Today in speech class

Today our group assigmment was to exhibit odd behavior in an elevator while our classmates looked on and observed reactions. What i turned in:

A young woman entered the elevator with us, and i mentally prepared for my odd behavior experiment. As soon as the elevator doors closed, i immediately yelled out “JESUS CHRIST” and ducked my head down, as if i heard a giant explosion. The silent elevator was no witness to such an event, so the young woman reacts immediately, looking extremely alarmed, nervously laughing and asking if i was alright. Incredulously, i look around and ask if anyone else heard the imaginary explosion, and then wave the thought aside as if my imagination was playing tricks on me. She continues looking at me like and saying i scared her really badly. I act as if i realize something and quickly leave the elevator on the next floor. My classmates tell me she continued to laugh and look nervous the whole way up to the fourth floor, it seems my action really scared her.

the last light – 2005?

This one is a bunch of pieces together, i think it went with the abrupt shifts i had with the music. I really need to find the demos. This reminds me of listening to Circle Takes the Square.

the last light
by chris avila

the questions and answers
all sound the same
“im sorry to hurt you,
but i’ve lost faith.”
feelings of failure
i can’t explain
i’ve turned off the last light
tonight

restoring to power
our fallen king
his footsteps forsaken
when we learned machines

i can’t stop a glacier
i can’t stop this war
if trying means failure
then why ask for more?

and i climb
and i crawl
but i can never return
to the tops
of the trees
that tower over me
and i fall and i flail
scraping elbows and knees
on my stomach
my penance is carved

lament of the lighthouse – 2005?

Here’s another old piece. I remember riding in my friend ruben’s truck while reading this aloud to him, and just seeing the competitive look in his face.

lament of the lighthouse
by chris avila

burning the lighthouse was their first mistake.
light would prove useful when navigating the rocks
as bodies washed ashore,
i notice their faces still registered surprise
that look men get when they realize its too soon,
debts unpaid, husbands, fathers and sons stolen from home.

that night we swore we’d never be like them.
we thought of the lifeless bodies
that never washed ashore.
no one knows what became of them.
did they ever exist?
if immortality is gained through legend,
then was their life a gift in vain?
the last of the flames
are caressed by night’s whispers
and i’m the only one left awake.
it’s time i went home.

The Anniversary – 2005?

Wow. So 3 years ago what was i doing? I was in a band called Before the Fall. I loved Coheed and Cambria. And that was the last time i remember where i tried to write creatively. These next few posts will be some old things i tried to write.

the anniversary
by chris avila

we march til nightfall
in rain soaked boots
muddy fields awashed with tears
and precious sleep is a rare commodity
only those with no regrets have the right to harvest
and fathers fight for the children
who sleep soundly in their beds
indifferent to the blood spilled
on battlefields they’ll never see
to them its just history

Days like these
are marked with anniversaries
we replace those that are fallen
those unfit to heed the calling
through bruised cheeks and battered lips
gracious words flow from our ruined tongues

they resound with pride
when we find apathy is our greatest enemy
this one is for all, we’ll fall

you look like the type, that gets lost in daydreams

you look like the type, that gets lost in daydreams

dreaming of a life, of a different type

what could happen “if”, what didn’t happen “because”

i sleep all day, give in to dreams

won’t keep awake, i’d rather dream, rather dream

what do you see? when you close your eyes.

I worked out lyrics to this melody in my head, finally. A bit cheesy but i think i might have something here.

Work in progress!