OctPoWriMo 2017: Day 16: Defying Fear

Photoshop manipulation by The Real Cie

i

will always

be amazed by

how gracefully you handled

the very worst of diagnoses

being told that you would lose

not only your life but yourself

you must have been afraid

as smart as you are

surely you knew

there was no miracle cure

no happy ending

but you never let it show

you were more concerned 

with not becoming a bother

than with what was happening to you

i'm so very sorry

i wish there was something

i could do to reverse

the deterioration

to let you be

yourself again

but i'm afraid

the only way for that to happen

is for you to be free

of a body

with a brain

that no longer

works for

you

Love,

Cie

Note:

The prompt today was fear. I have always thought one of the worst things that could happen would be to develop dementia. As Glen Campbell's widow said, it's better to die some other way. 

Malcolm Young handled his dementia diagnosis with unbelievable grace and dignity. A lot of people decried him as being a rather uninteresting person. I never saw him as such. He was shy and came from humble circumstances. He wasn't given to bragging about himself or strutting around like a peacock. Personally, I found his lack of bravado impressive. 

Malcolm was truly brave as opposed to being a puffed-up poser. He stood only five foot three but never backed down regardless of the size of his opponent. Sadly, the processes which cause dementia are not something that even the bravest of souls can win against.

This is my favorite of the angel wing manipulations I made a couple of years ago. I think it expresses the truth of the relationship between these fellows, who are, in my opinion, two parts of the same soul

30 Days of Haiga 2016: Day 15: Hat and Boxers

Click to Enlarge

Words and Photoshop manipulation by The Real Cie

Don't like AC/DC?

Apparently you haven't seen the sidebar of this blog.

Anyway, tough shit. I didn't make this for you.

I saw AC/DC back when Angus dropped trou all the way, not just down to his boxers. He started holding back on showing the full rear view when he realized quite a few people were bringing their kids to the shows.

Angus always made me smile. I couldn't for the life of me figure out where anyone could ever get the idea that he or any member of the band were evil.

Some people have too much time on their hands to think up outlandish crap that actually hurts people.

There's a huge difference between being cheeky and being evil.

Angus Young is a man who takes the "cheeky" descriptor quite literally.

Also, if you're going to spread rumors about someone being evil, shouldn't you at least choose someone who looks a bit sinister rather than someone who resembles a puppy? 

~Cie~

Silly Interlude: VILE Awards 2015: Steaming Piles of Poetry

Hello everyone! I thought some of you might get a laugh off this turly offering of Vogon poetry. The VILE (Vogon Intergalactic Lyrical Establishment) Awards are in full swing over at the Rattling Bones Undead Musician Magazine. This chap is one of their people's finest poets.

I also wanted to inform everyone that we are working to reply to all your lovely comments! We're a bit behind. We're currently working on the sixth day of OctPoWriMo. I assure you that we have no intent of ignoring you, and one of us will be by to say hello.

Now, if only I could get the Doctor to show up in his TARDIS, I could get caught up yesterday!

~Helena~

Celebrated Vogon poet Zephfrous Lobotomay

VILE Awards 2015:

Steaming Piles of Poetry

by

Filthy Fred

THIS IS A SANITY-SCARRING MULTIVERSE MASHUP, NETHERWORLD STYLE

SIDEBAR RULES APPLY

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE RULES, DON'T READ THE POST

Prompt Used:

TMI Tuesday

"Fellow Vogons and fnoq guests, it is time for our illustrious poetry showcase!" harrumphed Judge Ugry Surly. "Fortunately, our cufly reading does not appear to be sullied by the presence of any member of the lurak Young family. I despise them with every fiber of my ejnut. They make me want to upchuck my eory. In any case, we have with us our esteemed poet laureate Zephfrous Lobotomay to read for you his steamy sonnet, Hot Ruven. Join us now for some Astronomical Sizzle that will excite even the most muted of hiljwe."

Zephfrous Lobotomay approached the platform, cleared his throat, and spoke.

1. He turned me over and englobe afar.

2. He grabs one lira and I aglow aware.

3. She Apso cowed cautiously.

4. Now I am going to cow the sulfa oxide you.

5. I will take you by your boys now.

6. I slipped my hand under soil and his/her woods spasms.

7. In the shower she let me nosh her bow.

8. She grabbed his cow, and yanked and pulled until he vow now.

I'm not sure about anyone else, but my Hiljwe was still pretty muted after hearing that. Also, I get the distinct feeling that Judge Surly is not in the pro Young brothers camp. I overheard him saying something about wanting to remove their qutubs and feed them to ghiks. Maybe I'm misinterpreting things somehow, but to me that doesn't sound like he's exactly feeling the Young Zeal.

