Bittersweet

Bittersweet

Seagulls hover around the pier
Rocks of future sleep sound
Morning passersby walk slowly
Toward different endpoints
There
When you are traveling
On the other side of the world
My heart is full of bittersweet feelings
Here
As I pen down lines of reflection
For the book of lost things
Your poetry has entrenched deeply
In my long term memory

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

October Last

October Last

Children giggle on the street
Black costume yellow pumpkin
And trick or treat
Scary movies are to release
Holiday mood is already here
October last
The final day of the month
I see trees turning brown
Houses decorated with cobwebs
In the front
Tell me
What story is in your head
Which candy have you got the most
Did you enjoy the feast

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Cosmos

Cosmos

Dabbing hues on canvas
Printing colours with inner voice
An image of cosmos
Entrenched through layers of atmosphere
Heavy as it seems
Intangible as it actually is
Where to find parts of speech
One can assemble the beauty of dream
Light dark and something in between

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Cold Case

Cold Case

Rebellious act shouts
Incongruence reacts
Expectation seems heavy
Sometimes suffocating too
Cruel assault leaves
Grievance and regret
Eternal separation hurts the most
Over the course of life and death
Youth stays in mind
Words never fade
If experience really teaches
When lesson have we all learnt

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Organizing a conference

Most of us went to the meeting held by our professor this noon. We are going to organize an international postgraduate cognitive linguistics conference. It is a very good way to help us share and learn from different outstanding scholars and peers. Of course there will be a lot of tasks required to run this even smoothly. However, it will add some excitement to our regular studies at school.

I remember a similar activity in the past. It was the graduation banquet project during my studies in hotel management in Switzerland. The whole project took the entire term for planning, implementing, and so forth. Everyone got involved and boy were we busy back then! Basically we formed a banquet company and had a chairman and other managerial positions such as financial officer, kitchen manager, public relations, etc. We invited a keynote speaker giving a talk related to our theme, which was “Phantom of the Opera”. And guess what? We even sold tickets for the banquet! It was like really running a business. That event was one of the most incredible experiences I ever had in academic days. I got to learn how to cooperate with people from all sorts of culture, mindset, personality, and backgrounds. Team spirit was what counted as a fundamental factor of success. We didn’t win the first prize but good enough for standing ovation that night!

Sometimes, I wonder how those classmates are doing now. What have they become career-wise? As far as I’m concerned, not everyone got into hospitality industry. Like myself, I went into language and now on the track to cognitive linguistics and aim for cognition and neuroscience in the specific domain of linguistics, language acquisition, bilingualism and multilingualism…

Stage

Stage

Pull out strength
Mise en place
Material and idea
Improvise
Walk elegantly
Talk powerfully
Stage
Where I find attractive
There I am energetic

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Unified conceptualization

No wonder they call this place ‘sunshine city’. We have had really nice weather for the last few weeks. I like to listen to the sound of wave during the night and be able to wake up in sunshine as well. School is all right; and I am getting used to reading a lot. A lot means excessive, incredibly huge amount, etc. Then I realize it’s better to do some key-point speed reading otherwise it would take forever finishing tasks.

I still find neuroscience very fascinating. The more I read the more interest I develop. After all, this is a perfect time doing a great variety of reading in various fields. As for cognitive linguistics, my personal feel is if this cannot be applied in the pragmatic fashion, it is just a theory, not much attractive to the general public. Of course, for those who like philosophical stimulation, debate, analysis, it is indeed a good medium elevating one’s intellectual level. But I am more concerned how lay audience can also benefit from this sort of research as language is an integral part of human activity. I believe many people would like to know more about language they use daily and the ones they wish to master apart from their mother tongue.

Cross-cultural and cross-linguistic research gives rise to certain results demonstrating people’s conceptual structures and metaphorical implications are different. Yet how do human beings conjure up metaphors at conceptual level? Is it a natural mechanism or is it mainly influenced by the speech community and pedagogy? Do people have a choice or not? Having a common ground for conveying metaphorical meanings is necessary but how do people know the message receiver has the similar knowledge domain?

My other question is the easy and prevalent access to the Internet. The world has become smaller and smaller. Does this mean in the near future humans will have, on the average, similar cognition towards the external world as well as the internal one regardless of which society you are from? Is it a good thing to go in that direction? If this day really comes, then what’s fun being an individual, being able to conceptualize things in singular ways and proving the existence of self in this universe? I reckon this day, if not impossible, will greatly impact on every aspect of our civilization in human history, and perhaps bring about consequences we never expect.

Worldview

Worldview

Running barefoot
Amassing sea salt
I never had coke
Nor rock ‘n’ roll
You think
I’m poor
I say
Not quite so
If comparison doesn’t hold
Where is the line one must draw
Worldview
It’s not just your side of scope
As for mine
One can never know
Therefore don't impose
What you reckon is real
Upon my untainted world
Taking photos
Sighing sorrow
Whatever you want to rule
Don't get me involved
Because I want to live
Like a dove
Calm and peaceful

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Lecture

Lecture

A series of floating messages
Conveying in the air
Cut through
Layers of convoluted thought
Eyes are dancing
Minds are winding
Is the ivory tower merely academic
Value we hold
Moral we have
What else constitutes the path
Of transform
Lecture
One need not agree
However
It may be a moment of contrast
Bringing stimulation of every sort

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Rain

Rain

Rain
Scribbling down
Semiotic representations
Gently tapped on the windowpane
A configuration of diverse percepts
Man seems to manipulate
Words of meaning
In every aspect
Domain and frame
That
I can’t distinguish
Rain on my face
Or from someone else’s heartbreak
Rain
Mixing up
Whether it is in or under
We all get the effect
Without an overt concept

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Maple Red Again

Maple Red Again

Bus sped down the hill
Miles of endless fields
Yellow brown and green hues
Freeze
On the aperture of my insomniac soul
Wind tosses around
Flying leaves form
I see maple red again
On this day of blue autumn rain
Dexterous as an artist
Whoever painted the lake
It is the most divine work
Unveiling my deepest thought

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Time and Space

Time and Space

In darkness
I see an anguish wave
Slashing hard against fate
Movements of eyes
Vivid scenes from my past
Although I can breathe
I can’t feel any pain
Time and space
Alternate at a different pace
Is it subconscious
Or doesn’t relate
As I try hard to escape
The sudden brightness seems
To pull back
An inextricable puzzle
Lying unsolved in my cold-sweated bed
Even so a new day still prevails
In the end

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Conceptualization

Conceptualization

Emergence of perception
Intertwines with embodiment
A blend gives rise to
Conceptualization
How effortless it seems
This mental work of complexity
In fact the mechanism involves
More than what we think
Neural networks must fire
Semantic meaning thus appears
Yet without a match
Consciousness will prevent
A process
You and I take for granted
Thought you might have
Metaphor then projects
Such is human mind
No one can be exempt
But the key point to me
Is finding equilibrium
In every move
I am going to make

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Invisible

Invisible

Guru says
I’m invisible
How is that
I ask
Circle of people
Every individual seeks
His or her soul mate
However
I don’t
For some reason
I reckon
Darkness surrounds
The vicinity of faith
Desire lies in heart
One must take
A positive thought
And steadfast step
Unveiling the secret
Of success
Master smiles
I nod yes

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Sign of Happiness

Unlike what I went through in Dallas, the first week in England was totally a blast. The weather was extremely good, sunshine, blue sky, and cool breeze. Interestingly, the air reminded me of all those old days in Swiss, France, and Norway.

I took a walk down the street and along the seafront, encountering many pleasant people. Luckily I was able to locate a place for studies. Positive thinking and strong desire truly played a critical role in finding my new home.

Flipping through several pages in Cognitive Linguistics, I realized it wasn’t that difficult to digest the information at all. That was a good sign.

Some people have mentioned the book “The Secret” a few times to me; and I saw it at Eslite in Taipei. The point is I had learned the essence of the book many years ago. So, I told myself : yes, I want a happy life and I will get it eventually.


Riding the bus to Falmer only took about 30 minutes, which isn’t too bad. I always enjoy riding the bus. The campus is not pretty compared to the U of Utah, but well, I’m not here for a beautiful campus.

