Curses like the long one last month are always interesting-- like playing a role written just for me, being someone I'm not but who I might have been. I didn't really mind this one-- I know sometimes those get bad, for some people, but well, school is just school, how bad can it be?

It was strange, though; imagining things were so different than they are. What life would be like if I'd had a twin brother, if I'd been at a different school, if... well. Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about is what I did, because everyone knows what happens during curses isn't always real, this is important to me and I think I'd rather give up the secret than have people think it didn't mean anything. Sometimes secrets are meant to be shared.

There is a Dead Poets Society.

I almost wrote there was, but really I think because of the nature of the Society, it can't really cease to exist. Not all the Dead Poets are dead, but the poets who are dead are still Dead Poets. Here, especially; I mean, there's no reason to think Henry David Thoreau couldn't walk into the bookstore tomorrow afternoon. So even if there weren't any meetings after... everything happened, at home, there'd still be a Society; and maybe someday someone will share the secret again like Mr. Keating did with us. And even if they don't, even if no one ever talks about it again... it's just a name and a structure to something that's always been there. There will always be Poets, because the human race will always be filled with passion. And so, there will be members, even if they don't know the words for it.

I'm not sure this makes any sense, to anyone who wasn't there. But I wanted to say it.

Some of you are Dead Poets, and some of you don't know that you are. But I hope you're all making the most of it, whoever you might be.

Anyway.

I need one more actor from you, City! Our cast for The Importance of Being Earnest is just one person short of being full-- but right now, we've no one playing Merriman. So, if there's anyone who'd like to try their hand at acting, we'd love to have you. Even if you've never been in a play before! We're happy to have newcomers.

And... Everyone else in the play-- we'll have to start full rehearsals soon, what days work best for you? I do hope you've started working on your lines?

[ooc; play post here! also, as always, please no fourth-walling the Society. XD responses may be late after 5 east-coast time.]

[Anonymous Voice Post is Anonymous!]

[There's a pause before he begins speaking in a stage whisper theoretically designed to disguise his voice. If you know him (or his brother, for that matter,) it might be obvious; but really, it's for effect. Don't stifle his flair for the dramatic okay.]

I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. To put to rout all that was not life, and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived.

We of the Dead Poets believe that, although our academic pursuits are a matter of great importance, such work is not what we live for; poetry, passion, the appreciation of beauty, are what keep us from being bound to lives of quiet desperation.

So tell me, gentlemen, ladies-- can you keep a secret?


[In addition, one might find here and there random bits of poetry-- mostly of the Romantic era-- chalked unobtrusively on walls and sidewalks, occasionally 'signed' with the initials DPS, or the words Dead Poets Society.

Any student of any school who expresses interest in this post-- anyone he can identify, anyway-- will be slipped a piece of paper at some point with a few lines of Coleridge and a time tomorrow evening written on it.]



[ooc; All replies will be text or the same 'anonymous' whisper >3 Neil's AU bio is over hyar, along with all my others. ^_^ a-as always please don't fourth-wall the Dead Poets :X Todd will be posting re: the meeting tomorrow!]

Tonight, tonight, tonight!!

I thought about staying out all night, staying up and watching the shooting stars until the sky got too light to see them, but I was too tired to manage it. Kind of unexpected, but it was very pretty; I wonder whether it means anything.

I was reading, after I came back in, and I found this;

GO and catch a falling star,
Get with child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the devil's foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Or to keep off envy's stinging,
            And find
            What wind
Serves to advance an honest mind.

If thou be'st born to strange sights,
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me,
All strange wonders that befell thee,
            And swear,
            No where
Lives a woman true and fair.

If thou find'st one, let me know,
Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
Though at next door we might meet,
Though she were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
            Yet she
            Will be
False, ere I come, to two, or three.

It's John Donne. It's... well, kind of a pessimistic poem, but I like it anyway. All the impossible images, grandiose and ironically sad... Mostly, I just thought it was interesting, coming across it last night while the stars here were falling. I like that; odd little coincidences. Like unexpected undeserved bits of good luck, cropping up unexpected.

I don't know, it makes me feel like I've managed to do something right, accidentally, and the world just wanted to let me know. That sounds kind of insane, I guess?



( sob, OOC tl;dr regarding the Dead Poets Society: City Chapter! )

riverrun, she said. I don't know what it means, but I don't want to forget it. Maybe I ought to worry more about why, about what it means to be here-- what the cost might be-- but it's hard to care, knowing where I might be otherwise. What I might be... It's bad enough, being reminded by the stillness... but... I'll take that, over being a ghost.

Is being remembered really what makes the difference? I guess it's nice to know, in a sense... though in other ways it only makes things worse. No matter what anyone says I know I don't deserve to be here. But I am. So maybe I should just... try to forget, about what I deserve or don't, and try to make the most of this. A second chance, to get it right. Seize the day. I'm trying, really.

I wonder what they would ask of me, to buy my life back... and whether it would be wrong of me to do it.

I've been meaning to make this announcement a while, but between the curses and everything else... well, better late than never.

We're still looking for people for our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in June, and need to fill the following roles;

THESEUS, Duke of Athens
EGEUS, Father to Hermia
PHILOSTRATE, Master of the Revels to Theseus
SNUG, a Joiner
FLUTE, a Bellows-mender
SNOUT, a Tinker
STARVELING, a Tailor
TITANIA, Queen of the Fairies

As well as, if we can get them, a few more fairies. Both with and without lines, though the fairies who do have speaking parts don't have much to memorize. Please let me know, as soon as you can, if you're interested! Even if you're not entirely certain. I'll talk you into it.

For everyone already in the play, what times would be good for you for rehearsals?

Other than that... I think I promised a few people I'd fence with them, but I lost track of who... Caspian, and Kate, and... was there anyone else?

I should update more often, or things pile up...

Also, do you think I could buy a typewriter, somewhere in the City..?



[ooc; strikes are unwritten, I just wanted to voice what's on his mind ;_; Play post here forever. also, striking out as people are wheedled into it, ahaha. <3]

Impossible really doesn't have much meaning here, does it? Walking through other people's dreams was amazing. I understand why some people didn't enjoy it-- I mean, I guess it depends on whose dreams you see and what they're about-- but I guess I was lucky. All the dreams I stumbled into were pleasant ones. Yuuko, Rosella, thank you for showing me around your homes! I'm glad I had a chance to see them, even if it was just a dream.

Todd-- are you really going to  that was did you remember to write that poem down when you woke up? Or at least, do you remember how it goes? I was trying but I can't recall all of it. It'd be a shame to lose it, it was really good!

And speaking of which... I need your recommendations on something, City! Who's your favorite poet? What's your favorite poem? I'm partial to the Romantics myself, but I'm curious to see what other people like. And kind of curious about poetry after when I'm from... I guess I have a lot to catch up on! Anything, really-- whether you think I'd like it or not, I want to read it. Assuming the library lets me find it.

Oh, what else... Work on the play is going well, though we still need more actors, of course! We've three of the four lovers, but we're still looking for a Demetrius! And several others-- most of the Athenian actors, and more fairies, always. And if any of you would like a hand practicing your lines, let me know. Blair tells me we've got costumes taken care of, and our scenery (since the play will be outdoors,) so we should be in good shape. Once we fill out a few more roles, and once everyone feels they've got a handle on their parts (even if they're not memorized yet,) we can start thinking about working as a group!

[ooc; Theater organizizing post here still. Also...not plotting anything re: poetry. clearly. >_> also yes, he is serious, he will help you practice lines |D if anyone is lame like me we can log it if you like ♥♥]