neorants

I’ve always been a creative type at heart. That’s why I like programming so much — you start with literally nothing and, given enough time and skill, you create anything you like. Ideas go straight from your mind into the machine. You create something tangible, possibly even beautiful or useful, out of absolutely nothing but your own thoughts. There is a certain empowerment in that, I think.

Anyway, it’s always been my belief that no matter what it is you do, you can bring an element of art to it. A server configuration can be elegant. A program can be beautiful (or in the case of Perl poetry, even poetic). Art is just about putting a little bit of you in whatever you do.

I try to do this all the time, which is why people are sometimes surprised at my reaction if they criticize my work. I think the problem is that most people come to work, do their job from 8 to 5 (speaking of, whatever happened to 9 to 5 with a paid lunch hour?), and go home, without really caring even a little about what it is they do. Are there drawbacks to the way I do things? Certainly. But at least I care.

I’ve been more inspired than ever lately to write poetry. I’ve always liked to write, but poetry is one of those things I have to have an inspiration to write. Otherwise it just doesn’t end up meaning anything to me. Up until a few months back, I hadn’t written a poem in years. Since meeting gooselady, I’ve churned out no less than 6 poems, and they’ve found their way effortlessly onto my screen. I suppose the more cultured among you could read them and find all sorts of flaws in them, but there’s no doubt in my mind that each and every one was truly inspired, because of the feeling I get after finishing one. There is a deep sense of satisfaction in the process of crystallizing emotion into words.