I guess this is another Moon Festival I have to spend overseas, not that I feel sad or what, it is just making me wonder where time has gone to.

There are still lots of things I need to adjust in this country, I’m afraid. But I will get by fine. Patience is what I need the most, and I always know that!

Brighton

Brighton

Sunny pier protrudes into the sea
Cyclists align on the street
An old feeling writes
Few lines of forsaken rites
I stand in the centre of Brighton
Unfolding a new life
But green forests are still
Weighing heavily
Reminding I shall never
Ever forget to fly
To our lovely city
In the east

With mountains so white

Written by JerSki Bjorksen

Good-Bye Dear Friend

Good-Bye My Dear Friend

On my way to science
I dug up an old tape
A story and an interesting past
No more religion
No more midnight regret
Now when I look back
Ripples of yesterday
Carefree summer paths
On Geneva Lake
I see a smiling face
With moonlight on your back
My heart had reluctantly said
Good-bye dear friend
Memory has come to an end


Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Mulberry Tree

Mulberry Tree

Silkworm project kicked in
Everybody got so excited
Hand picked green leaves
Stacked in a bamboo kit
Prepared was a gift
For the little babies
Mulberry tree
Kids’ favorite
Stood still
Next to the main street
Waiting for our greeting
In the evening
In a blink
Children became big
Cocoons changed into a new thing
Who said life was too boring
We were actually very happy about it

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Deleting Love

Deleting Love

Numbers and symbols
Are placed neatly
Faces and messages
Represent inextricably
A world
Full of complexity
When passion is gone
A single word becomes obnoxious
No reason should be applied
To deleting love
One by one
Data is getting less
Alphabet by alphabet
Until nothing is left
Perhaps
This will render a new name

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

European Air

Somewhere on the way to neuroscience and language, I encountered unexpected consequences. Flood, scorching sun, and unpleasant leg lesion made me wonder whether it was fate or personal willingness draining me in such a dilemma-leaving the New Continent.

Several messages from old friends found me on a rainy day. MRT seemed stagnant albeit people 's rapid movement along the rail of escalator. The chagrin of feeble, old couples smudged the clear blue sky with trembling fear. I thought to myself why on earth man tends to falter all the time.

I reckoned it was going to be a long while before I returned to Europe; but it turns out I’m leaving for it soon. Perhaps there will be that familiar air hanging, or at least the lost forgotten souvenir of Le Bouveret and Geneva Lake, in the middle of night.

One of my good friends was a genius because he learned British English so well that most people wouldn’t think he was Chinese. I was amazed at what he had achieved in language learning, thus kindling my passion for language acquisition.

Turning Point

Turning point

School of life continues
No matter one likes it or not
Decisive moment renews
Whether it’s past or future
One step ahead lies
Another world of success
If I still hold up plans
Turning point
What would you say
A deceased personage
We shall never forget
Moving on
Wild lilies also obtain
Their blossom
With mellow fragrance
Shining in the sun dance

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Secret

Secret

Hush
Don't tell anybody
I only tell you
Because we're good friends
Is it true
Sigh
What a fool
It isn't a secret
If you let someone else know
Best friends can turn into
Enemies
Secret can become
The worst nightmare
So it must stay with yourself
Understand?

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Good-bye Duck Weed

Good-bye Duck Weed

Never ever you gave praise
But reproach
What is the point calling anyway
Why must tradition bear such a burden
I think I have had enough
Good-bye duck weed
Turn my head around
Jettison those old memories
I should
Always hold tight
Even tides are high
Knives of streams cut fast
I say
Good-bye duck weed
Tomorrow is another day
Although it might not be the best

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Role of Cognition

Cognitive process is a mental activity that allows human beings to receive and perceive information so as to coordinate neural activities to achieve both explicit and implicit tasks assigned by the central executive frontal lobes.

I have always wondered how this ability affects a person’s second language acquisition. A subject’s first language skills should be, in general, well developed and his or her brain should not have any impairment, either. Under this circumstance, the subject must be able to use cognitive ability to learn a second language in a natural setting. My question is: how do we perceive sentences or phrases in foreign languages and comprehend contexts completely without losing much original semantic meaning?

Presumably, social and cultural differences could play a critical role in learning a second language. But what about the role of cognition? Do we change our cognitive processes when learning a second language? How much effort is enough for a person to process information in a second language, especially in terms of cognition, as well as in the first? Could it be possible? Different tasks might require various concentration and mechanisms. The point is how we can measure a second language learner’s cognitive ability?

To be continued…

Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm

Fingers run rapidly
On my laptop
Messages and blogs
Emerge
From various spots
I hope to catch
Something relatively
Soft
Under the thunderstorm
We suddenly got
Photo
Music
And my old guitar

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

On the way to science

Neural plasticity is definitely something phenomenal in humans. If one does not have any deprivation of neural stimulation and development, he or she should be able to rewire brain to learn something new. Certainly, it also concerns one’s exposure to various stimuli and reception of good training from exterior factors.

I suppose I will be a living example of this genre if I endure to the end. What I want to find out is also where my potentiality lies on the way to science. Equilibrium is a key to magnifying flexibility in dealing with all sorts of dilemmas. I personally had a terrifying experience while doing my undergraduate in linguistics. It was near the end of my degree but somehow I was under enormous pressure due to my perfectionism. One day after I woke up, I found my body was covered with pinkish spots all over except the face. I thought I contracted some kind of fatal disease. But it turned out my immune system was impaired because of severe pressure… Later I read some articles regarding this issue and realized one’s metal status could really affect physical conditions.

Experience makes one grow wisdom if we reflect upon our lives often. This is the road I choose and I do not want to give up at all. On the other hand, it’s good to be away from Taipei for I had seen myself trapped in a rut without too much willpower to change. Who really knows how my brain has undergone some change? Getting together with friends and enjoying a good chat is great but it would suck if the topic is never geared toward something more profound and beneficial to life. After all, my brain is different from everybody else’s, right?

On the way to science, I keep saying my prayers. I know I can make it if I hold on to the end…

Out of my shell

Out of my shell

Rain drops float
Upon the surface of You
Lake Geneva
My smile is still
What about Yours
Readjustment is never
An easy task
They say
Your heart is always red
Mine has turned a little grey
Time and different space
Push me slightly
Out of my shell
Yet I tell myself
One shall never be afraid
Of his own fate
And unknown path

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

The First Day of Class

Today I had my first class at UTD, which was nothing particularly new. The professor didn’t show up until late because he had to hold a dissertation meeting. Instead there was a graduate student covering the lesson. Well, it’s the first day of class, so I didn’t expect too much. The info I got was something I had read in Taipei.

I also got to set up my NetID so I’m now able to access to the computer on campus. I really love this school, not too big and too many students. I am sure I’ll be fine doing research here.

Kim wrote back already, which truly made my day. I’m looking forward to visiting them in August. Hopefully all is going to be well after this summer term.

Okay, I guess this is it for today and my hurting thigh is really killing me. I want my healthy leg back!! Got to read some chapters in the cognitive psychology book…

A New Start

For those who knew my recent move, I’ve settled myself in Dallas already. It’s not my first time to be here so everything seems alright. I went to UTD yesterday and registered two courses, cognitive psychology and behavioral neuroscience. My advisor happens to be the program head and he is a nice guy, at least that’s the first impression I got…

It was also thrilling to see my old friends from Taiwan. I’m currently staying with them and will locate a flat as soon as possible. I found it would be very tough getting around without a vehicle, so I need to get one soon. The most urgent thing is getting a place to live near the campus.

I’m looking forward to my classes next week and I know it’s going to be challenging. Yet, I always love challenges, don’t I? Anyhow, this is my new start, a brand new moment savoring the academic essence of great minds and philosophies!

Your Smile

Your Smile

There was sunshine in my favorite place
Music dance and smoking cigarettes
I stared at my own poem
On Sterling’s oil painting
Again and again
Your smile suddenly appeared at the other end
Heartbeat deep breath and face turning red
I thought we had already met
In fact
We never came across each other’s path
Till that night at Watersheds
What a wonderful chance
I encountered a fantabulous friend!

