The Art of Ma; Thursday, Second Period [12/03].

[sake_shinigami]

"Welcome back, ducklings ♥," Shunsui greeted the class as they gathered, in the classroom, with the desks pushed aside and replaced with comfortable cushions in a circle at the center of the room, each little spot accompanied with a few notebooks and pens. "Our time together on this subject is running short, so it's high time we've delved into the poetic examples of Ma in art. In Japanese poetry Ma suggests a pause in time — it takes the mind to the moment that inspired the poet, suggesting that one contemplates that moment, experiences it fully. For example, the term ko-no-ma, meaning ‘among trees’ sets a vivid scene, yet at the same time the moment is open for individual interpretation ♥. And our most clear and evident example of such a venture is, naturally, the Japanese haiku ♥.

"Traditionally, a haiku consists of just three phrases that contain kireji, 'the cutting word,' in a 5, 7, 5 syllable pattern, and traditional haiku will almost always contain some reference to nature or seasons. Not all haiku will be reflective of Ma, but since they deal so heavily with nature, and nature is often reflective of Ma, there are many haiku, then, that are also Ma ♥."

The faint grin on his face may have suggested that he had made that intentionally a bit convuluted, yes.

"An example, then, from Naitō Jōsō:

Plains and Mountains
All enveloped in snow-
There is nothing else.

Or perhaps this one, from Jōsō's mentor Bashō:

Fragrant orchard--
Perfuming the wings
Of the butterfly

And a third, from Kobayashi Issa:

A giant firefly
wavers this way and that way--
look--it flies away.

"Now, of course, with some of the translations from the original Japanese, the beats and phrases are a little off, but the sentiment remains true: a picture in nature, a breath, to acknowledge the small things that fill the negatie space of the bigger picture ♥. What are these poems really telling us? What do they make us feel? How does it inspire us in the world around us? And, of course...can we effectually make our own? And that's what we'll be doing today, ducklings, taking our pens to the paper and reflecting the art of Ma through our own words ♥.

Intro to PE, Thursday Period One

[magnusrushesin]

Cara looked extremely displeased as the class arrived. At least until she noticed them, then she looked almost cheerful.

Be afraid.

Magnus, on the other hand, had his shield raised over his head. To be safe.

"So, there's some weird shipper mistletoe around and I don't wanna yuck anyone's yum, but... I'm mostly just glad there's no plant sex or stuff with Clint?" What was that, Magnus?

Was Cara ignoring what Magnus had just said for her own peace of mind? Yes. Yes she was. "Which means that in lieu of a more involved class, you'll be playing dodgeball today."

Again, there was no good reason for her to be sounding so cheerful about that.

"Also, the balls will be on fire," Magnus added. Thank god for the danger shop's safety protocols, right?

"You get extra points for hitting the mistletoe."

Functioning Governments, Thursday, December 3, 2020

[heroic_jawline]

"We have 48 days, I believe, until the inauguration of a new President," Steve said. "The Constitution mandates the date for when it happens: January 20th, which is unfortunate because it is generally--frankly speaking--stupidly cold in Washington, DC, in January."

"I think it was meant as a challenge," Tony said. "We even had a president die because he insisted on giving a speech in the weather once."

"Without a coat to prove his manliness, or so the story goes," Steve said. "Don't be that kind of an idiot, kids."

Look, America was a special place.

"So, the inauguration of a new President involves a public ceremony, swearing them into office and the recitation of the oath of office," Tony said. "Something that is actually in the Constitution."

"The President and the Vice President take the same oath, aside from the job title, as everyone else who works in government service," Steve said. "The military swears the same thing, as do Senators and judges. 'I do solemnly swear--or affirm--that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.' Note how it is sworn to a document and not a person."

Something the current guy had a major problem understanding.

"What do you all think of this? Is it reasonable or would you make changes to it?" Tony asked. "How are things different where you're from?"

"Is there an oath at all?" Steve asked. "Are there enforceable consequences for when you, hypothetically speaking, ignore every single part of your oath?"

Please ignore how Tony was trying not to laugh at how unsubtle Steve was.