Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Black Ink In Their Eyes















The problem is you think poetry is about words. But the greatest poets I ever met, never wrote a single word.

68 comments:

Whatever said...

If only I could breathe that ink then I would never have to look away.

Anonymous said...

This is beauty.

Anonymous said...

i really hate the fact that you've started to ask for money for this. it just defeats the object. you go on about how much you love doing this - well then you shouldn't need money for something you love. fair enough, it's donations, but the fact that you started the donation page and not a fan angers me. you've ruined the words for me now, now i realise you're a selfish pig. i can't read this blog in the same way, i can try, but it's ruined mostly. it was nice when you were anonymous, a blank face who i could morph into whoever i wanted to say those words, a kind person. now you're turning it into a buisness project and that? that was the wrong route my friend.

Me said...

Here's a wonderful article by Amanda Palmer called "Why I'm Not Afraid To Take Your Money"

http://blog.amandapalmer.net/post/200582690/why-i-am-not-afraid-to-take-your-money-by-amanda

So you enjoyed it when it was free but as soon as I asked for something or suggested that you could donate (note: I'm not forcing anyone to donate or selling anything) in return for the four years and hours of work I put into it each day, on top of the 10+ hours I put in to the job that actually pays me money, you don't like it anymore?

Then don't donate.

But more importantly, don't read my blog.

People like you who believe artists should starve and shouldn't make money can quite honestly fuck off and leave us and our art alone.

Goodbye.

PS. You're not my, or any artist's "friend."

russ. said...

I'm with you, Iain. Anonymous, your logic doesn't even add up. You can't blame Iain or anyone if appealing for donations spoils it for you. You're just weird.

Dazza said...

IWTFY has touched many people, myself included.

I don't see anything wrong with asking for a donation, an appreciation of the work here.

Me said...

Thank you, to the people here and those on twitter showing their support.

The I Wrote This For You blog will always be free and those who want to show their appreciation will always be allowed, and welcome to.

If you can't spare money, as many people can't right now due to the economy, I completely understand and in those situations, your love is more than payment enough.

Again, thank you <3

Christina said...

Asking for donations is not a business venture. Not to mention, I pay to read and look at beautiful things all the time (books, museums, magazines, etc). Those require payment and I feel those artists (because that's what they are) deserve to be compensated for their work.

A donation is a "please," not a "do this or die." Hating a donation is more than a little silly.

(PS: IWTFY does have fan pages.)

Anonymous said...

Wow,

I did'nt realize how high above I fly!

Anonymous said...

Being the butt of a joke is the best. Especially when you know you can turn it, and use it for your total advantage. Laughing last is the best!

Anonymous said...

Donations is not the right way to go. I totally agree with you.

N. said...

Don't listen to ANYONE.
i live on this blog. helps you get through day's when you just don't know what to believe in.
Wether for money or not..nothing should stop you from doing what you love.
if an artist/dreamer.writer finds profession in passion there is nothing better.
i have linked you in on my blog. i do hope you don't mind.

Anonymous said...

It is so better to be hated for who you are, than loved for who you are not.

Thank-you King of all Media!

Love the show!

cocreatr said...

Anonymous (of 2010-02-19 04:02), please be specific:

Which of YOUR objects does the author of this blog defeat by asking for money?

Name it and we may all learn. For example, would it mean he would write less for you?

Anonymous said...

The topic of donation is an interesting issue. I just think it allows for people to take advantage of the artist. Watching the Metallica movie again, and talking about the psychology, helped me to understand this issue. All artists should thank Lars Ulrich, his reactions out of anger were right on.

Jay said...

Iain, you're lovely. Please NEVER EVER feel even the slightest smidgen of guilt about opening up a way for us to appreciate you. It's so frustrating when there's a writer or an artist who has really, truly touched your life, but there isn't a tangible way to pay them back. You are one of those artists. Everyday I read your words and my day is brighter and lovelier than before. Your commitment to it is inspiring. THANK YOU for finally giving us a way to give a little something back to you. <3

Anonymous said...

when the donation page is made, nothing had really changed.

what did is you. your attitude. your views. your opinions.

the best things in the world might be free. but who coined that, might not have tipped for a good service.

nuff said.