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

You Never Learn

You never learn

Pleading howling froze air
Hot blood splashed in a sec
Lives were taken lightly
With uncertain motives
You never learn
This is not a first incident
1991 Texas
1999 Colorado
You never learn
Why must there be a reason
Time does not allow hesitation
History matters
Yet we are often too forgetful
If victims were your beloved
Would you still make excuses
Those who hold important positions
Don’t overlook responsibility
You never learn
Next time it could be your turn

Written by JerSki BjorkSen, April 17, 2007
After the campus shooting at Virginia Tech

Lie

Lie

Why did you smile
Couldn’t you tell
I was cursing inside
Where was trust
You thought I never knew
Lie
Wearing a disguise
Coating the surface
Yet cannot forever hide
Lie
When the sun rises
Snow will melt
The core of your malice
Shall be exposed to
A flood of despite
And never-ending grind
Lie
Don’t think you’re wise
For I have clear mind
With piercing eyes
I will seize you
No matter where you abide
Lie
It’s time to die

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Churning Mind

Churning Mind

Starry night fell
Upon a child’s breath
Chest moved slowly
Like sponges in blue sea
Numbers were still
Characters were lopsided
Who could save the little cicada
Stuck on the tip of bamboo rod
Churning mind
I once got
Didn’t know how to draw
My favorite owl
Black or white
Where to dab
The symbol hid underneath
A well-developed skull
You know
I was also a prodigy
A star with a golden heart
Never too late to win
The game between future and past …

Written By JerSki BjorkSen

Jasmine Sea

Jasmine Sea

Green sleeves gyrate
Toward my face
Charming fragrance
You seem to dress
In a summer too great
Nightingale’s singing
Silver Moon’s revolving
On the Jasmine Sea
With our net too thin
To catch any elegance
In magenta space

And blue mountains’ laugh

You see

I never leave

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

A Step Further

Finally I have gotten my F1 visa and the flight is on May 1. I can’t believe this has happened so rapidly over a short period of time. Supposedly I am going home with my siblings for Tomb-Sweeping Day but decide to stay so I can finish off some teaching hours before I take off.

Those who think I’m insane can’t understand my passion. Why does every one of us need to follow the same course of life? I pull myself together hoping to be one of the pioneers, traveling on a journey to the unknown yet full-of-surprised road. Don’t let anybody use prejudiced comment to derogate you! We all have some strength in certain aspects. We are masters of our own life. We are citizens of beauty in this galaxy…

A step further on my path to scientific field, dream, and travel of world certainly draws me closely to the petite figurine in my head. I smile at the gray sky but feel sunshine inside. Farewell, Taipei! Farewell, my friends! Farewell, my hometown, Taidong! The valley of sand, a place filled with tons of life-long memories, shall hold a special spot in my full-fledged soul.

Who Will Know

Who Will Know

White watershed turns
At the corner of my past
Blue chapel erects
On a ground so steadfast
Faltering is your faith
Not my path
Who will know
Whether the heaven exists
Or it’s never there
Withered
Sunk
Which life is going to last
I plot a project
With all my strength
At a snail's pace
Under a vow of inner praise

Written by JerSki BjorkSen, March 31, 2007

Azalea garden

What’s it like hovering above the Grand Crayon? I used to ask myself this question when I was little. The first time I saw a travel book from the next door neighbor, I was mesmerized by all those scenic views from various countries. Cherry blossoms, tulips, Swiss chalets, and English chateaus carried indescribable magic to me. Who wouldn’t want to visit those places if one had a chance?

I looked down the street from my room, spotting neighborhood kids playing house, but I confined myself in a world of books and studies. I knew I had to finish homework before joining them to catch cicadas over the Mountain Cat. Yeah, Mountain Carp and Mountain Cat were two famous playgrounds to us. Certainly there lied a mysterious story under the dark and filthy ground behind a cemetery.

Summer time seemed too short as it always did. I hadn’t had any opportunity visiting my secret garden in the Forest of Horror. W. and I dissected a frog and lizard to see which one’s heart beat faster. We then buried the remains under a rose bush, pretending to be shamans from South America, to ward off the evil. I wonder how those azalea trees were. I planted them for a wish made by my little but wondering soul…

Who said I couldn’t be good at math? Who said I would never speak multi-languages? Who said I must lead a lifestyle everyone else did? Oh, generic category disgusted me. I wanted something different, something out of this world! I wanted to fly over oceans and mountains. I wanted to float in thoughts of unlimited galaxies! I WANTED to be my own master in everything!

So, it’s time to move on. I shall go and learn again. I shall enjoy the ivory environment and savor the nectar of intellectuality and academics. Burning every bit of my energy both physical and spiritual is to define humanity and stretch wisdom to its limits.

I heard childhood friends’ laughter and saw their worn-out khaki uniforms. But the sun shone on those angelic faces, reminding me who I really was-a child from a pristine and blue world of eastern sea…

Sailing

Sailing

Look
Look
I see a travel book
Crooked like a hook
Knock
Knock
I hear a green duck
Pecking on my pot
May first is a dot
For another sailing log
Tenderly
Happily
I shall touch
A brand new part
In my brain and heart…

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Frothy flowers over my shoulders

M came to Taiwan for a visit; and we met yesterday afternoon. He had another friend with him as well. I sure felt great seeing him since 2004. We had noodles for lunch and then headed to Taipei 101. He wanted to buy a watch, which cost about USD170. But I thought it would be better for him to get that in the States.

While eating ice cream at Taipei 101, we phoned Taylor. He sounded half asleep; but I thought he usually went to bed after midnight. M and Taylor were good friends and we all went to the U. I graduated first, then M. then Taylor. During those past three years, Taylor got married and now has a son. I guess I will be able to see his kid sometime soon…

Recent research demonstrated that using stem cells instead of neural cells can actually make damaged neurons to grow and regain certain cerebral functions. It’s really great news to many doctors and neuroscientists, and of course those whose family members suffer from brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Certainly the researchers used rats as experimental subjects, a usual approach to examine and induce whether it would have the same result for humans. I suppose human experiments regarding any medical trials are difficult because it involves ethics and safety issues. Brain is so complex and any slight mistake can possibly cause severe damage. Therefore doctors and scientists must make sure the risk is the lowest and have to run tests many times on animals before applying them to human beings.

Again, my immediate reaction directed to language related issues in brain. If stem cells can be used instead of neural ones, then how can we utilize this to help those who suffer impairment in language, for example, dyslexia? I need more time pondering on this thing. I want to read more research about this area…

Frothy flowers were over my shoulders when M. asked what I saw myself in ten years. I didn’t tell him I planned to live in Swiss and work for one of the top brain institutions and enjoy myself the beauty of suburban community next to Geneva Lake.

March

March

Bright light shatters
A blanket of snow flakes
Icebergs of Antarctic land
Slowly draw an illegible word
On the surface of my crystal home
Cold
Numb
And blunt
Without explanation
In this cadaverous March
Spins a sapphire seahorse
Blowing colourful triangles
To an unrecognizable soul

Written by JerSki BjorkSen, March 2, 2007

What Could It Be

After many days’ search, the phlegmatic soul has made up his mind going down the road next to the ice-coated silo. Baby cattle seemed to enjoy sunshine and the rare blue sky above the horizon. I bet not many of you have had experience wading through four seasons during a day.

It was one of the most magnificent and eventful journeys I have ever had for many years. The Rocky Mountain is surely a gorgeous attraction, let alone lakes, frosty trees, and animals along the way.

I felt like being toasted out of outer space, looking down the oblivious quietness simmering in a cauldron of intertwined love and hatred. What could it be? My long lost memory, a souvenir carved by calloused hands of dear parenthood. I suppose it is never too late reflecting upon one’s inner self and let conscientiousness lead the way of enlightenment.

With the newest of the newest waves, my entire spirituality has no longer dwelled on someone else’s testimonies or criticism. Believe it or not, each word and act unleashing from every one of us would more or less have impact on someone around us. Accordingly, the higher social economic status one possesses, the greater responsibility he or she must take upon during the course of life on this earth...

Breez of Mountain Greek

Breeze of Mountain Greek

Sculptures of Renaissance
Freeze
Great mind of humanity
Paintings of Chapel Sistine
Reveal
Divine plans of supreme being
When will this world reach
The perfect stage of Utopia
I guess
The answer had been written
By breeze of mountain Greek
Faith hope and charity
Nothing could be achieved
If no one carries any of these...

