THE LONG STRETCH

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

When the voice in my head is loud and clear.
Telling me that to fantasy I must adhere.
How really detached from myself can I get?
Am I really in need for such a long stretch?
Haven´t my expectations been properly met?
No, not yet.

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

"Anyway, who is Fernando?"

Who is Fernando, if not the personification of the juxtaposition of redemptional bliss and comfortable numbness in superlative form? Or perhaps a mere human contradiction deprived of any pretentiously metaphoric interpretation; just the plain old “Black on White” assumption? Some may say he´s an existencialist figment which is the fruit of a conflicted imagination metaphysically transgressing the boundaries of any pre-meditated context. An abstract concept waiting to be born? Could be. Still others might argue he´s the living result of his deepest and most personal thoughts and feelings revolting inside his mind. A case of thoughts over mind... Shouldn´t the mind control thought? Is this reasonable? Nevertheless, let us not forget that catharsis takes place whenever he escapes his chaotic affairs - so typical of these modern days - and finds redemption in his private intellectual sanctuary. The ebullition of indulgence! Well, what about the embracing lethargic sensation he achieves after leaving all the excruciating anguish behind? That which leads him to a state of mind where absolutely no mundane issues can bother him anymore? Has anyone ever considered that? How close do you have to get to fully understand?

A short essay by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

ROGER WATERS DARK SIDE OF THE MOON TOUR

SATURDAY, MARCH 24th, 2007 – São Paulo, Morumbi Stadium. 45.000 fans were present at the venue to watch Pink Floyd´s former lyricist and bass player perform his second show of the “Dark Side Of The Moon” 2007 Tour in Brazil. By: Fernando de Mello Pimentel.

An apprehensive crowd of Pink Floyd fans gathered in São Paulo to watch Roger Waters´ second show in brazilian soil. Groups of fans could be spotted around the premises of Morumbi Stadium as early as 6 pm that night, for a concert which was scheduled to start at 9 pm. An interesting stage was set, depicting an old vintage radio set, a bottle of scotch and a pack of cigarettes. Minutes before the concert started, a film was projected on a wide screen which was set on the back part of the stage where a big hand – supposedly Waters´- started switching the radio´s tuner searching for different music stations. The hand also interacted with the bottle of whiskey and the cigarettes. The crowd responded quite enthusiastically to such gimmick.
In respect to his own british punctuality, Waters started sharply at 9 pm with the disturbing “In The Flesh?” which was soon followed by “Mother” , both of which are highly regarded tracks from Pink Floyd´s 1979 “THE WALL”. The first set of the night´s concert was an assorted collection of songs ranging from different periods of the artist´s career with Pink Floyd and solo. One of the many high points of the show took place during the song “Sheep” - the only song from the album “ANIMALS” to be presented that night – when the iconic giant inflatable Pig surprised all of the present fans with a lap around the stadium. Prostest phrases and anti-imperialistic slogans covered the porcine-shaped balloon. At the end of the lap, the Pig was released from its cable as thousands of delirious fans applauded and shouted in sign of approval.
Roger Waters concluded the first set-list by inviting the audience for a 15 minute break prior to the execution of the complete “DARK SIDE OF THE MOON”.
The second part of the show commenced with an energetic performance of the anthologic “Dark Side Of The Moon”. State-of-the-art renderings of all of the classic tracks were delivered in high cristaline sound, and were sung along by fanatic hordes deployed through-out the stadium. Nearly 34 years after its ground breaking release in the early 70´s, the classic rock album still resonates relevance not only among its long-time die-hard base of followers, but it is also highly appealing to an entire new legion of fans from descending generations. With a remarkable exploitation of universal themes such as “Time”, “Money” “Clash of the classes” and “Insanity”, the record withstood the test of time to become a milestone in music history. Its powerful concept underlies the most essencial elements of common modern human life. “Dark Side Of The Moon” is also very rich because it expresses these concerns with no pretentious approach. It is a masterpiece designed to offer its listeners an intense musical experience open for subjective interpretation.
After the completion of the “DSTM” set, the band left the stage only to return after the boisterous crowd cried out for more songs. The band then returned on stage to deliver blistering performances of the anthemic “Another Brick In The Wall – Part II”, which had the participation of members from the “Projeto Guri” choir – a non governmental organization devoted for cultural development, and “Comfortably Numb”. Both songs were sung with cathartic intensity as the concert came to a conclusion.

THE 3M´S Reviewer: WHITE RABBIT

THE 3M´S Reviewer: WHITE RABBIT

A POEM FOR ROBERTA

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

"There´s something about your eyes, your hair that makes me wanna dream...
There´s something about your skin, your lips that makes me burn in steam...
However things may turn-out to be, I just know that you´re "one-of-a-kind"...
That´s why, baby, I keep you tight day and night, sun or rain, on the heart of my mind."

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

TEXAN DUMMY

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

In the Oval Office sits a Texan dummy.
Who wages war with the Nation´s money.
Guns, Tanks, and Tomahawks...
He´s never heard of Peace talks.