Anonymous said...

and i think the whole donation issue, has taken the focus about appreciating the words and the photos...sadly. ):

why should it matter?

Me said...

It shouldn't matter but yes, the donation thing has taken the focus off the work, for which I apologise.

Again, thank you everyone for your support, it sincerely means a lot.

Anonymous said...

Why indeed! It does not matter, thinking about it, does.

Anonymous said...

This page still makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

Everyone of you make me sick. This is pathetic. This crap is plague.

Raquel said...

Awww don't listen to anonymous blog commentators. Especially ones with poor grammar and spelling.

russ said...

Yeah it's so easy to tear someone's work down. So if this page makes you sick why do you come back? Imbecile.

Me said...

I don't Melanie <3

Anyway, they're so badly written and thought out (as Russ just pointed out) that the entertainment value alone stops me from deleting them.

That and, unless it's spam, I don't delete anyone's comments. They're free to return again and again to a webpage that they hate.

Anonymous said...

It makes them Disappear -

Thank you Phil!

Your songs always inspire greatness!

Anonymous said...

I come here to find jack asses like you, it gives me content. And I have a lot of it now.

Anonymous said...

grammer - please!!! Are you my school teacher? How uptight can you be?

Anonymous said...

Just my two cents;

I certainly don't (and shouldn't) have any qualms about your asking for donations. In the words of The Joker, if you're good at something, never do it for free :)

But if I may I would like to offer some small criticism, since this is art and it's obviously not going to make the same impact on everyone. I've recently seen a sort of change in your writing; I don't know how to describe it, and perhaps it's because I'm a little biased to the fact that you're far more famous now than you were 4 years ago, and perhaps this 'change' is even expected. No one stays the same after 4 years. But maybe if you browse back to your posts back in '07 and try to see what I mean? Your posts were short, concise, final... And they still ARE, believe me, it's just... it's more... I don't know. Anonymous?

Anyway, best of luck with this blog, I've been a passionate follower and still am. <3

Anonymous said...

For all the broken hearts you have begun to heal, for all the lost souls you have helped to find themselves, for all the beauty you have brought back to life - you deserve the world.

...which includes money :)

<3

For all your hard work, thank you so much.

kimberly anne said...

THANK YOU! Now if only I could convince my English teacher of this... :)
<3 you always

kimberly anne said...

Dear You,
I know that you are human. Though I know Your face now, though I know Your voice, I only truly know You through Your words. Because that's the only thing that is the real You, at least to me. I know You are human and have human needs. I know that money is a human need in this day and age. I want to tell You something, I would give You all of the money in the world if You needed it, just to know You for one more day. I would give You everything I own, if it meant that You could hold me for just a little bit longer, because I love You That much. And because I know You love me even more than that. I can only hope that when You do need something, I'm the first that You ask.

Anonymous said...

You are awesome. <3
and no one should have any issue whatsoever.

Anonymous said...

i'm sorry ian, but you have changed. i suppose it just hurts because you are told your whole life things change, but when you discover something so beautiful, that every morning you wake up anticipating what you will read on a screen, and that suddenly becomes different, it's unfortunate. it is a let down. i have followed this for a couple years. i remember the days when each post had 0 comments, versus 40 or more. i remember when you wrote because you loved it. not because it was a job. when you wrote because thats what your heart felt, not for an audience. i dont think you really knew anyone was out there reading those words, and thats when those words meant so much more.
i'm not going to discredit you, i am not going to say you're wrong for asking for money. you do put a lot of time and effort into this.
but for those of us, that have always followed this. that kept it to ourselves because it was like our own secret and our own escape; to us, it does take away from it.
i realize that you are really defensive right now about what is going on, and i realize you may not like me much after this post. but i just want you to know it isnt out of hate or spite. i still love you. you're a human being and you write some of the most beautiful things. however, i want to remind you of a post you once made
"Create. Not because you want to or because the mood grabs you or because you just happen to feel like it. Create because you need to. Because it feels like if you dont, you might die."
When you look at art as a job and not a passion, it loses meaning. When it loses that passison and that meaning, it becomes anything else.

I will always love you. You helped me find parts of myself.
You deserve the fame. I just wish everything didnt have to change when you got it.

Hopeless Romantic said...