Written by Jerski Bjorksen, February 17, 2007

You Can't

You Can’t

Thought bounces
Inner voice echoes
You
Never say good-bye
And I wonder why
Dream is yours
Sorrow shall be mine
Hundreds of messages
To where should I reply
You can’t
Leave without telling
I won’t
Accept without musing
Life is perhaps a lie
When bubbles burst
I only see my face turning
White…

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

To Kirk,

I never get to say good-bye to you; and I hope you will have a better life in another world. What shocking news it is! I found out you passed away today. It was only three weeks ago I got a textmessage from you across the Pacific Ocean. Farewell, my dear friend!If there is really a next life, I am willing to be your friend again...

Où es-tu

Où es-tu

Quand la nuit tombe
Mon coeur sera dans un monde
Si noir et tremblant
Où es-tu
Mes parents m’ont dit auparavant
Tu es une lumière très brilliante
Mais pourtant
Je ne te vois pas tellement
Souvant
Je me demands
Pourquoi ce malheur si grand
M’est arrivé
On dit nous sommes des anges
Mais si je pourrais choisir
Je préférerais être comme des faucons
Au moins je pourrais voler
Sans chargins
Vraisembablement

Ecrit par JerSki BjorkSen, 8 février, 2007


Child kidnapping and molestation have been reported more and more via media. As criminologists and police try to put those pedophiles behind the bar, there are psychologists and neuroscientists who are conducting research to shed light on whether those criminals are actually under certain chemical imbalance in their brains.

Yet, who can bring back a once pure-hearted soul? What will those children become later in life? If God really exists, how can He let innocent children walk on that dark road without reaching His hands out? Can one be healed after being traumatized severely both physically and mentally?

If I were one of those angels, I would rather be a falcon and fly high and afar in the sky…

Edelweiss

Edelweiss



Small petals white
Gather hearts of passersby
On the mountain blanc
In the lake blue
With music so high
Region of vineyard
Cheese of cottage
I see a face
Shining from my balcony
Edelweiss
Love of Swiss life
French German and Italian wine
Postcard excursion and an old bike
I shall never let go
Of a miraculous night
Under the starry and tranquil sky
Edelweiss…

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Liar Liar Pants On Fire

“Liar liar pants on fire, hanging on the telephone wire…” popped up my mind on my way home tonight. I recalled a long lost memory back on the east coast, the desire to mimic how others spoke English, fun times of practicing “th” sound and memorizing idioms and phrases.

E. asked how old I’m. Man, I don’t feel I’m old but in fact I am a middle-aged man. D.C. sent his greetings from Santa Barbara a while back, telling me his sister was going to visit him during Lunar Year Holiday. I know it isn’t easy spending this most important and traditional festival overseas. Well, at least, he won’t be too far away from China Town and can get tasty Chinese cuisine.

It’s really time to move on; and I can’t wait really. But somehow I can sense there are some friends I just started getting to know better and life just turns its course at the corner again. C’est la vie, whether it’s passive or pessimistic, it’s a French expression I acquired while studying in Switzerland. I miss speaking French enormously…

“Liar liar pants on fire, hanging on the telephone wire. Who would remember me? Who will read my poetry? You or me or nobody?”

Sleuth

Sleuth

Conundrum
Slashed
Pulse
Exposed
Undercover
Searched
Buried secret
Beneath
Sleuth
Unique alias
Emerged
Puzzle
Solved
Conclusion

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Don't Pray For Me

Don’t Pray For Me

News tumbled
Heart crashed
Accident was hard to forbid
It happened after all had been forsaken
Don’t pray for me
Because my spirit doesn’t cease
Flesh will perish
Rose might be sere
My fire shall never be extinct
Don’t weep
A new life is ahead of me
Road might vanish
Vision can be blurry
My soul is from a celestial pedigree
If you truly see
The world is actually free
So don’t cry
I am just on another journey
Without earthly veneer

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Release

Since I got the new intense class, I have to teach in the afternoon every day. I wish I didn’t have to do this so I could read some more of neuroscience. There was a study concerning altruistic brain recently. The research was conducted by Duke University. My immediate response was: what makes people different in this specific area if the study’s finding is sustained? Could people really become real altruistic if this area were stimulated at the early stage of cerebral development? What about the role of cognitive perception and religious beliefs? Of course there is always the environmental impact involved in the course of cerebral maturity…

Someone asked me whether I was preparing for medical school. Well, not exactly. I just answered it was a personal interest that I read books about neurology and neuroscience. My focus is based on the linguistic characteristics associated with brain and multi-lingual mind. These things just mesmerize me tremendously. I would give up my life for any major breakthroughs in this regard, I swear!

Eventually I got a spare moment to write again. What a release! I really need this to put all the trivial matters behind my mind and enjoy a bit of solitude and self-reflection. I should read some Norwegian before I hit the sack tonight…

Morbid Indulgence

Inclement weather is something that makes people depressed, especially in a gloomy city. I pulled up my overcoat collar, hoping to retain a little more of my body heat to stay warm. Unfortunately, the icy-cold rain sucked up all of the warmth, including the one hidden in my soul.

Final countdown toward the next destination seems so natural currently; and I wish time could go slowly so I was able to write down a few more thoughts in my journal. Is it really against ethics applying electrodes to manipulate brain so as to enhance one’s language acquisition? Although we do not know the long-term effect of stimulating neurons to achieve certain tasks, people should have right to choose whether they would like to undergo such a “treatment”. I guess there is still a long way to wade through if mankind wants to embrace breakthroughs in a purely benevolent and altruistic objective.

Insomnia has recently inflicted me, which I think is something lurking in sub-consciousness. This morning I woke up with a vivid post-image of a dream, showing R and I were in a car. The conversation was in French, which stunned me a bit because I haven’t had dreams in French for a long while. All I recall was R was a special soul to me; it was like I had a son from the pre-existence…

Green Day’s music ran rapidly like a bunch of ants trying to escape from a heating pot. I cast a glance over my shoulder and realized it’s time to go teach. Damn, I felt trapped and languished. I thought perhaps my time was running out on this island. In fact, it is truth. I keep telling myself every day.

Dreadful as it is in winter, man can’t find his way out in a cul-de-sac. Why? Can’t we do something drastically different? Blow off the wall, cut down the trees, or simply climb over the fence. There must be some way, right? Okay, screw the morbid indulgence chez WS! I am not going to participate in the stupid game again for I’ve found what I want for life. Faces I won’t miss at all, talks I won’t recall at all, and friendship? It never exists in a place filled with filthy mind and lust.

It's always you

It’s always you

It’s always you
Telling something relatively new
Hard to comprehend
Delicate to feel
Yet man likes to abuse
Alcohol nicotine and dopamine
Not every one is beneficial
It’s always you
Running like ions in various hues
How much longer can we use
Knowledge memory and breathtaking views
Within the course of life
Which shall quickly be due…

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Toy in Corduroy

Toy in Corduroy

Incense of summer lies
Under a casket of mahogany
Crickets in white combine
A sad melody from sulfur fire
Play house poker cards
And the old man’s crippled swine
Unveil asymmetrical rhythms
For a chaotic night
Doodling rummaging
And scratching
The little boy still couldn’t
Draw his favorite toy in corduroy
Given by
Some stranger lost in green tides…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Innovation

Every time I read stories about someone devoted his or her life in a foreign country, serving others and fulfilling the meaning of being humans, my heart just tremors. I admire tremendously those who can munificently donate whatever they have, be wealth, time or talent, to reach out to the needed.

I believe many have learned that Winfrey Oprah established a school for poor children in South Africa; and the academy has recruited its first 152 girl students. I was browsing Newsweek the other day and came across a report of this event. Although the article did not tell the story in depth but I was very touched by how kind-hearted Miss Oprah is. Ironically, there is an opposite voice raised in the United States towards this charitable act. Some people questioned why Miss Oprah did not build up a school in the US. Her reply impressed me. She said children in the States only wanted i-Pods or sneakers but Africans kids desired uniforms to go to school.