He fooled the world with a phony election.
Planned by white conservative burocrats.
Al Gore´s loss pissed off the democrats!
The White House was taken by republican rats.

A year later, there was a terrorist attack.
It struck America on its capitalist pride.
Hit by 2 Jets, The Twin Towers collapsed.
America which was once a safe bet,
was now vulnerable to foreign threat.

He quickly took advantage of the nation´s fears,
as Americans broke down in a sea of tears.
We gotta get a scape-goat right away!!!
Bin-Laden or Saddam Hussein?
I don´t care! One of them has got to pay!

In a clearly desperate post-9/11 reaction...
He ordered his troops into Afghanistan...
His goals were to eliminate Bin Laden and The Taliban...
and also secure his 2004 re-election.

Turns out this mission became quite complicated.
The enemy hid in mountains and caves - their own territory!
Casualties were more and more frequent, as ambushes escalated.
Deja Vu? Looks much like the Vietnam War story!

Nevertheless, America´s campaign continued its bloodshed...
Months passed by, and still no sign of Bin-Laden!
Frustrated troops kept killing other rag-heads instead.
Bush was pretty astonished: “How come he´s not dead?!?”

Public Opinion wanted results, that Bush couldn´t deliver...
That´s when Rumsfeld came up with a brilliant idea!
I am pretty sure Saddam has Weapons of Mass Destruction...
I´ll have Kofi send his crew to Iraq for a detailed inspection!

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

THE UNINVITED

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

The Royals gathered for a bounteous feast.
In a ceremony held for just a privileged few.
Myriads of subjects were uninvited, indeed.
Hundreads of thousands of them at least.

Not being invited meant they despised you.
Those disregarded felt deeply unpleased.
Peasants, derelicts, beggars... Only the poor!
As the awful news spread from door-to-door.

A rally was held on the outskirts of town.
The outcasts claimed they had no representation.
And therefore agreed to overthrow the crown.
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity for our nation!

Our current system´s unfair! We´ll turn it upside-down!
We oppose a regime that treats its people like clowns.
“We won´t take it no more!”, yelled the boisterous mob.
Let´s head to the castle, and get on with the job.

Back at the palace, guards kept view of the distance.
All of a sudden they spotted a massive commotion.
They´re heading our way. Let´s arm a resistance!
Their voices, now audible, pulsed in full-throttle motion.

The obstinate crowd was getting nearer and nearer.
They were just a few meters from the castle´s moat.
They´ll never get in. Bridge is up, and there´s no boat.
The crowd split-up: a part to the front, another to the rear.

Guards were confused with such unexpected maneuver.
We better tell the king about what´s happening out here.
Or maybe not? This might put the court in panic, I fear.
As guards debated, gates were torn down by the movers.

The famished hordes now trampled down the bleak castle halls.
They were nearly smothered by narrowing claustrophobic walls.
The banquet´s deliciously flavored aroma lured the drooling crowd.
It led them to a chamber where the nobles were fooling around.

The masses and nobles clashed at first. But soon hell broke loose!
Once the fighting began, it was really hard telling who was who.
Screaming was heard all through the castle, as throats were slit.
Outnumbered, the wealthy begged their executioners for truce.

Nevertheless, the slaying continued mercilessly.
When the last aristocrat collapsed, the mass exploded euphorically.
The ruthless nobles were extinguished at last. So were the ‘uninvited’.
For the welfare of the people, such label was permanently abolished.
As the nation´s wealth was re-distributed equally.

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

SOME ARE THE "MOST"

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

Some of them know, most of them don´t.
Some of them will, most of them won´t.
Some of them can, most of them can´t.

Some are for sale, most are for rent.
Some roll the dice, most carry the weight.
Some pay the price, most bargain straight.

Some get away, most are detained.
Some get high, most are restrained.
Some get lucky, most are betrayed.

Some are authentic, most are fake.
Some call the shots, most follow orders.
Some are legal, most cross the borders.

Some go to school, most are alienated.
Some are loved, most are estranged.
Some are in peace, most are tormented.

Some are “the most”, most are “nothing”.

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

FATHER NEGLECTS – PART I

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

No matter how old I grow, facts remain facts.
At times I wonder If one day I´ll overcome it.
I reckoned his leave, day by day, bit by bit.
Love´s the odd number he numbly subtracts.

Opinions about-face when my mood oscillates.
My mind´s in trouble. My memory obfuscates.
Hold-on awhile! The system now recollects:

“You´re the one your father neglects!”

Innocence is lost...
Anesthetized by frost...
All, at what cost?

Damn these suffocating panic attacks!
They´re the ones busting these cracks.
It´s been over a damn year now...
Turns-out I survived. Don´t ask me how...

Emotional safeguard´s violated...
Moral fiber gets dilacerated...
Was maturity really emancipated?
Or was tender infancy desecrated?

Opinions about-face when my mood oscillates.
My mind´s in trouble. My memory obfuscates.
Hold-on awhile! The system now recollects:

“You´re the one your father neglects!”

Innocence is lost...
Anesthetized by frost...
All, at what cost?