Filthy Fred 

for

Rattling Bones Undead Musician Magazine

a division of

FOGNL/UNDEAD Entertainment

The feelings of the Vogon Empire are mixed regarding these fellows

Certain citizens of the Vogon Empire consider Malcolm Young to be a hero of their people for saving their flagship from the Rainbow Connection Pirates during the 2014 VILE Awards. They tolerate Angus as a necessary auxiliary evil. As VILE Awards Judge Huffy Noxious says:

"Angus Young can be compared to the need for a subcutaneous injection of pix when one is experiencing the pax pox. He is a threat to the Splunge, doubly so when paired with his brother, whom I consider comparable to the bad taste left in one's mouth when licking the adhesive on uflon envelopes. It is an acceptable tradeoff for knowing that one's important paper documents are sealed in the most jiq envelopes in the Universe. However, in spite of his particular btab qualities and the threat he poses to the Splunge, Malcolm Young is indeed a hero of the Vogon Empire, and if we are to honor his contributions, we must accept the fact that his autonomously functioning conjoined soul twin cannot be far behind."

Other citizens of the Vogon Empire feel that regardless of the fact that Malcolm saved the Vogon Empire's flagship with his quick thinking and sharp wit, he is too great a threat to the mysterious and inexplicable quality of Splunge to be allowed aboard said flagship again, and becomes infinitely more of a threat when his brother is present. Besides, as Tuns Tumuch said after capturing Malcolm in a Soul Stripper spider web last year and forcing him to listen to multiple verses from the Grimoire of Yopsog, the sentiment of certain vogons regarding said accidental hero is "I just don't like you."

We are left with the question of whether the nefarious plot of Judge Ugry Surly and the anti-Young faction will succeed in eradicating the ingenuous musical pair to the farthest reaches of the time-space continuum, or if the "hideously adorable in their own iqueous way" duo will find a way to negate the unsavory plot of General Mondegreen should they cross paths with him. It remains to be seen!

Personally, I'm rooting for the hideously adorable twosome. As my pal Kizz Myass says "I loike dose wee dudes. They're totally deadly."

Harry Sakks

for

Rattling Bones Undead Musician Magazine

a division of

FOGNL/UNDEAD Entertainment

The Brothers' Cookie Quest

Angus (L) and Malcolm Young, late 1960's

You cannot tell me that these guys never used the "who, us?" expression to their advantage

The Brothers' Cookie Quest

Tiring greatly of waiting for chow

Though he feared a foot to the brow

The elder of two brothers

Gave a boost to the other

To reach the cookies they were craving right now

~Wanda~

Prompts used:

Mad Kane's Limerick-Off

OTP Prompts (BROTP in this case)

One Soul As Two Minds

Born in two bodies

Yet with a union so close

They were of one mind

A love of this kind

Survives death of the body

Or loss of reason

~Koni~

Koni's Notes:

Angus Young (L) was the first person to notice that something was amiss with Malcolm Young (R) when the bright and hyper-organized Malcolm began to become disorganized and forgetful. Angus covered for his brother, at first helping him remember things that needed to be done, and eventually covering for Malcolm during performances when he would miss chords from songs that he'd written himself.

Before Malcolm lost the ability to remember what he had done during his life or even the ability to recognize the people he was closest to including the brother who seemed to be the other half of his own soul, he told Angus to keep making music. Not long afterwards, it became necessary to place him in a long term care facility. 

It is my belief that a bond like this one survives even death, be it of mind or body. Not everyone is fortunate enough to know the reflection of their soul. Such a reflection is not always romantic; as in this case, the reflection is platonic and/or filial. In any case, such a union is to be treasured. It can never be destroyed.

~Koni~

Cross-Posted to:

Dream About Me, Sweet Brother
(Note: Blog overall is NSFW; certain posts contain explicit gay erotica)