To the Anonymous who keeps coming back to insult everyone-

You spelled grammar wrong. <3

Please Iain, don't listen to anyone who calls you or your work pathetic. Anyone with common sense and sight can see that this blog is art. Anything else comes from ignorance and jealousy.

We appreciate and love everything you do.

Candy said...

I love the fact that you can turn 2 simple, short, sentences into something so deep. (:

Anonymous said...

Your heartfelt words turned me around.

They saved your life.
They made you hope.
They showed you love.
They made you laugh.
They restored your light.
They made you cry.
They held you tight.
They made you think twice.

And that is -priceless- thank YOU.

I will spread your words of love like a disease.
Love is the only cure x

Anonymous said...

i think perhaps, the donation page just took away a little bit of that magic this page held for some of us. it's like the weight of reality suddenly fell on this space which once used to transcend it all. the practicability of a donation page just makes this place seem so here, it's no longer that beautiful dream.

Anonymous said...

I've benn reading this blog for a couple of years now, and I really can't relate to what some of these critics are saying. At all. I think it's only natural that you ask for donations for your work - like all great artists do.

Still, I believe that the vast majority of the people who read this really appreciate the hours you put into this project for us. I know i do. Unfortunately, beeing a student, I have not enough money to give you what I think you truly deserve at the moment. But please believe me when I say that if i could, I would. For now all I can give you is my appreciation for sharing your gift.

And to the anonymous saying that you write differently now compared to four years ago, I disagree. In fact I think you keep getting better, and the text you postet four days ago is one of my favorites ever.

Sincerely, Thank You.

(I'm sorry if there are any grammar errors, English is not my native language).

- Norway

Anonymous said...

Yes I do think you've changed too somehow.

But maybe you haven't. Maybe it's just that you've been showing us more of you these days compared to your 'anonymous' days.

When you wrote this anonymously few years ago, it felt as though you're this anonymous angel who writes all these things to bring magic to people's lives without expecting anything in return.

When the fact is, you're human like all of us.

Maybe some of us are disappointed as we've had this image of an anonymous angel writing all of this for us with so much warmth and sincerity and never expecting anything in return. We had that image of you. We didn't know who you were.

And then you came out asking us continuously to vote for you (the mashable awards thing), and you sent us your emotional messages via facebook, and your angry tweets etc.

There's nothing wrong with you doing all that because you're human.

I guess most of us are just disappointed that the whole image you were trying to portray as the anonymous "Me" when you first began this project, is now gone.

I mean, besides the beautiful words and photos of this blog, the blog was also about this anonymous "Me".

And your recent Facebook message to us, your emotional words,
" the rest of the rip-off artists can rot in obscurity for all I care. But trust me that there are, literally, hundreds of them"
--it's as if you think you OWN the whole idea of writing and posting photos for a certain someone.

What if some of those really sincerely felt like writing and posting up photos on the web to share with the people they love?
What if they did not even know your existence?
I mean, God gave ALL OF US humans the ability to write and take pictures and appreciate words & pictures. And then there are some of us who are gifted with a bit more talent in those. Like you.
And like A LOT OF OTHERS in the world too.
It's THEIR RIGHT then to write things and post up photos as they wish because they CAN and because they want to. We're all human and God gave us these gifts/talents, we should just be thankful for them instead of thinking we're big and we own them.

You ought to be mad at the ones who ripped exactly the title of your blog or all your words in your posts.That's only fair for you to be mad.
I'm not sure which ones you were referring to though by your angry message on Facebook.

But the way you put it sounds as though you can't accept the fact that a lot of others CAN write and take pictures too. Like you OWN the whole idea of doing it.

Imagine, the first person who discovered the art of painting.
The hundreds of other talented painters didn't have to credit the first person who painted. Because God gave all of us the ability to do these things, and some the talent, and it's our rights to do what we want with them. We can all paint, we just paint different things.

Just like you began this project perhaps for a certain someone. And how some others write and share photos too, for a different 'certain someone'.

Maro said...

People don't like change. That's All
This is the same blog as always, it still moves me, makes me cry, laugh, think. i love this place

Anonymous said...