Dreams and I don´t seem to relate.
As bleak nightmares blatantly procreate.
The anguish lingers unbridledly. “Why do I procrastinate?”
My fears have coerced me into a melancholic state.
“What is there to do?” “Shall I accept this noxious fate?”

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

MENTALLY DERANGED

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel


When father left the once wholesome son.
Void assumed its dirty lugubrious role.
Memories were no longer that much fun.
They greedily charged a high burdened toll.

Alone in the dark, he submerged into his taut mind.
“Falling on your face is rough when no one´s below.”
This inside is bulk in size. Big indeed, but not my kind.
Would he remember himself how he was a year ago?

A thick somber brume shrouded his summer sun.
The fear is widespread. It came from above.
Hawks circled the sky, dead fell the dove.
Thought to himself, “Why stay? I´d rather run”.

Perhaps tommorow may never reshape. Who knows?
Nevermind, the good feeling´s gone. What´s so strange?
“Just give him more anesthetic.” That´s easy to arrange!
Apparently his condition didn´t seem to change.

Tries real hard, but he´s unable to hide his rising affliction.
It´s written all over him, from head to the tips of his toes.
Docs got sloppy. He can´t quit this compromising addiction.
What a dreadful waste! Down the drain his brain goes.

A thick somber brume shrouded his summer sun.
The fear is widespread. It came from above.
Hawks circled the sky, dead fell the dove.
Thought to himself, “Why stay? I´d rather run”.

Vital signs are gone! That´s what the machines show!
There´s not much to do. Is there room for revenge?
If father had stayed, the son would´nt have to go.
“Congratulations you loons! My son, I will avenge!”
“Easy pops! You´re the one who´s mentally deranged.”

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

LAUGHED ELIAS FROM THE BELL TOWER

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

I got lit up on one long distant lonesome night.
There was nothing in the room, but candle light.
With no ceilings above, the stars seemed so bright.

My mind took me away, it was so out-of-sight.
All pain was expelled, for my own sweet delight.
Bliss was so warm at the verge of my height.

That for me, it wasn´t about being wrong or right.
And it was good, ´cause I had been so uptight.
I thanked Elias for the push. He understood my plight.

Then something came through, the haze lost power.
What once seemed high, was now kinda sour.
A voice then said: “Relax! It´ll all be back in about half an hour”.
“He´s floating again!”, laughed Elias from the bell-tower.
Good! Getting grounded would´ve been an absolute downer.

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

PLUMMETING DOWN

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel


Where do I go from here?
Somewhere far away or near?
Right now, I´m on top of the hill.
Ethereally floating towards the atmosphere.
I´ve reached my prime it´s true, but still...
What an ephemeral bliss is youth!
Is this the best I will ever get to feel?
Will it all fade away in coming years?
I am afraid so, my dear!
There´s no time to waste,
´cause it´s ‘half past life’
and I´m running late.
Gotta be there by eight!
There´s no escape!
The inevitable decline
is an inexorable sign.
I´m plummeting down
to the end of the line.

All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

WHITE RABBIT

"WHITE RABBIT" - from Jefferson Airplane´s 1967 debut “Surrealistic Pillow”.

By: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

ONE OF THE MOST PSYCHADELIC SOUNDTRACKS OF ALL TIME, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE´S "WHITE RABBIT" is a 2:47 minute-long song which is mind breaking and hallucinogenous in nature.

Originally released in 1967, in the album "SURREALISTIC PILLOW", during the height of the SUMMER OF LOVE, this song has been part of the soundtracks of renowned movies such as "PLATOON" (1986) and "FEARING AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS" (1998), usually being inserted in a drug-related context.

Whether characters on the previously mentioned movies are smoking pot or dropping acid, "White Rabbit" is highly regarded as a song which builds itself through a powerful narrative concerning the experimentation of mind-altering treats and the awkward sensations one gets as the drugs take effect. This idea is clear from the initial lines "Ones who make you larger, and Ones who make you small", which is arguably a direct association to uppers and downers, who make you feel powerful (larger) or depressed (small).

In addition to an intensive description of the side-effects provoked by drug use, the song has made a reputation among counter-culture freaks for providing junkies and hop-heads a powerful mood enhancer. Such intensity is felt as the song reaches its peak or simply when it "peaks". This part of the song has lead singer Grace Slick singing her lungs out, and thus providing listeners with an extra "helping hand" to get real high. Acid takers are infamous for always having a tape loaded with tripy tunes from the 60´s era at hand. White Rabbit, of course, is one of those tracks.

Prior to joining the San Francisco based musical act "Jefferson Airplane", lead singer Grace Slick had already countlessly performed this song and contemporary hit "Somebody To Love", in her former band called "GREAT SOCIETY". Both "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love" are arguably JEFFERSON AIRPLANE´S greatest hit tracks in addition to 1969´s mega-hit "Volunteers". "Volunteers" of course, was part of FORREST GUMP´S soundtrack album particularly the part depicting the 60´s era and the U.S´s lugubrious involvement in Vietnam.