I guess one can see all sorts of reaction in a single episode. If doing philanthropic things still need to face unjustified criticism, I do not know how human beings can really progress. How much good deed do we do everyday? Sometimes it’s very difficult to be oneself; then why should one care so much? After all, the meaning of one’s life should be defined by oneself not others. All I can say about Miss Oprah is that she is an amazing woman and she has done something many of us, the ordinary people, can’t accomplish in a life time.

There will always be myriads of issues before our world reaches its perfection. Or perhaps this day will never arrive if we do not learn our lessons from history and move forward with innovative ideas. Innovation, I mean not only in the regard of technology but also humanity, spirituality, and intellectuality!

Nest

Change of freezing air
Brushes cords of a beige lute
At a lethargic pace
Shouting of inner voice
Slashes layers of silver grass
In a city notoriously gray
Pedestrians’ path lacks
Vitality
My view of your presence
Is never grand
Why does rain seem so ruddy
Rainbow turns into colorless straps
Where can man locate a nest
Without storm and pain
Guess
Find
And what else is left

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Impeccable Grace

Impeccable Grace

There is a little star in my head
Sometimes blue sometimes red
Cold dews drop from sunflowers
Into a heating cave
Your face never says
Anything but impeccable grace
Old bamboo trays lay
Under a golden lamp
With new images day after day
Knitted was a road map
By calloused hands
Never redundant was praise
At the end of each success
There is a small scar on my back
Sometimes dry sometimes wet
Warm rain falls down the creeks
For another indigenous dance
My heart almost breaks
Every time I hear someone pray…

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Charity

Charity

Don’t need to be like Jesus
Don’t have to emulate Confucius
A little gesture accounts for something
Significant
When can government officials understand
Poverty and illiteracy are their responsibility
Excuses not permitted really
Military expenditures must be reduced necessarily
If one thinks charity has to be huge
Then our world will evolve slowly
Certainly sharing one’s wealth isn’t easy
Because we tend to think we gain everything
Through our hard work only
So who is willing to partake of his riches
You or me?

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

A Step Further

A step further

The first light dawned
At the beginning of 2007
Crowds of people congested
In a city full of laughs and jolly waves
A step further
I shall take off
To the final destination
A year later
Who will recall
My tenderness and faith
When maple leaves turn red again
Memories fade away in brains
I hope Margarita and Champagne
Are not erased
From the skyline of my blue head…

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Random thought

A crazy night out: I got home around 4 am.
My friend called me at 7:45 am, telling me to wake up for class. I was pissed!
Contact lenses were still in the process of cleaning, time: 8:15 am.
I checked my e-mail and got nothing in the inbox.
Then David popped up on Yahoo Messenger. We chatted for a little bit.
Suddenly I decided to call him. Good to know he is going to take Mandarin classes next semester. Wish him all the best, time: 11 am.
I’m going to Taichung to see the Wongs and little Albert, can’t believe it’s been another year. I bet they are happy to be back again.
Ironically speaking, when I don’t want to focus on other people that much, they turn to me more than ever. What? Am I a free consultant?
The postman misplaced a letter to some “Dr.” from the Columbia University in our building. Amazed that they didn’t translate the address and thus sent the letter to the wrong apartment. I did the correction and put the mail back to the mailbox…time: 20:05pm
Final countdown at Taipei 101? Nope! I don’t think so this year because I was stuck in the paralyzed city last year and had to walk home…What a fool of me!
New Year’s resolutions? I got many and what about you? One thing I’d love to do is write more than 100 poems!
Why am I seeing myself riding the bus on the way home back in SLC in my mind’s eye now?
Interestingly to say, I keep running into info and articles regarding neuroscience since I’ve decided to dive into this field…

Fake

Fake

Overcast was the sky
Colourful were umbrellas
The only connection in between
Was chill rain on my lips
Ring tone rang
Text message blinked
Who was there to tackle
Bits and pieces of insanity
No more please and whining
Life is tough and demanding
Want happiness?
Then don’t fake it
Success won’t come around
Without tilling and sowing
Sometimes we just need
A little push and that kick
Right in those lazy genes!

Written by JerSki BjorkSen

Fly

Fly

Firing neurons in brain
Trigger
A burgeoning seed
Eyelids are closed
Mind is stretched
In a bolt of lightning
Rhythms of study
Fly in a shape of coil
And then racket
Leaving a trace of intellectuality
I weep for joy

Garnished with violet chrysanthemums

In a vase full of creativity

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Hermit

Hermit

Yesterday I heard
A familiar song
Playing in my head
I turned inside out
Seeing the moon above
The earth underground
Today I built
A little house
Standing in woods
With flowers on gables
And a chimney too small
For Santa Claus
You see
I don’t need any calls
On my petite cell
I’m a hermit
Trying to compose
Something philosophical
You know
Don’t even try to disturb
Because no one will get
Any echoes at all..

Written by JeRsKi BjOrKsEn

Complex of native speaker

Complex of native speaker

“Where did you learn your Mandarin? You speak very well!”
“Oh, because I had a very good teacher who is a native speaker. Come and learn English with native speakers. Only they can give you the best learning experience…”

Such is a radio ad I heard the other day. Funny to say the English “native speaker” spoke OK Mandarin and I couldn’t tell her Chinese was that GREAT at all!

I can’t believe they allowed an ad like that airing many times a day. What’s wrong with studying a language with non-native speakers? Does that really matter? Does native speaker equal the best teaching? I just don’t think so. Many have this complex of native speaker when it comes to studying English in Taiwan; few have actually thought where the issue of the prolonged inefficiency in English learning lies in. Something has been severely wrong in our language education on this island (to the Ministry of Education)!

I’m sure there are a lot of great native English teachers; but I doubt only they can teach well. An excellent teacher is like a talented actor or actress at times; he or she must have great passion and continue pursuing all sorts of knowledge and skills so as to be a real facilitator to students. Suffice it to say that native speakers can bring a diverse culture aspect and mentality to enrich students’ language learning; yet non-native speakers can complement what native speakers can’t do, namely the difficulty of acquiring the same target language non-native teachers have been through.

For those who teach English in Taiwan, how many of you actually love teaching? How many of you really regard language teaching as a long-term or lifelong career? Or is it just some quick money you can make here? Of course, a coin has two sides. People with complex of native speaker have to wake up soon as well…

Rhombus

Rhombus

Shivering feel pinches
My delicate spinal cord
Leaving a touch of aching green
Atlantic Ocean
Your liquid magic
Overshadows pieces of intrinsic spree
Blood filled with love
Coincides
Vessel full of sadness
Collides
In the wind
Sparkled was a star of rhombus
Colored in purple and pink
Over the wave
My spirit can’t hold still
On your irises
With chanting of blue mermaids
And music of lost ships…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Popsicle

Popsicle

Blue butterflies hover around
Nets of memory sleep on the ground
Echo of cicadas summons
Curiosity of little punks
In a muggy summer
With camphor trees standing highly
By the pond
Waving chasing and shooting
Weapons of destruction
Manipulated dexterously
In the hands of angelic demons
Wishing to catch and torture
The queen of diamond
Dancing in the muddy air
Out of the blue
There comes a shout
Popsicle tasty popsicle
Arms drop heads turn
The mischievous mob disappears
Under a spell of the hawker
Cast via ice of sugar brown

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

End

Students at the National Taipei College of Nursing asked me to help them with some English quiz materials. They complained how badly their foreign teacher teaches and the difficult assignment they got for the quiz. Well, I checked what they’re asked to read-two articles about SARS and Avian Influenza.

What can I say? Their English teacher sucks! Yet, this is no news at all, is it? I also encountered some lousy professors back in Swiss or the USA. I guess having a great teacher is definitely something one can’t always ask for although we take it for granted all the time.

After teaching three hours straight at the college, I sped to my private student at the other end of the town. Luckily I only had to tutor L. one hour today. Then, I got 15 minutes to have dinner, which I had some soup and tofu. I decided to hire a taxi to save time so as to be able to rest a little before the evening class. As soon as I got into the cab, the rain started pouring. I had a small chat with the driver. He thought I worked for some fashion clothes company. Now that was something new. No one ever told me that before. Either they guessed I did marketing or yeah, TEACHING!!

