL
Bruce Mowbray: [`·.] APPLAUSE!! [.·´]
Bruce Mowbray: Now Bert and Al-- Are you SURE you don't want to join in?
Bertram Jacobus: yes. sry. don´t feel able to
arabella Ella: perhaps Qt could start one now?
Qt Core: hey, you didn't tell me i had a choice ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: You could not do worse that we're doing,. Bert.
Bruce Mowbray: OK.... Qt starts. . .
arabella Ella: LOL
arabella Ella: we are not doing too badly are we Bruce?

--BELL–

arabella Ella: (you said Bert could not do worse?)
Bruce Mowbray: [silence. . . DING.]
Bruce Mowbray: I suggest that we set a rhythm scheme. . . OK?
Bruce Mowbray: or would you rather do free verse?
arabella Ella: cant we write post-modern poetry?
arabella Ella: yea free verse
Bruce Mowbray: sure modern is cool and easier!
Bruce Mowbray: Free to be you and me!
Bruce Mowbray: who wants to start this time?
Mickorod Renard: I will
Bruce Mowbray: How about you, AL?
Bruce Mowbray: OK. Mick!

The Poetry Generating Machine #4

Mickorod Renard: Fluffy white clouds hang up high
Alfred Kelberry: i like the idea, but English poetry is... odd :)
Bertram Jacobus: hey, steve ! :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: hello
Bruce Mowbray: Yayyyyy, steeeeeeve!
stevenaia Michinaga: late again
Alfred Kelberry: oi, steve
Qt Core: you can say that alf!
Bruce Mowbray: OK. Join our happy throng and we'll explain.
Qt Core: that
Mickorod Renard: Hi Steve
Bruce Mowbray: We are writing a poem line by line.
Bruce Mowbray: Each taking turns around the circle
Bruce Mowbray: starting with Mick.
Bruce Mowbray: OK?
stevenaia Michinaga: awww, I find poetry difficult, but once Cal, Paradise, and I did this
Bruce Mowbray: Maybe we should begin with ara this time so steve has a chance to catch his/her breath.
stevenaia Michinaga: just don't say it's my turn now
arabella Ella: mick started with
arabella Ella: Fluffy white clouds hang up high
Bruce Mowbray: No -- It won't be your turn until each of us has had a chance...
Bruce Mowbray: O.K..
Bertram Jacobus: hy tonny ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: Fluffy white clouds hang up high
Tonny Bravo: HI
Mickorod Renard: Hi Tonny
Bruce Mowbray: while far below the shepherds sigh
Bertram Jacobus: take a seat and listen to the poetry freaks if you like, tonny ! ? ;-)
Mickorod Renard: dreaming of making sheep into pie
Bruce Mowbray: OH -- sorry!
Alfred Kelberry: mick :)
Bruce Mowbray: I barged in front of Qt!!!!
Tonny Bravo: Ty
Bruce Mowbray: my fault!!!
arabella Ella: as they gaze into the red night sky
Bertram Jacobus: yvw tonny :-)
arabella Ella: (finished)
Qt Core: and i lost track of the thing
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Bruce Mowbray: me too!
Alfred Kelberry: um, red night sky and white clouds? :)
Bruce Mowbray: I cannot see Tonny.
Bertram Jacobus: he´s away already again
arabella Ella: why not Alf?
arabella Ella: poetic licence
Bruce Mowbray: wise man, Tonny, indeed.
Alfred Kelberry: oh yes :)
Bruce Mowbray: OK.
Bruce Mowbray: Are we warmed up enough yet?
Bruce Mowbray: Or shall we stop this and let Al and Bert back into the dialogue?
Mickorod Renard: yeah,,skipping and ready
Bertram Jacobus: i´m fine with all - ty
Bertram Jacobus: put music on and as you see me : dancing ... :-)
Alfred Kelberry: i liked this one, it has a rhyme
arabella Ella: let's have a grand finale ok?
Bruce Mowbray: But we want you to be part of our happy throng, Bert and Al.
arabella Ella: one last grand one
Bruce Mowbray: OK A GRAND FINALE!
Bruce Mowbray: Who wants to start?
stevenaia Michinaga: oh the pressure
arabella Ella: LOL
Bruce Mowbray feels the intense pressure.