What if some of those really sincerely felt like writing and posting up photos on the web to share with the people they love?
What if they did not even know your existence?
I mean, God gave ALL OF US humans the ability to write and take pictures and appreciate words & pictures. And then there are some of us who are gifted with a bit more talent in those. Like you.
And like A LOT OF OTHERS in the world too.
It's THEIR RIGHT then to write things and post up photos as they wish because they CAN and because they want to. We're all human and God gave us these gifts/talents, we should just be thankful for them instead of thinking we're big and we own them.

You ought to be mad at the ones who ripped exactly the title of your blog or all your words in your posts.That's only fair for you to be mad.
I'm not sure which ones you were referring to though by your angry message on Facebook.

But the way you put it sounds as though you can't accept the fact that a lot of others CAN write and take pictures too. Like you OWN the whole idea of doing it.

Imagine, the first person who discovered the art of painting.
The hundreds of other talented painters didn't have to credit the first person who painted. Because God gave all of us the ability to do these things, and some the talent, and it's our rights to do what we want with them. We can all paint, we just paint different things.

Just like you began this project perhaps for a certain someone. And how some others write and share photos too, for a different 'certain someone'.


very well put. i have seen many people posting photos and text for years because photography and words so easily mesh together.

Me said...

Part 1.

Let’s imagine I paint.

Now imagine we all live in a little village and I put up some of my paintings in my house (because it’s free and that’s what I can afford).

People like my paintings. They stop by to look at them. At first, it’s only 10 or 12 people, which is fine. I chat to them, we get along and I carry on with my life and my job which is, let’s say, fishing.

But soon, many other people hear about my paintings and want to see them too. So, naturally, I’m flattered and I allow them in.

Soon my house if full of people, many of which I don’t know and there’s so many of them now, it’s impossible for me to form any kind of meaningful relationship with them.

And, these people want to use my bathroom. They’ve started camping outside my house because they like the pictures so much. I leave them in the house while I go fishing each day because I have to put food on my table and keep a roof on my head.

Every day, I paint something new and every day, more and more people arrive.

So I decide that considering that there’s all these people here, maybe some of them who have some change to spare can put it in a donations box at the door.

And then someone walks up to me and calls me a “Selfish PIG!”*

Another person writes “Fucking Kill Yourself.”* in my bathroom.

A girl tells me that what I painted, is something that Hitler would paint.*

Now imagine that I don’t paint and we don’t live in a fishing village.

Imagine you’re on my blog reading this.

Does the way I've been treated, or any of this sound fair to you?

Me said...

Part 2.

The logic of

“If you love what you do you shouldn’t need money for it.”

is the same logic that business use to try and rip-off artists, illustrators and designers when they ask them to

“Please quickly make me a logo/brochure/poster for my band and hey, you obviously love what you do so why should I pay you to do it?”

If you believe you should only get paid for things you don’t enjoy doing, then I wish you every success in doing a job each day of your life that you hate with every fiber of your being.

Whether I’m paid for this or not, I will continue to write, create and make things because I enjoy them and I have very little choice in the matter.

I also enjoy eating.

It is every artist’s dream to be able to make a living off their art. I have yet to hear of one who’s goal was to paint in their spare time while they worked as an accountant.

If you think otherwise, you are deluding yourself.

And no, I at no point suggested that I invented the idea of combining words and pictures, if you think I did, re-read what I said.

What people do though, is take “I Wrote This For You” and change it to “This is meant for you” or “Pleasefindthisthanks” or any of those derivatives.

Am I allowed to be upset at that? Doesn’t that sound like plagiarism to you?

Whether or not you like me or the things I do, doesn’t affect me. I will continue to do them. That's the way I've lived my life so far and that's the way I'll continue to do it.

I appreciate it when people read my blog but I wrote it when no one was reading it and I write it now that everyone is reading it, and if I ever have to shutdown the blog, I'll continue to write on bits of paper that I leave all over the city.

I don't care what you think.

I care what I think.

Because it's my integrity and I'm the one who has to sleep at night.

- Me

Me said...

Part 3.

PS.

Thank you for supporting me those who have, it's appreciated and I'm sorry the addition of a

"Support I Wrote This For You"

button at the top of the page has created such a mess.


PPS.

You know what's worse than people knowing who I am or what my voice or my face looks like?

People thinking that I'm a Messiah or God, which is what happened when I wrote this anonymously.

