Flame, Glass and Ink are Poems, essays, and reading notes by Stefania Joori Suh

Tag: blogging

  • prompt 57

    Are you a good judge of character?

    I would rather consider myself an observer than a judge, which sounds stern and draconian. In this regard, I see people’s true colors through their speaking manners and behavior patterns. Also, being bicultural and bilingual means you are endowed with a particular eye for seeing the universal characteristics of humankind that are uniquely diverse yet oddly familiar.

    “You are too sensitive,” people tell me, but I can’t help it because that’s the way I was born with the unique eye that enables me to see people’s characters whether I like them or not. No, not a psychic. Perhaps something of an ancient Sybil, I would instead call, will be more the like. People don’t like this ability because, like an MRI scanning, their inner worlds are revealed. Something should be left buried to protect the good of others and the keepers, I presume. Still, there’s nothing you could do about it when you were born with the eye, be it either curse or gift.

    It reminds me of Midas’s golden hand that turned everything he touched into Gold and Cassandra, whose words people disregard even if she was telling the truth. But then I think my cats are better seers who could see the true characters of people like Odin’s two ravens, Memory and Thought, and Freya’s two cats driving her chariot. ⭐️💫🧚‍♀️

    Digital art by Danielle Zemba from Fine Art of America
    Stephanie’s two cats ⭐️

  • ‘Shakespeare on Toast: Getting a Taste for the Bard’ by Ben Crystal -book review

    Shakespeare on Toast: Getting a Taste for the Bard by Ben Crystal

    My rating: 5 of 5 stars

    During my undergraduate years as an English major at Rutgers, Shakespeare wasn’t my favorite figure of English literature. He seemed overly hyped and scholarly to tax the enjoyment of the simple pleasure of reading. The impression of the Bard has mellowed, but he’s in the upper caste in the constellation of writers. Crystal wrote the book with me and other kindred spirits in mind.


    Shakespeare wasn’t a stuffy academic writer whose ambition was to imprint indelible footprints in the path of humankind. Instead, he was a playwright, a modern-day screenwriter who was more interested in attracting audiences to his plays as much as possible. His characters are timeless and boundless, transpiring in every human face from all races and cultures because they are universal. The plays are dramatic portrayals of what it is to be human. King Lear, played by a Korean veteran actor, begets the same level of emotions as his English peer has demonstrated because it is the heart that spurs the mind to speak.


    Crystal is a knowledgeable writer who wears his knowledge on the subject from the studies lightly with the general public in mind. His endeavor to bring the figure of the literary giant is magnanimously noble and altruistic. Perhaps Crystal might have been the one who was disaffected with those elitist writers and pedantic academics claiming Shakespeare as one of their own, only to be appreciated by the literati. In sum, if you are interested in reading Shakespeare for the first time or discovering who he was, this book is a commendable read and a good primer for further reading about his plays and more.


    View all my reviews

  • Prompt 47

    Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

    Although I never performed or gave a speech on stage, in middle school and college, I recited poems – I forgot the titles – as class assignments and received applause from the audiences. I still remember the smiles of my English professor applauding me upon reciting a poem in the classroom, a 400-level seminar class at Rutgers. 🤓

    Being an introvert means keeping things in graceful stealth. 🐱 That said, I prefer writing to express myself, however poor it may be. (BTW, Kurt Vonnegut encouraged us to practice an art, no matter how well or poorly, to make our soul grow. ) I like writing letters to editors of the magazines from which I enjoyed reading particular articles. Several letters have been printed in such magazines, such as BBC History Revealed and BBC Wildlife. I think it’s a great way of communicating your thoughts in writing because, unlike speaking it carries the mind and heart of the writer.

    In retrospect, I do not covet the extroverted and their penchant for being visible in public. Of course, not all extroverted people are pompous wannabe celebrities, but many of them pretend to be what they are not, and I can see it so well from their aura that it becomes vexing ad nauseam. Anyway, these are my private performances that became public. 🌼

  • Prompt 46

    What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?

    On the top of the world

    My favorite physical exercise is hiking on the top of the hill, and I love looking at the world down under and the skies high above, to which I feel closer with a touch of my hand.

    The pleasure is watching the wind from faraway seas herd a flock of clouds like a celestial shepherd. And an eagle breasting the never-ending abundance of air follows a trail of the Sun Chariot to return to the castle east of the sun, west of the moon.