The evening class went by rapidly and it was surely a blast interacting with students, seeing them glow in class. I forgot how tired I was after the class. Well, still couldn’t call it a day because I had to tutor R Mandarin tonight. We met at Dan Ryan’s like most of the time. It is always fun tutoring R. She is a wonderful girl. While we were talking about Christmas songs, I suddenly had a déjà-vu feeling; but it wasn’t with R but with someone else. It was so weird; but I could see this person via my mind’s eye. Perhaps W’s tarot was right; I will meet this person who is a foreigner in the near future…Yeah, go figure…

I read J’s blog tonight and felt compassionate for her. Well, such is life and I will not blame her at all. I had shed enough tears and cried my heart out. So, I turned my head and decided all must be done with some action. I almost bought another neurology book today but oppressed that impulse because I haven’t finished the one I’m currently reading. What was on my mind tonight was in fact bullshit! I don’t know why I still sent an IMS to W. There is no hope between us at all. So pathetic, really. I took out the ice pick and severely stabbed my frontal lobe in my mind’s eye. I know I had to do that in order to wake myself up. Love stains…

After saying goodnight to R, I walked all the way home. The rain was still scattering in the chilly wind. I have never felt so resentful toward Taipei like tonight. Screw the bus, damn the scooter and all the ugly neon signs!

I wanted to go to Water but my other half said no. It’s over… It really is. I seemed to hear Christmas caroling from SLC, a place I had lived for over two years in the United States. Gosh, if I ever…

La haine est un poison mortel

While everyone else was talking about this weekend’s Christmas party, I just laughed inside my heart. Who gives a shit about that boring party? Every year is the same, drinking free beer and spirit at a bar. I will not go not because of the company but people I do not want to see and hang out with.

I found a book given by a wonderful French family I met in Oslo a few years back; which kind of made me sad and elated at the same time. I wonder how they have been doing after all these years. The book titled “Le Miracle De Votre Esprit” by Dr. Joseph Murphy had actually accompanied me for many days in the past. I like the entry on page 116 which goes like: La haine est un poison mortel. Hatred is a fatal poison. Yeah, I agree with that completely but how many of us can really relinquish hatred, a natural habit, when we feel being judged with injustice or being cheated by our beloved ones? I find it very difficult to forgive someone although time might be the best cure in many cases. However, a problem is a problem, it will not disappear automatically albeit the oblivion of time. The ultimate solution is going back to where the problematic source lies in, digging out the rotten part and trimming it and smothering some ointment to cure the wound…

Question is how many of us are willing to solve a problem and let go of hatred? It really depends on each individual; and no one can force us to do that.

Determination

Determination

Hustling
Bustling
Sound of steps sinks
Buses speed like a stream
My eyesight lands on
A broad vision so green
Throwing
Mangling
Mind of determination leans
Fixatedly
With cold fluid
From heaven’s spring
Say what
None spoken
All must be tossed
Behind an unrealistic sea
If I want to lead the future
By childhood dreams…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Whose fault is that?

With recent scandals in President Chen’s family and tumultuous political issues prior to the mayoral election, many Taiwanese people have been very upset about the pan-political environment on this small island.

Well, certainly it is not the first time we heard and saw ugly sides of politics and politicians. In every democratic country, it is no doubt a must-go-through process to a mature political ideology and system.

I was surprised to read some report stating that Miss Long Ying-Tai gave a speech about the current political status-quo in Taiwan and the responsibility for which government, politicians, and civilians have to be held responsible.

Basically, I agree with what she mostly talked about; but I beg to differ from one specific point-citizens should be also responsible for the candidates they have chosen in Taiwan. I think she forgot how much time we have gotten real democracy in Taiwan. The Chiang family had ruled Taiwan under dictatorship for almost a half decade; and the slow process to acquire democracy requires much more than one aspect.

We often think our legislators, politicians, governmental officials suck; on the other hand, how many of us have asked what our educators have given students in terms of knowledge and cultivated manners of democracy? Does our Ministry of Education care about political science education? While we always compare our political system to other American or European nations, we should truly reflect upon the veritable source of problem, that is education.

It is an analogy like demanding Iraqi people to grow over night and become a democratic country while most people still lack of the concept of democracy. How can we blame people that chose a rotten candidate for a governmental post without considering how much knowledge and cultivation they have received either from school or society?

Not everyone is like Miss Long, having an opportunity to receive higher education in a highly developed and democratic country, let alone living for a long period of time in a foreign nation to witness real democracy.

Therefore, I do not think it is fair to say people in Taiwan should take a lot of responsibility for having chosen a wrong president or other political figures. She must also remember one can change over times, even a great president like Bill Cliton also lied and made mistakes!

Spiritual Talk

Tout ce que vous désirez, lorsque vous priez, croyez que vous l’avez reçu, et vous l’aurez. Et quand vous priez, si vous avez quelque chose contre quelqu’un, pardonnez-lui, afin que votre père qui est dans les cieux vous pardonne aussi vos péchés. (Marc 11: 24~25)

I had a little chat with W last night, which really made my day. Yeah, it was more about spirituality and religious beliefs. I thought about C in Swiss. When I was there doing my in-training, we read scriptures together and prayed every morning and night. With the rapid pace of daily life and distance between people, it is not easy to find someone who can and is willing to discuss the issues regarding one’s spirituality or philosophical thought.

I know what others were thinking last night but in fact, I was just enjoying a great talk feeding my spiritual body. That doesn’t happen all the time; and I have to admit it was a real blast!

Cognitive Influence

What would be the brain imaging when one’s second language acquisition is slowly developed? Can one reinforce his or her cognitive ability via second language learning? What about multi-lingual people?

I have an assumption- people should work on both cognition and brain enhancement when acquiring a second language should they anticipate mastering the target language.

The point is cognition is not easy to be quantitatively measured since everyone might have various perceptions toward a certain thing or event. Subjectivity plays a critical role as opposed to objectivity in this regard. We often hear teachers in all sorts of fields encouraging students to think positively and believing some subjects, commonly perceived daunting such as calculus or German, are actually simple one way or the other. And we also notice that psychological factors have great influence on a person’s learning; yet how does this link to our brain activity? Our synapses seem to operate in a random pattern contrary to what neuroscientists used to think, a more organized and fixated fashion. What does that help us to probe more deeply into the relation between neuroscience and language acquisition?

If “Use it or lose it” really stands to its credibility, then one should be able to improve his or her cognition and brain power when it comes to learning a language. I personally think the issue also lies in how much effort an individual puts in the language acquisition and the degree of devotion, focus, and diligence involved. Question is: how do we empirically manifest this phenomenon? And can we find a relatively efficient method to boost our cognition and brain power?

Everybody wants to rule the world

H told me “Everybody wants to rule the world” was his favorite song one afternoon while we were back in junior high school. I happened to hear this song on the radio today, which made me think of H, well a long lost friend. The last time I saw him, he was attending the police academy. I assume he is now a police officer somewhere…

The DJ said: if you can rule the world, what will be the first thing you want to do? I just popped out: I will kill all the bad guys! Gees, I don’t know why that just came out of my mouth without much hesitation. I guess we have really too much evil-doing in this world. People need more peace and love and caring…

Another day has passed by; and Christmas is coming soon.

La Vie En Rose

La Vie En Rose

Ticking sound fell
On a plate so fair
Racing beat struck
In a heart so bear
A glimpse was cast
Upon a hidden mirror
Ten fingers were tied
Into two congruent souls
My eyes are a reflection of
La vie en rose
When tarot meets fortunetelling
A spark might be ignited
Wish I could engrave
My love embossed
With colours of rainbow
And a touch of everlasting vow

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Only I Could

“Hurry, Jesse wants to see you now,” said Tom.
I dropped the book in my hands and sprang to my feet and ran like a bolt of lightning.
“Jesse, look at me, look at me!” as I slightly slapped his face.
“T…Teacher, I…I don’t think I… can ma…make it this time…”
“Don’t say that, please. We are about to find out the secret of LinguaNova.”
“I…I miss Sister Anderson, and I...am sorry I…ne..never…learned En..English well…”
Hearing this made tears well up my eyes; yet I tried not to drop a single one.
“No, you can’t die! Remember what we had promised Sister Anderson? We would find out the cure for your stuttering and you are coming to LinguaNova with me.”
“I wi…wish this da..day would co…come but…” said tremblingly Tom as he insidiously fished in his pocket and pulled out a green jade of monkey.
“I…I want to..gi…give you this. This i…is my…lucky mon…monky. I…I hope you…an..and the re…rest of our…gro..group can fin…find out the… secret of prefrontal lobe soo…soon at LinguaNova.” Tom slowly let go of his hand and closed his watery and dark eyes.
“No…please don’t go!” Tears finally rolled down my cheeks and I suddenly apprehended the feeling of shedding tears.
I lifted my right hand, trying to wipe the beads of sorrow, and only realized the jade monkey had turned into a glistening and transparent necklace engraved with a Chinese character-“Love” at the center…


When was the last time your heart was touched by a story, a movie, or someone you loved? When was the last time you enjoyed yourself under the sun, on green grass, or the breeze of autumn? If you know you have only one day to live, will your soul cry like a baby? Will you regret having bickered with someone over trivia things? Will you miss this life on this earth?

