Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Migration & Conquering Part 2

The Mongolian empire was more influential to the world than you would think.

Genghis Khan (birth name: Temujin) was supreme Khan of the Mongols  Empire that soon swallowed the Chinese. As a child he was born into royalty as his father was chieftain  However, that bloodline spilled and left a nasty stain in the floor after his father was poisoned. His mother and all his siblings were left to poverty. At the age of ten he was kidnapped by his own father's allies, but a sympathetic guard helped him escape into a nearby river.

In Mongolia at the time Genghis Khan was alive it was divided into many separate tribes. This resulted in tribal warfare and countless raids and even the use of slavery. He did though, marry the woman whom his father arranged him to be with at the age of 16. Even when she was kidnapped, he and another friend rescued her. Genghis had three more children with her.

When he took over the Mongols as Khan, he was determined to unite as one country. Once taking control over the Mongols, he spread his troops into China. After conquering the majority of China, the Mongols made their way west. Although Genghis Khan died before he saw his Empire grow completely, he handed off his succession to one of his sons.

There is a theory that the beginning of the plague grew in Southern China and it spread through to the Mongols. Since the Mongols were beginning to take over parts of the west, the disease swept through them into the west and even making it's way into England. Another interesting theory.

This is an amazing quote from Genghis's brother before he became Khan of the Mongols, "What use is there in my becoming a companion to you? On the contrary, sworn brother, in the black night I would haunt your dreams, in the bright day I would trouble your heart. I would be the louse in your collar, I would become the splinter in your door-panel...as there was room for only on sun in the sky, there was room only for one Mongol lord," (Jack Weatherford).



*Weatherford, Jack (2004). Genghis Khan: War of the Khans. New York: Random House, Inc. p. 63.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Migration and Conquering Part 1

There was an interesting theory passed around in one of my anthropology classes. The teacher told us that there have been links to the Hungarian/Finnish and Japanese/Korean languages.

So how can that be?

In theory if we accept that the similarities are significant enough - how did this happen?
In this theory, there is an idea that the pastoral civilization that lived within present Hungary and Finish migrated through Asia and made their way to Korea and soon Japan.

Why Korea and not China?

If traveling from Eastern Europe into Asia, China is surrounded by mountains and two deserts. Not a very easy voyage. North of the mountains and deserts is a large horizontal plains through present day Mongolia - perfect on horseback. The plains move along all the way to the very tip of Korea and from Korea, Japan is a boat ride away. 

Although just a theory, it's an interesting theory nonetheless.







Monday, November 19, 2012

Weekly Writing: A Tale of Two Lovers


A Tall of Two lovers


Shaking nerves
but not of cold feet,
sweet Orpheus
waits to be wed
to dear Eurydice.
Izanagi and
Izanami,
brother and sister,
husband and wife.
Waiting for the forth
child, kami of fire,
to be birthed tonight.

A satyr sets
upon Eurydice,
ready to strike.
Escaping the creature
lead her straight
into the snake pit.
Bitten on the heel
and fell ill;
cast into the underworld.
Later, found 
by devastated, poor
Orpheus.

The birth,
so immense.
Pain grew intolerable,
uncontrollable.
Out the young
kami came,
with a large price
to pay.
Sweet wife,
lovely Izanami
had passed away.

Orpheus rode
in a heated stride,
playing music
to heal his cries.
Through the gates,
to the underworld.
Sooth Hades’ heart
with soft melody.
“Take your bride,
but do not look
at her
until you are back
in the upper world.”
Take Eurydice’s hand,
and head devotedly
back through the gate.

Izanagie charges
down to Yomi,
the underworld.
Searching for beloved wife,
yet cannot see her,
hidden in the shadows.
Pleads she returns,
but Izanami declines
and claims
she is one
with the underworld.
Quickly though
the realm of hell,
eager to have young
Eurydice back.
Step into upper world,
just one more foot
and she would be there
with her love,
hand and hand.
Yet eagerness leads
to forgetful minds.
For Orpheus
looked back
before she crossed
human to spiritual line.
Held in his grasp,
and after a seconds’ passed,
she vanished
gone back
to the hellish land.