It'd be -incredibly- easy for me to start a new blog called "Secret Messages From The Angels!" with a little button on the side where you could put in your credit card details and pay for each message. I could say I'm a fortune teller or *drum roll* a psychic!

I could do it and make a lot of money off it in a heartbeat because, unfortunately, there are people out there desperate for hope and willing to pay for it.

But I don't. Because that's not who I am or the way I want to remember myself on my deathbed.

I will never lie to you or pretend I'm something I'm not. Not now. Not ever.

PPPS.

Writing isn't work for me.

I still write like I always have: petrified of the blank space and flashing cursor in front of me every morning and loving every fucking second of it.

What's work is:

Deleting spam comments everyday that somehow make it through the word filter, answering the facebook messages of suicidal teenagers, dealing with stalkers who leave 'presents' for me outside my home, running the caption contest so I can involve more people, fixing broken image links on nearly a thousand different entries, trying to find interesting things for the facebook group to do and doing all of this at the same time as my regular job.


*These are all real examples of comments I've received.

insonarnia said...

There's no limit for words. They can go on forever. But then, the greatest things are never spoken.

Anonymous said...

Is not what we ask for is ~how-we-ask-it~. If you by example say ~Im not feeling well I cant pay my bills and.....~ people will take it other way. It works like that ;). Not for you but for the others sometimes you need to exagerate.

Mens proud *_* .....

Drama drama drama all around :D

Rehan Who said...

i just knew about this money thing.
the donation is a choice right. so what the fuss?

personally, for me what i get from reading this blog worth more than few money i have right now. unfortunately i'm unemployed.

Anonymous said...

Me - go deal with your dad, brothers, and sister. Quit talking about people you know so very little about. When you read tarot and believe it, it shows your lack of education and your moms lack of responsibility. You do not know me and you never did. But you love to lie to suit yourself. Thats the attention whore inside of you!

Anonymous said...

Quit blaming people for what your brother did to you!

Me said...

My brother is a wonderful person so I'm not quite sure what you're saying about him. Also, I don't have a sister.

So as soon as someone can explain what it is exactly you're saying, I'll respond to it. Something about tarot cards?

And I think you called me an attention whore which means you're hanging around someone you think is an attention whore, giving them attention?

Did you read what you wrote before you posted it?

Hoda said...

True beauty. I wish there were more people like you in the world :-)
beautiful words and every post is beyond meaningful. Much love

L. said...

Iain,
You are beautiful. Your mind, your heart, your everything.
Please, never forget that.
-L

Anonymous said...

does it mean that the greatest feeling can't be expressed by words but by actions???? ah please somebody explain to me i really want to understand :(

Castello said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

please don't take your posts away. they're lovely.

Americanising Desi said...

you are spot on!

Anonymous said...

Your eyes need mine to shine. Your hug lets me know everything's going to be okay. One kiss from you tells me that no, don't be lost, cause' yes I am in your heart<3
Thank you, lain. This is beautiful.

AuntieBa said...

Anonymous, you're full of bullsh*t. Iain, donations can help you keep this up - it's a good idea. Off now to donate. Thanks for being you and letting us in.

Anonymous said...

@me
I think what that stupid commenter is trying to say is that he feels guilty that he is not able to give you any money for your work.
But instead is trying to make you feel guilty for asking.
I love your reply and the fact that you even bothered to reply to his snipy little comments.
I'm not sure what the family comment was but perhaps it was addressed to his own family, not to yours.
Keep up the good work and I'm so happy I found you and your page :)
I love you forever even if you are not hurting :)

Me said...

@anonymous

Thank you, <3 and *hugs* :)

Anonymous said...

No, thank you!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<3<3<3<3<3

Evangeline said...

You're right.

The misconception: poetry is a means used toward making the world hear a poet's voice.
But really, poetry is how the poet hears the world's voice.

Everything that exists whispers softly, in a quiet meaning, one that only poetry can understand.

The words are a translation of this meaning.
And of course, something is always lost in translation.

Gemma Rose said...

this is amazing, truly.

Joe said...

that's so profound

Anonymous said...

Poetry isn't about words. It's about feelings and emotions. Listen.

mymessage said...

Who r u 2 judge.

mymessage said...

Funny.