I looked around my room as I woke up this morning, pondering whether I should turn on the CD player and put on my favorite music. For some reason, I thought of a bleak past crawling up the screen of my eyes. Only if I could, only if I could, I would rather leave everything behind and travel to the world of spirit without any reluctance…

Fjord

Fjord

Blue as your eyes
White as your smile
A giant junk slides by
My melancholy time
Deep forests lie
On my cliffy mind
Submerging on every corner
Of ocean light
Fjord is on the other side
The sun is about to rise
And I hope my love for you
Shall never die…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Why do I have to

Why do I have to

Why do I have to listen to
Your crap
I’m not a trash can
Why do I have to play
Your stupid game
I’m not an idiot without brain
Get over with your own problem
And stop bugging friends
No one needs to tolerate
Your ridiculous drama
And things are not that lame
You are just being a big pain
In the ASS!

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Voice of Mother Nature

I happened to find a few old photos at my parents’ house last month. I can’t believe some of those old friends have changed so much now. There was one particular picture taken in front of the chapel; and S and I were wearing formal clothes. It seemed to me that I still could feel the warmth of the sun and breeze of that balmy Sunday afternoon…

I went to a little concert held by a group of aborigines last weekend. Many of those musicians are from my hometown, Taidong. I felt overwhelmed by their voice, the one from Mother Nature. Funny to say, when I was little, I was always regarded as aborigine because of my large eyes. My mom told me when she took me to the clinic, doctors or nurses usually asked mother whether my father was an aborigine.

During my teenage days, I did make some really good aboriginal friends. I envied how well they could sing and dance. It’s definitely a talent and a gift from God. The purity of their voice reminded me of that pristine, desolate and tranquil land of my youth. I hope it will be preserved and not get polluted too much in the future.
My heart and mind were once again being touched when voice of Mother Nature cast its magic on a beautiful Saturday last week; and I will never forget that wonderful event…Next time, if there is another similar concert, I’m going to attend, too!

Neuroscience, linguistics and me

Tossed was the past
Embraced is the future
Don’t need to look for me
For I’ve already reached the far end
Of my childhood dream
And started paving a new boulevard
Under the sun and the moon and a sea of stars…

Combining neuroscience and linguistics to find out a better way for Asian students to learn English more effectively is my academic interest. If brain can be readily manipulated to acquire linguistic skills, then one should be able to find out specific ways to trigger neurons to acquire a second language as does the first language.

Why does it seem more difficult for Asian students to learn English well compared with other Europeans? If UG theory is sustained, people should have pre-wired capability to learn other languages. What are factors strongly influencing an adult’s second language acquisition? Is it possible to have adults acquire other languages like they do for their first ones? How can one apply fMRI scanning to monitor brain activities in order to sort out a pattern or decode the mystery of linguistic acquisition embedded in the brain? Supposedly one utilizes the left hemisphere of brain to learn a language, but recent studies suggest any brain activity very likely be related with more than one specific area in the brain.

Can we possibly apply the nanotechnology to cure any brain damage without drilling a hole in one’s skull? If it’s possible, can we utilize the same method to trigger neurons to be active again so that one can acquire a second language as efficiently as the first one?

How can we use nanotechnology to create a device that is able to go through skin and enter blood vessel so as to locate infected or mutated cells such as cancer or tumor? Is it possible to come up with such a medical tool? If so, then we won’t need to drill a hole on a patient’s skull to treat brain damage or related cerebral diseases. My speculation is whether it is likely to devise delicate equipment; the challenge leads to the fundamental issue-the complex brain structure. Is the device able to penetrate the protective brain wall-capillary without damaging the endothelial cells? Otherwise, it will also leave an opening path to let other infectious viruses go into the brain.

Such a device would be ingenuous to applications of brain damage treatment or stimulation of brain cells. My proposal is to apply this device combined with electrodes stimulating brain cells to provoke language acquisition in a more effective way. Perhaps we can find out why Asia students cannot learn English as well as their European counterparts? How much does the environmental impact an individual’s language acquisition? What about bilingual and multi-lingual individuals? Can we sort out a generalization using fMRI or PET? The comparison between Asians and Europeans’ scanning would be interesting to observe. Other than that, I would like to study why female in general seems to be adept in articulation and pronunciation compared to male in Asia? There are a lot of research done in the past, indicating women are better in verbal expression. However, is it possible to use high- tech devices to manipulate our brain and change the phenomenon? What makes the difference between female and male’s language acquisition? My ultimate goal is to probe into the second language acquisition and find out whether we are capable to use modern technology to help adult learners acquire other languages as well as their first one.

I also want to examine brain activities, via PET or fMRI, on those who can do simultaneous English-Chinese translation. I accidentally found out I can think in Chinese but write out words in English at the same time. What would be my brain activities? Does that literally mean my brain can carry out both mechanisms at the same time or is there indeed some subtle variation in the processing time? Could it mean something to help us find a better method in language acquisition? What about using our will and mind to change the adult’s brain neurons as says in Jeffery M. Schwartz’s book “The Mind and the Brain”? If we can find a way to activate or make our brain act like the other language speakers’ first language acquisition pattern or style, shouldn’t one learn his or her second or even third language more successfully? Perhaps we can unveil the mystery of those we call talented language learners’ linguistic properties.

I personally believe one can learn a second language just like his native tongue. Yet, how much should one devote himself in that? When referring to internalizing a second language, what would be the average environmental immersion effort? And how much will a person’s will power and mind affect the language acquisition? Can we use a more scientific methodology to change an adult’s language learning, which is believed being fixed for the mother tongue? Is it possible one can break the mold when studying a foreign language? My focus will be on Mandarin vs. English acquisition. It would be fascinating seeing English native speakers use the same way native Mandarin speakers do in acquiring their first language.

Funeral

Funeral

Tears
Fell down
To the greened-pond
Like yesterday’s glistening tuxes
At my own pretentious blued- funeral
Purplish sleeves of embroidered cloak mangled
With thousands of imprinted images from antediluvians
High as the red sky low as the silver waves of forsaken mines
Where on earth could I settle down in a shelter without troublesome mind
Stretching along the tinsels of Christmas trees in a dream full of peripatetic thought
Looking forward to embracing another life of reincarnated flesh painted in white light

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Beyond the Galaxy

Beyond the Galaxy
(inédit)

I
Come from a world
Beyond the galaxy
Exposing to this newly made earth
I
Come from a planet
Beyond the galaxy
Seeking the past of ancient legacy

The mystery of all humans
Intertwined with various ethnicities
Faded histories replayed over and over
I see love and hatred
Existing in every corner of this globe
Unfortunately, selfishness suppresses
Most hearts
Leaving myriads of unsolved problems
Piling up with afflicted beings

I
Come from a world
Beyond the galaxy
Our wisdom is from the Almighty
Our love is pure spring
I
Come from a planet
Beyond the galaxy
Where no one is judged by
His or her skin
Because we communicate through each other’s soul
Seeing the inhabitants in this world
I don’t know whether I should
cry or mock
For all the humanitarian issues
Are never concerns
In our universe

Why do people attack one another?
Aren’t they aware that color can be changed?
Don’t they realize that image can be altered?
Once they attain the kingdom of God
Once they become like their Father above
For the Almighty is omnipotent
And we are all His beloved

Poor or rich
Beauty or beast
Genius or mediocre
Hetero or homo
All these lie in simplicity
If they know heart is more intelligent
Than brain
If they know the opposition is to
Let the rich share with the poor
The beauty soften the beast
The genius serve the mediocre
The hetero respect the homo
For we are all equal and shouldn’t
Judge
Right or wrong
Is never a man’s task
It’s the supreme God’s
Everyone has a choice
So, why wage wars
Everyone is unique
Therefore, cherish differences!