The Poetry Generating Machine #5

stevenaia Michinaga: I will start
stevenaia Michinaga: hehe
Bruce Mowbray: OK YAYYY!
Mickorod Renard: cool
stevenaia Michinaga: The fountain before us extinguishes the fire from below
arabella Ella: but the hurt, the pain, never subside
Qt Core: and every 9 seconds we throw them away
Bruce Mowbray: and realize anew that we are free
Mickorod Renard: as dropping is the route we know
Alfred Kelberry: hmm
stevenaia Michinaga: and what one alters the mind of Bertram should be shared by all
Bruce Mowbray thinks: I WANT THAT ANIMATION!
arabella Ella: no chains no pain forever young forever free
Bruce Mowbray: OK. Were we done with that one, yet?
arabella Ella: we are now
Bruce Mowbray: ha ha ha!
Mickorod Renard: and I think I have to go home too
Bruce Mowbray: THANKS, Bert!
Bertram Jacobus: http://www.shoutcast.com/shoutcast_popup_player?station_id=1325107&play_status=1&stn=Groove
Bruce Mowbray: Good bye, Mick and thank you.
arabella Ella: bye Mick
Qt Core: and now ? movement poetry ?
Mickorod Renard: thanks for the fun session
Qt Core: bye Mick

--BELL–

Mickorod Renard: bye everyone
arabella Ella: i must go too bye everyone
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Ara
Qt Core: bye Ara
Bertram Jacobus: [bye Mick and ara]
Bruce Mowbray: bye, ara -- Thanks for the fun.
arabella Ella: :)
Alfred Kelberry: it was nice :) i think you should do it more often :)
arabella Ella: thanks to all of you too
Qt Core: poetry by committee...!
Bertram Jacobus: nice dance, steve ! ... ;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Bertram Jacobus: and ty, bruce for the animation :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: by now
stevenaia Michinaga: bye
Bruce Mowbray: totally cool dance, Bert.
Alfred Kelberry: ok, I'm off
Bertram Jacobus: bye steve
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, steve. Thanks for the fun!
Bertram Jacobus: bye alf
Alfred Kelberry: thank you all and have a good day
Qt Core: and bye Alfred
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Al -- It's been good.
Bertram Jacobus: same for you plz
Bertram Jacobus: did somebody try the url ?
Bruce Mowbray: So, Qt. Whew!
Bruce Mowbray: How's is going with you?
Qt Core: which url ?
Bertram Jacobus: http://www.shoutcast.com/shoutcast_popup_player?station_id=1325107&play_status=1&stn=Groove
Bertram Jacobus: this one
Bruce Mowbray: I am looking at it now, Bert.
Qt Core: working
Bruce Mowbray: Cooooool, sounds.
Qt Core: nice day, winding down
Bertram Jacobus: would be interested whether it works for you - may be better in an external browser - it´s a music stream
Bertram Jacobus: great ! ty for letting me know :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Yes... I hear it -- Goes well with your dancing, too.
Qt Core: i always use external browser, nice, a bit "spacey"
Bruce Mowbray: I am also winding down, Qt.
Bertram Jacobus: yeah ... :-)
Qt Core: sounds quite good on my speakers
Bruce Mowbray: went for a long hike with my dog today, and found myself going into some sort of downward spiral.
Bruce Mowbray: not pleasant.
Bertram Jacobus: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: needed to unload - drop - that one.
Bruce Mowbray: This fun session helped, it seems.
Bertram Jacobus: good
Bruce Mowbray: yes.
Bertram Jacobus: better
Bruce Mowbray: It is good to be able to play when I start obsessing.
Bertram Jacobus: nice that the sessions can help
Bruce Mowbray: yeppers.
Qt Core: why you offered us this stream, Bert (if i may ask) ?
Bruce Mowbray: I think anyone can play it, Qt.
Bruce Mowbray: right, Bert?
Bertram Jacobus: ah - before there were first poems. i didn´t feel able to take part, so i started dancing. then Bruce asked for the dance animation and i delivered the music with it ... ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: yes, and thanks for that!
Qt Core: sure, i was thinking he was the author or the dj choosing the music
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Bertram Jacobus: ah. no. it´s only one of my all time preferred streams (!) :-)
Qt Core: yes, it seem to be good background music
Bruce Mowbray: Hmmmmm. . . .
Bruce Mowbray: are you guys ready for summer to end?
Bertram Jacobus: called "groove salad" by the San Francisco station "soma fm" - even like all these names ... :-)
Bertram Jacobus: yes Bruce. you too ? :-)
Bruce Mowbray: soma fm.
Bruce Mowbray: hmmmmm.
Bertram Jacobus: yeahhhh
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I am ready -- It has been the hottest summer on record.
Bertram Jacobus: hoi cal ! :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Calvino.
Qt Core: yes, but i think we will have a nice September and October
Qt Core: hi Cal
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, I agree, Qt.
Bertram Jacobus: hot hot climate change ...
Bruce Mowbray: Whoa!!!!
Bruce Mowbray: Cal has a new look!
Bertram Jacobus: whaow - yess - coool ! :-))
Bruce Mowbray: VERY cool, indeed, Cal.
Calvino Rabeni: Hey :) TY - and hello everyone
Bertram Jacobus: looks really good - where did you find it if i may ask ? :-)
Calvino Rabeni: I could give info - it turned out to be a little complicated from different places
Bruce Mowbray: Well, wherever it's from, you did well.
Calvino Rabeni: Thanks, sometimes feedback is good to get
Bruce Mowbray: We attempted a line-by-line poetry session today, Cal.