Poetery of the Netherworld

Quiet People Have the Loudest Minds

Quiet People Have the Loudest Minds

I

In an industry that praises a man for being a blackguard

You refused to behave like a swine

You were tolerant, but not amoral

You chose to cleave to what you deemed important

Refusing to be some sort of cog in the machine

Your voice was an understated baritone

Your style in no way operatic

You preferred to let your axe do the talking

Coming up from a humble background

You led the poor in a quiet revolt

By teaching us to be unashamed of who we are

If anyone had ever referred to you

As a knight riding in on a white horse

You would have laughed

But you were a hero to many of us

We saw you as strong in spite of your diminutive stature

Which is why we were shocked when it was revealed just how fragile you are

There was no antecedent to predict

How swiftly and fearfully you would be felled

II

When I found out the reason

Why the world would never again hear your restless thoughts poured out in music

It made me shiver and sway

My soul was left a jittering mess

Tumbling into a sick, hellish abyss

My heart landed in the basement

And there is no consolation

Nor any chance for denial

My eyes are swollen from crying

Everybody knows that something's wrong

I never was any good at hiding behind a mask

This is the worst, the absolute worst

Because not only are there no expectations for recovery

There's nothing left of what you were in your head

Although the curtain's not yet drawn on vital functions

The obituary for your soul's been read

I thought it might be whiskey that would take you in the end

She was the one mistress you had trouble resisting

Because she temporarily quieted the voices of self-doubt

That screamed behind your placid demeanor

Quiet people have the loudest minds

I loved yours

Love it still

Love it always

Cie and Mo

for

Malcolm

Writing Prompts:

Mindlovemisery's Menagerie

The Reverie

Cross-Posted to:
Dream About Me Sweet Brother
(Warning: Blog contains explicit, unapologetic slash/erotic gay fiction)
KHEL 666
Poetry of the Netherworld
Rattling Bones Undead Musician Magazine

Notes:

Morella La Muerte (Mo) is the primary writer on the first poem, The Real Cie is the primary writer on the second.

Mo wanted to use the words from both Wordles but became overwhelmed. She emailed Cie asking for advice. We've been collaborating since five this morning! Three point five hours in, we've finally got it cooked to delicious imperfection.

Delicious imperfection could also describe the subject of the poem, although that sounds kind of lecherous. We actually are referring to his personality. He was flawed, but extremely well-intentioned. He created wonderful things without knowing just how wonderful they were. He was also extremely hard on himself. He never measured up to his own exacting standards.

I doubt we'll ever stop writing about this situation. We certainly will never stop thinking that it's a steaming pile of crap on the part of the Universe. We'd have been sad to have the man killed off, but to destroy his mind on top of it, that's fucking insult to injury. His was a beautiful mind. The world has been robbed of a real treasure.

Ignoring the fact that we have to get a spotlight over here because Angus is taking off his clothes again, could we just for a moment pause and ponder the absolutely solid foundation of this very tasty blues-rock number?

Angus spoke about his admiration for Malcolm's style in a January 2014 article from Guitar World:

"Sometimes I look at Malcolm while he's playing, and I'm completely awestruck by the sheer power of it. He's doing something much more unique than what I do-with that raw, natural sound of his. People like Malcolm, Steve Cropper, Chuck Berry and Keith Richards-they're all doing something better than the rest of us. I can't deny that Eric Clapton's and Eddie Van Halen's lead stuff has influenced a stack of people, but for me it's the rhythm thing that's way more impressive and important to a band.

Malcolm is a big inspiration to me; he keeps me on my feet. Even when I'm tired from running around the stage for two hours, I'll look back at what he's doing and it gives me that boot up the backside I sometimes need."

Absolutely.

What a great loss, not only to the world of music, but to the world as a whole.

Photoshop manip by Cie

Original Eye in the Sky image:

Copyright: zadvinskiy / 123RF Stock Photo

For Malcolm Young

For Malcolm Young

A gentle, elf-like man with a razor wit and soft heart

Devoted husband, father, son and brother

Loyal friend

Talented tunesmith

Shrewd businessman

But most of all, decent to the core

To have everything you worked for swiftly wiped from memory

Along with your recognition of those you love the most

A greater tragedy cannot be imagined

I believe you will remember them again when your soul flies free

I believe you will always love them regardless of what your mind allows you to recall

Those who loved your music grieve for you

And for those who love you best

Dear Malcolm, you don't deserve this

You are better than whatever disease has taken your mind away

Nothing can ever remove you from the hearts of those who love you

Especially those who were a part of you

And will be forever

You are a special person

More than a music icon

The world was a better place because of you.

Love from Blooming Psycho and Team Netherworld

Brothers and best friends, forever

AC/DC's rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young was sidelined by fast-moving dementia. At only 61 years old, his wife had to opt to put him in a long-term care facility. His short term memory is completely gone. He can't remember things that happened literally minutes before and doesn't recognize the people he loved the most. 

I wrote a little tribute to the deep bond between Malcolm and his brother Angus. Our hearts go out to Angus. This must be like losing a piece of his soul.