99 Red Balloons

You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone

Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, "Something's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by...
-Nena, "99 Red Balloons"

If you haven't heard this song, remedy that soon. It's an excellent anti-war song of the 80's, and it was quite a hit in its day. While it's not terribly sophisticated in its musical qualities, it tells a thought-provoking story of trigger-happy countries on the brink of war.

I heard it just yesterday, and felt incredibly inspired. Hence, this piece, which is quite possibly the piece I've been most proud of ever. It turned out true to what I had in mind and even better. It also looks better in person, though I doubt many are going to get the chance to see that. You'll just have to make do with this version-- which has a nifty title at the bottom! Yay title!

I'll estimate roughly 10 or 12 hours or so spent on this. Prismacolor markers and India ink.

99 dreams I have had
In every one, a red balloon
It's all over now and I'm standing pretty
In this dust that was a city

If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you, and let it go...