Scattered Seeds

Burden’d by the error, Meng Chwen,
In sleepless night, sailed a wild sea and thought:
Could it be possible that that which was an error
That would a great cost be to spend on waste
Be changed to opportunity?

And so Meng Chwen wonders:
What would it take for him have his eyes see
From amongst the ashes in the flames of death,
A pair of gilded wings in fiery colours boldly beating,
As ashen clouds paint blossoming rose petals in the air,
And a stealthy body—so majestic—launches from the core.
What would it take for him have his eyes see
The ageless phoenix rise yet again.

[ And so Meng Chwen wonders:
what is ageless? phoenix of words? ]

[What would it take for him have his eyes see
From among the countless leaves of aged pages,
Lovers
Lovers use words on a spear that doth shake and pierce hearts---
How many are there
For though lovers will fade, lovers continue to live
Amongst the
What would it take for him have his eyes see
The ageless arrangements of words in lovers' verses]

[ allude to Keat's Grecian Urn? ]

And so Meng Chwen wonders:
What would it take for him have his eyes see
marble monument
that changes costumes mood of the day
purple pink orange
What would it take for him have his eyes see
[ ]

Ah, could it be possible that that which was an error
That would a great cost be to spend on waste
Be changed to opportunity?
The thought did faintly cross his mind.

On ’tis day, Meng Chwen was a man in horror!
And in horror he discovered what only a Meng Chwen can do!
The final line in the coded sequence of the plan reads:
. 9W7056; D72507,
But—’haps in delirium—he had entered the wrong numbers,
One click here, one click there, and lo and behold
The coded sequence when executed came out to be:
. D72507; 9W7056.
Now in horror, Meng Chwen wonders what he needs to do.

Speedily Meng Chwen set to work;
Inform’d the parties involved of the error he did,
And asked he how soon can it be rectified.
An answer he now awaits.
If this should fail, there is another path to take;
Costly it will be, but necessary to spend on waste
To correct the error made in such simple matters.

‘Tis a terrible and unexpected setback, he knew.
But thank the heavens and the stars
The flaw was discovered when it was.
Heaven knows what might befall should
Meng Chwen come within the boundaries
Of Murphy’s Law or, even worse, Finagle’s Law!

‘Tis the coded message of a grand plan:

. D72506
. 9W7055
. 1770
. 3080/2190
. 2580
. 2670
. 2330
. 2360
. 2840
. 2610
. 3440
.
. 3860
. 4410/4240
.
. 4620
. 4910
. 5140/(5550)
. 5364
. 4240
. 3440
. 2610
. 2840
.
.
. 9W7056; D72507

Don Rosa’s The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion

I thought I knew the character, but having read the The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck volume 1 and 2 by Don Rosa, I am hooked to Uncle Scrooge. To tell the truth, I have new found interest in the character. And it was such a joy to find out that BOOM! Studios just reprinted The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion.

I’ve yet to finish the book–not because it’s dull, but because it’s so enjoyable I’m taking my time to savour the wonderful work. The stories are funny and really well-crafted–in terms of storytelling as well as artwork. “The Cowboy Captain of Cutty Sark” and “The Prisoner of White Agony Creek” stand out as two of the better stories.

Together with The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck volume 1 and 2, The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Companion now stands as among some of books that I’m glad I have on my bookshelf.