--BELL–

Bruce Mowbray: It was fun but I don't think we'll win any prizes.
Calvino Rabeni: 'cuz actually I don't see it well since I have an old computer
Qt Core: before the pro will have a real poetry session (When it will be ?)
Bruce Mowbray: Well, I think this was SUPPOSED to be that session, Qt.
Bruce Mowbray: but everyone forgot about it.
Bruce Mowbray: maybe there is another one planned that I don't know about.
Qt Core: does someone know something about the carpet hanging on the pavilion exterior south side ?
Bruce Mowbray: I just clicked on it.
Bruce Mowbray: It is from arabella.
Bruce Mowbray: a house-warming thing, it said.
Bertram Jacobus: house warming party i read
Qt Core: i sometimes forget to click in sl and want to click in rl ;-)
Calvino Rabeni: oi, some fresh news
Qt Core: yes cal
Bertram Jacobus wouldn´t know how to that (clicking) (?) :-)
Qt Core: tell, please
Calvino Rabeni: just before I came here -I was in SL, there was a loud explosion
Bruce Mowbray: clicking in RL?
Bruce Mowbray: Oh dear!
Calvino Rabeni: the power went out for a sec, my backup power went on
Calvino Rabeni: then off again,
Bruce Mowbray: where was that, Cal?
Bruce Mowbray: In Seattle?
Calvino Rabeni: so I left SL to look around .... yes
Calvino Rabeni: and the whole house had shaken
Qt Core: !
Bruce Mowbray: gosh.
Calvino Rabeni: the cats freaked and scratched bloody (but not on purpose)
Bruce Mowbray: not an earthquake?
Calvino Rabeni: so I went to look, no damage to the house
Calvino Rabeni: no
Calvino Rabeni: I went wider around, and found about a block away
Bruce Mowbray: This happened south of San Francisco -- an explosion.
Calvino Rabeni: neighbors standing around
Bruce Mowbray: wow.
Bruce Mowbray: about what time, Cal?
Calvino Rabeni: 15 minutes ago
Calvino Rabeni: there was a magnificent maple tree, which I was looking at yesterday
Calvino Rabeni: the top half broke off, taking down the high voltage lines
Calvino Rabeni: big insulators broken, they were hot and partly melted into the asphalt
Calvino Rabeni: lots of live wires on the road
Bruce Mowbray: my goodness!
Calvino Rabeni: maybe a transformer exploded, I don't know what made the shock wave
Calvino Rabeni: it was more than just a tree falling on wires
Calvino Rabeni: So power's out in the neighborhood
Bruce Mowbray: I am checking the new reports now....
Bertram Jacobus: what was it ? a lightning strike ?
Calvino Rabeni: except for some reason, this house, it rerouted in a second
Bertram Jacobus: ah
Calvino Rabeni: Well, it's just a neighborhood event
Bertram Jacobus: sry didn´t read that with the transformer
Calvino Rabeni: but many people were on the street
Calvino Rabeni: ... just a somewhat unusual day in the neighborhood
Calvino Rabeni: (end of story)
Bertram Jacobus: yeah
Bertram Jacobus: special thing
Calvino Rabeni: I hear the utility trucks arriving
Calvino Rabeni: surprising how much the building shook from it
Calvino Rabeni: just a big tree :)
Bertram Jacobus: yeah - will be interesting what was the cause
Calvino Rabeni: missed people and cars on the ground, pretty fortunate
Calvino Rabeni: the cause was "tree too old"
Calvino Rabeni: maple hardwood trees don't last forever like evergreens
Calvino Rabeni: they last about 60 years I think, after which they die
Calvino Rabeni: usually by falling over
Bruce Mowbray: I am looking at your news -- and don't see anything there yet. .
Bruce Mowbray: http://www.king5.com/
Calvino Rabeni: but in a city, people don't necessarily know the species
Bruce Mowbray: maybe it was just the tree.
Bruce Mowbray: what a shame, though.
Calvino Rabeni: yes, that's all
Bertram Jacobus: hmmm okay - normally in towns and at such places, besides voltage lines they should be controlled (?)
Bruce Mowbray: This also happens in the country, Cal.
Calvino Rabeni: Sure, they prune etc. but don't account necessarily for age
Calvino Rabeni: of course, the tree falls in the forest :)
Bruce Mowbray: Just last week, the electric company came through and cut off threatening branches.
Calvino Rabeni: but here, Everybody heard it
Bruce Mowbray: In the forest, all living things hear it.
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Calvino Rabeni: I know, they hear us too
Bruce Mowbray: we are all connected.
Bertram Jacobus: yeah - when the voltages wires touch each other and especially high voltage - that may cause already the very heavy effect
Bruce Mowbray: Mmmmmm.
Bruce Mowbray: Wow.