    The delight is listening to the sussurs of the trees. It’s the wind speaking through the leaves, carrying the messages from my guardian angel I long to hear.

    Hiking is not only a physical exercise but also a mental refreshment that nourishes your holistic wellness free of charge in the luxuriant Nature’s Spa. ❤️🌸✨🧚‍♀️

  • Prompt 45

    What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

    Toro the Thinker: “Your admirations are mine.” 💫

    I admire people with two qualities: artistry for creative value and artfulness for social craft.

    The Art of Sociability: This word is synonymous with wearing a mask in public to hide one’s true character in interacting with others. The Swiss psychologist Jung defined the concept of a mask with which you conceal your shadow to live a thriving social life. I have seen these masked people all the time at work, and they amaze me how they hoodwink their managers and colleagues into believing that they are friendly and cool to be accepted by the cliques only to sack those who have no such craft. Having an eye for looking into people’s true colors, I am mesmerized by their craftiness in social interactions. The craft protects the performers from the emotional suspense at work and indemnifies them of their mistakes and misbehaviors. 😯

    The Art of Playing Musical Instruments: I consistently highly regard musicians over actors/actresses because of their creative streaks in the form of lyrics and playing musical instruments. My favorite idols have always been musicians, and I greatly respect musicians and composers, ranging from Baroque to Pop. Music moves peoples’ minds and takes us to the memory lanes with vivid images, the ambiance forever lingering in the hearts’ reservoirs. Musicians are true magicians of the art who invite our spirits to flit with gossamer wings in the garden of sensations. I especially admire those who can play guitar and sing songs simulatepously because they are singing poets/poetesses, a modern day tradabours. ⭐️

    The French novelist Guy de Mapassant’s last word on earth was: “I coveted evertything, but I took plareasure in nothing.” I don’t covet those crafty people’s art of deceiving people, but I hope to learn how to protect myself from those untrue people who think they can get away with anything despite their sins. I covet those who can play musical instruments like they are breathing the air. No, I don’t want to die like Maupassant. So, I am thinking of learning myself how to play the guitar soon. I want to take pleasure in it. How about that, Monsieur Maupassant? 😉🌍🌻🧚‍♀️✨

  • Prompt 44

    What’s your favorite cartoon?

    Cartoons and animations are different. Cartoons are thematically episodic and satirical. Animations are a superb vehicle for realizing the ideal to the real that human actors could have awkwardly contrived. Animations effortlessly manifest feelings and emotions to the maximum effect. Hence, my favorite animations. 😃

    The Adventure of Sinbad: A story of young sailor Shinbad who decides to see the world with his sidekick Sarah, a bespelled princess in a bird’s hide. The opening song is still my number-one cartoon song of all time.

    Anne of Green Gables, aka the red-haired Anne: This is the most faithful adaptation of the original novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This is one of the first animated films by Hayao Miyazaki during his time with Nippon Animation’s World Masterpiece Theater. Hayao and other artists who created this brilliant animated version traveled to Prince Edward Island and visited the story’s original setting. So, watching this animation alone will amount to reading the novel.

    Kiki’s Delivery Service: Not every witch looks the same with a sullen face and unapproachable ambiance. Kiki is an unlikely witch in training who prepares herself to enter adulthood by moving with her black cat Jiji away from her beloved family and settling in a coastal city. She gets a job as an assistant at a bakery, delivering customers’ orders on a broom with Jigi. It’s a charming and thoughtful coming-of-age animation. Moreover, Kiki and I have things in common, such as similar temperaments, looks, and, most of all, our black cats.

    Howl’s Moving Castle: The original story by Diana Wynn Jones is fantastically transpired by Hayao Miyazaki and his artists in this unforgettably mesmeric animated screenplay. Love is ubiquitous and universal. Forgiveness is abundant, and Magic is real. I am sure the original novel’s author would love to see this stunning visualization of her creation of the make-believe world with a standing ovation. Lost in translation? Not an iota.😉

    My Camille

    In light of the above, I prefer animation translated from novels made by Japanese artists because they are skilled in detailing the characters and backgrounds of stories based upon the study of the original stories empowered by a wide arch of imaginativeness. 🤓✨🧚‍♀️