I
Come from a world
Beyond the galaxy
Where peace is part of
Life
Where love conquers
All evildoing
I
Come from a world
Beyond the galaxy
Where everyone is his or her
Own Master or Goddess!
I
Come to say farewell
And good luck
My fair voyage!

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Hiatus

Hiatus

Project is nearly completed
Today was a cool day for me
Stone slab was lifted
In a lightning speed
Mail from Venice
Heart is set for a new scene
Who is going to miss
Me in another world of diversity
Will a blue moon turn into orange
Shed no tears
My dear
Cry no words
My darling
I am just going to leave
For a hiatus in an ocean so green…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Kill

Bubbles of blue moon form
An impressionist conundrum
September 22, 1976
A day to remember

“Can you take us to the Confucius Temple on Wednesday?” asked T.
“Sure, I’d love to…”
The used-to-be landmark of Taipei, Grand Hotel, stands as a giant ancient temple on the lush green hill, overlooking the northern part of Taipei basin. Tourists love taking photos at the façade of this magnificent edifice.

“We sort of idolized many saints or heroes in Chinese culture,” I explained.
“So, that is why there are many gods in your religious beliefs or philosophy?” asked R. as he contemplated the grandeur of various statues…The smoke of incense was everywhere in the temple, leaving a trace of serenity on a sunny afternoon one rarely found in this city.

Although I had to show these northern Americans around, my mind was on something else. Racing like an express train, my soul has been turned inside out, exposed to the bright sunshine outside the MRT. I took a glimpse at the corner of my shades and realized there was a reflection of D, an image I would never forget…

“When you feel alone and the world has turned its back on you…” the radio was singing as I looked up at the ceiling. So, this is what happens when loving someone. But I prefer what it says in “Rule of Four”, “you’d better love something that can love you back.” However, I’m not a quitter really, never was and will never be. Okay, perhaps I need to have a brain lobectomy, so I won’t be suffering so much. Yet, is that really going to help? If someone’s heart is already broken and his soul hunted, will all the feelings be gone?

Trying very hard to reach the back of my head, I slowly closed my eyes, pulling out an ice pick, and moved my elbow inch by inch until the top of the pick almost touched my skull where my frontal lobe lay underneath…


To be continued…

Youth

Youth

Flipping through leafs of youth
It occurred to me
A silhouette of east wind
Had assassinated a naïve dream
Slashed was your wrist
Dropped was my blood
Who had burnt our box of secret
Light of future dimmed
Yet it wasn’t the moment of extremity
Despair might suppress
But it would never prevail
As long as faith sustained
Malleable personality
Could turn into adamant will
Jettisoned was an old burden
Embraced was the acme
You and I still faced a new challenge…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

End

To Joy...

End

There is never a beginning
How can one find an end
Circle of life
Nowhere to hide
Glory of God
Touches every heart
Little angels’ laugh
Floats
Swings
And begets tons of love

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Future

They called me to attend German class last night, which I almost forgot. I didn’t like the previous teacher. Gosh, I just don’t think he ever learned how to teach language although he is a German native-speaker.

Something happened in my life recently; and to be honest I didn’t like it a whole lot. What can I say? S. said I have too much sense. Yeah, it’s me. I like to pursue new knowledge. Back in the church, everyone thought one should get married after a certain age, which I thought was completely bullshit! Why? I don’t want to be in wedlock, okay? Perhaps I’m a narcissist, but who cares? If I have to care about everyone’s opinion, I won’t be able to move even my finger an inch in this twisted world…

Therefore, I once again beat myself to sobriety! I really don’t have much time for anything else. In addition, I can’t force anyone to accept anything, right? So, setting me free is probably a good thing to others as well…

I got another book about neuroscience the other day. Really, I consider this path is getting more and more interesting. I am determined to come up with some magnificent breakthrough so as to facilitate millions of people who want to improve their linguistic skills. Texas! I’m coming soon!

Reading Spanish has become part of my daily activities. Now I just need to add German as well. J. has been gone to Italy already. Such is life, isn’t it? Friends come and go; and we don’t know when we’ll be seeing each other again. My childhood memory flashed back, revealing an old story, which yanked out a buried box of a sad past. I guess when being in a confined world, one could easily constrain himself to a track of fatal thought. Weakness is never happiness!

Oh well, German class I am coming this morning and the teacher had better be great!

Preexistence of Academia

“What do you want to know about yourself?” asks the Master.
“I’d like to know whether it is good for me to study more,” answers the student.
“Let me see. According to your astrological sign, you will pursue new knowledge all of your life…”
“So, does that mean it is okay for me to go back to school next year?”
“Pursuing knowledge doesn’t necessarily have to be in school; but if that’s what you desire, no one and nothing can stop you,” the Master replies.

After talking to the master, J spent the entire evening ruminating over comment given by this renowned astrologist who has been practicing a genre of ancient fortunetelling in the area of Tibetan mountains.

Through the mind’s eye, J had seen a little boy running fast with an overloaded school bag around the Seine River. This red-cheeked boy loved going to school and studied catechism in the evening at the local chapel. He dreamed of becoming a great philosopher and scientist like Aristotle. The burning fire of absorbing new things in his heart, mind, and brain seemed inextinguishable.

J also noticed one thing singular about the boy. He not only could read French and Latin but also some sort of ancient hieroglyph. To J’s surprise, he also spotted a book that was called “Rites of Zhou” among a myriad of books in the boy’s study. There was a delicate painting revealed a Greek goddess that was dancing among innumerous green fairies in a spacious golden palace.

In a blink of time, the scene shifted abruptly to a market where thousands of people gathered for an unknown yet seemed important event in the town. The little boy ran so fast and almost tripped himself over in the cobble- stone street. By the time he arrived at the fountain square where the important event was taking place, city police were already there standing by. Then a magnificent black chariot driven by eight pure white horses pulled in at the façade of the giant statue of Napoleon. A man with elegant attire stepped out of the chariot and the crowded began to hail…

…To be continued.

Osmanthus

Osmanthus

Incessant barking of wild dogs hunted
The alley of a harbor village
Lonely
Dilapidated houses buried in forgotten trees
A scorched photo lied next to a figurine
Rusty
Once a prosperous scene
Now a rampant disease
Who’s fault was that
Really
Don’t blame everything on God
Or the Evil Spirit
Man is de facto his own cause of sin
We must think
Deeply
Water from the sea
Echo of the valley
Nature has its own course
Categorically
Outcry of firmament
Splat of osmanthus
Awaked the deceased
Gently
Can’t you all see
Our fate is sealed

In a book of genealogy…

Written by Jerski Bjorksen

Not that bad

Today was my first day teaching at the nursing school. I’m responsible for helping those who are a little behind in class. However, after I finished the class, I realized my students are actually not that bad. They just need someone who can guide them to the right track in learning English. I’m pleased to have accepted the teaching offer a few weeks ago…

U.S. President, George W. Bush, said Chinese people save too much money in the bank and they should spend more. He hopes China will be a great nation of U.S. product consumption. Well, I just thought that was a very naïve comment. Apparently Bush didn’t know why Chinese people like to save money; it is estimated the saving amount holds 44 percent of GDP compared to the United States’ 14 percent. Well, Bush might be right about China’s welfare and pension systems which are not as good as the America’s but “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Thrift has been regarded a virtue for centuries in China. Chinese always teach their children to save a large portion of earning for the future use. No matter where one goes, this traditional thought is deeply rooted in a Chinese. Therefore, I think it’s not only people know they cannot rely much on the government but also a legacy being passed on for many generations. I doubt Mr. Bush really understands this aspect…What do you think-someone that used “the Internets” in his recent interview?