--BELL–

Bruce Mowbray wonders what Bert is raising his hand for.
Calvino Rabeni goes to look at the RL Scene again
Bertram Jacobus: i raised my hand ?
Qt Core: yes as if you are clicking on something
Bertram Jacobus: ah - that was a notecard - about love :-)
Bertram Jacobus: just came in here :-)
Bertram Jacobus: oops -
Bruce Mowbray: In version 2, if you get stuck in a pose, you can go to Advanced, then Stop Animating Me.
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks for the notecard, Bert.
Bertram Jacobus: is it different to the stop animating my avatar function ? ;-)
Qt Core: but that's not an animation, a couple hits on the esc key should suffice

Bert's Notecard:
 When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life'
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God." And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. __________ Khalil Gibran

Bruce Mowbray: There! -- I wanted to get it all for the wiki.
Calvino Rabeni returns
Bruce Mowbray: wb, Cal. What's the scene out there?
Bertram Jacobus: Khalil Gibran is very special and nice i find - so intense, atmospheric ...
Bruce Mowbray agrees with Bert -- and that's why he wanted to get it for the wiki.
Calvino Rabeni: It was a nice folder of stuff, true
Calvino Rabeni: Meanwhile the disaster report ... :) those high voltage men are a distinctive breed, up there clipping off the broken high tension lines, 15,000 volts, all the while growling and smoking :)
Bruce Mowbray: Well, I am glad they are there fixing the mess.
Bruce Mowbray: on a Sunday afternoon.
Bruce Mowbray: Folks, this has been and interesting and varied session (to say the least), but I need to leave and fix myself some supper now.

[Calvino disappears]

Qt Core: ops
Bruce Mowbray: I think Cal's still having troubles with his electricity.
Bruce Mowbray: and Bert, your hand is still in the air.
Bruce Mowbray: So -- THANKS everyone, and good bye for now.
Bertram Jacobus: okai bruce ty for all the accompanying us ! :-)
Qt Core: bye Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: Bye!
Bertram Jacobus: really ? i see my hand down (?) ...
Qt Core: your other hand ;-)
Bertram Jacobus: hehe. no. both lol
Qt Core: i see your left raised as a good student's
Qt Core: now they are ok
Bertram Jacobus: better now ? ;-)
Bertram Jacobus: lol again
Bertram Jacobus: ty :-)

--BELL–

Qt Core: wb cal... for a few moments you had a female av!
Qt Core: just a two sec things
Qt Core: -s
Calvino Rabeni: I've seen that happen with others
Calvino Rabeni: I was learning more about power transmission
Qt Core: lost electricity ?
Calvino Rabeni: It comes from a pole in front of the house, so was traveling away from here on thick uninsulated metal wires that carry 15000 volts
Calvino Rabeni: so all that trouble was "downstream" of this spot
Calvino Rabeni: The surge put power out, but then it filled up again, no problem now
Bertram Jacobus: cool. but nevertheless - i´ll leave now - already late for here ! ... bfn and ty and may all beings be happy plz
Calvino Rabeni: best to you too Bertram :)
Qt Core: bye Bert
Bertram Jacobus: ty both ! *wave* ...
Calvino Rabeni: QT, I'm on my way also - take care :)
Qt Core: me too, sleeptime
Qt Core: bye Cal
Calvino Rabeni: Bye