Never giving her up,
so waited
until beautiful wife
slept quietly.
Stealthily immerge
from his place.
Pull comb from his hair
and lit it ablaze,
a torch to guide
his way.
Enter the shadows
                        to find his wife.
Yet what used to be
a beauty,
and a fragile lover,
now rotting flesh,
a maggot home and
creature’s delight.
Scream at the sight.
Run away.


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Great White Shark Ancestry

It was under belief for a long time that the prehistoric Megaladon Shark was a direct ancestor to the Great White shark.

Megaladon was the largest shark ever discovered; recorded with a 6 foot jaw span, teeth the size of human hands, and an average of 50 foot length. It was a major ocean predator during the Cenozoic Era (a period after the Cretaceous period when large numbers of species, including the dinosaurs, became extincted).







New research however, has found that Megaladon is not a direct link to the present day Great White. Instead, a shark called Carcharodon hubbelli, who is a ancestor to the Mako shark (pictured below).



For more information, visit the full article: 


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Mississippians

I have a secret to admit. Before I was heart-set on becoming a writer, my passion was for dirt and anything buried beneath; mainly dinosaurs and ancient civilizations. Although I cannot pursue this passion in full I can still research as much as my little heart desires. So I might as well share my findings with you. 

Mississippians

Here's an ancient civilization in the United States. The first time I read about it was in the National Geographic Magazine and I just happened to find it again. This civilization really sparked interests.

The Mississippians was a large civilization stretching from most of the east's southern coast up to the Great Lakes.

This particular culture is one of the only civilizations to create pyramid like mounds. The greatest known and well kept mound to date is called Cahokia and is located in Illinois.

The mounds were used to display hierarchy. The community with more mounds are higher on the hierarchical scale. An artist representation of such town is portrayed below:



As shown in the illustration, the civilization maintained domestic housing; it also created temples and burial buildings.

Although the Mississippians civilization was quite large and prosperous with trade spreading into the Rockies, there wasn't a writing system in place.

This world came to an end with the Spaniards arrived. Most Mississippians died to infectious diseases opposed to war and fighting. Survivors lingered and became nomadic and others stayed and lived in the old ways, but the Mississippian culture completely collapse and after a couple generations even the oral tradition was severed from its historical roots. 


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Weekly Writing: Trim Them Up


Trim Them Up

Feel soft fur
laid in your arms.
Tiny mouth bites
finger, playfully.
Pass puppy
to nurse
who takes girls
and boys
into the back room.
Tiny mouth trapped
so cannot bite.
Clip skin.
Clip meaningless
piece of flesh.
Flesh that can
do no harm.
Brought on by
Victorian charm.
We say it's for aesthetics.
We say it's for identification.
But when denial
races in our thoughts,
puppies whine in pain.
With clipped ears
and docked tails,
bring on chance for infection
and weeks of bandages
when trimmed.

Feel soft skin
laid in your arms.
Tiny hands squeeze
finger playfully.
Pass infant
to nurse
who takes you son
into sound proof room.
Tiny hands strapped
down to table
and legs separated.
Clip skin.
Clip meaningless
piece of flesh.
Flesh that can
do no harm.
Brought on by
religious charm.
We say it's healthier.
We say it's cleaner.
But while denial
races in out thoughts,
your son screams,
squirming in shock.
Actual shock;
real diagnosis given
to newborn boys
when trimmed.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Promotional Sale

Clash of Weapons has released two new books: Buried: 6ft & Oiche Shamhna

In celebration, COW is putting on a promotional sale!

Find it on Amazon!


Clash of Weapons has released two new books: 

Buried: 6ft and Oiche Shamhna







Buried: 6ft

C.o.W best of S.G.Renee 2004 - 2010 poetry book, Buried. S.G. Renee solo years, (2012 version) illustrated by Konaa. Clash of Weapons 4th year anniversary edition. 
*Contains nudity, violence, and adult situations.


Clash of Weapons has released two new books: 

Buried and Oiche Shamhna


Oiche Shamhna

Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh!

Clash of Weapons special Celtic end of the year mini poetry book, 
Oiche Shamhna. 

A homage to the Gaelic version of All Hollow’s Eve.
Featuring an exclusive kindle only "tuar ceatha" cover.

Slainte!





Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Weekly Writing: Samuel


Samuel

Samuel Alexander
Armas,
a fetus,
diagnosed
spina bifida.
Would not make it
at birth.
Bruner's gentle
hands came
to save
the unknown life.
Perform C-section,
slowly pull out
the womb.
Small incision.
Work miracles
and bring back
a chance for new life.
Bruner's hands fix
all that is broken.
Womb shakes,
though no one
has touched it.
Tiny hand
slips out
into a world
he will learn
to know.
Bruner's one finger,
consoles twenty-one
week old
as he clasped
his fingers
around hope.


Link to the famous photograph of the surgery taken by Michael Clancy below. Warning: the photograph is not censored. 

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Weekly Writing: Three Equal Parts


Three Equal Parts

Liberia can smile.
Women raise arms,
embrace new light.
Years of civil war
finally at an end.
Brave new leader,
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,
elected.
Push for rights
will be stronger now.
Now that Leymah Gbowe
is not fighting alone.
You spoke through
rallies and
your writings for Yemen,
Tawakul Karman.
Writings which scream
to break
a testosterone driven
society.
Screamed so loud
and the world has heard.
Nobel Prize award
a sign,
a symbol
of great new hope.

Writer Tips: Submission Formats

Believe it or not, just like your English homework, you need to format you story/novel/poetry submission. The link also has a link to how to set up each template if you have trouble.

Story (works for flash fiction, short story and possibly novelete & novella)
http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html

Novel (works for over 60,000 words; possibly novellas)
http://www.shunn.net/format/novel.html

Poerty Format (works for one page poems, if the poem is longer, copy the page header the story format uses).
http://www.shunn.net/format/poem.html

Hope this helps - it certainly helped me. I'll go more into submission format details and the underlining argument next week.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Weekly Writing: In the Hall of Bulls


In the Hall of Bulls
10-1-11

During the painting ritual
is when I first saw her:
blue eyes,
darkened skin,
wide grin.
Beautiful as the winter sun.
Deep in the cave,
away from tribal parenting,
we paint our spirits.
Although, I eager
to impress,
tried to depict
myself slaying a bison.
Bison, rough and threatening;
began to draw myself
but cannot take eyes
from her gracefulness.
How she spawns a lovely
beast from fingertips.
A rhinoceros,
strong and fierce,
yet make a sweet mother
for growing calf.
Smudge the painting,
no longer a human head
but that of a birds.
Hear her giggle,
quietly, not meaning
to disturb,
and left a kiss
on my cheek
before heading back to her family.
Many tribes come
for the festival,
so many it's hard
to find sweet girl again.
Weaving though
crowds and still
could not seek
girl with the sky
in her eyes.

Descend down
to the burial lands.
Great large stones
with prayers.
Gathered all in
its hold,
huddled close
for winter is cold.
Start to sing,
start to chant,
and pray
to spirits of Death.
The old emerge,
to the center.
There I see her,
lonely crying
until my hand
reaches out to hers.
She's watching
her father stand
ready to ascend.
Powerful chants
forces symbols
on the stones to light.
Singing to the old,
how we love them
but it's time
to go,
time to say
goodbye.
Ground shakes
beneath us,
for we wake
the spirits
with our prayers.
Rising forth
from the earth,
take  our
elders in fire
to live a new
life in the underworld
and leaving only their ashes
behind in ours.

Return next
two summers.
The girl with the sky
in her eyes,
holding my hand
and her stomach,
expecting.
Fingers dirty
from the caves
as the tribes
gather around
her and I.
Lay sweet woman
in the center
of the ground.
Leave a kiss
on her cheek.
Step back
and join in chants.
Sing as the light
forms underneath her.
Sing as the spirits
help new life
come into ours.
Spirits descend.
A new child in her hands.
A baby girl:
blue eyes,
darkened skin,
wide grin.
Beautiful as the summer sun.
Taking control of the blog again.
I'll be focusing on the following weekly posts:
-Featured artist/artwork
-Writing/poems
-Interesting facts about around the world
-Tips for writers/writings discussions
-Writing prompts


These posts will also be shown on my Facebook page for Clash of Weapons and Twitter.

Stay Tuned.
~ Sarah