Air by Angus Martin The air is blowing round and round the world. It must be. I’ve breathed this air before and will breathe it again if I’ve that long to live, and can offer my mouth to it. Tonight it is blowing hard; gates and loosened bits of buildings clatter and [...]
Archive for November, 2011
Scottish air in Chestertown
Posted in Air, Angus Martin, tagged culture, life, memory, poetry, random on November 22, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Flush with the joy of discovery
Posted in Flush with the joy of discovery, tagged books, culture, humor, people, poetry on November 18, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Books in the bathroom are as essential as toilet paper. But not to be used for the same purpose, except in cases of emergency. And then only if the book is already full of what it will be full of if used for such purposes. For one (back to reading books, not wiping with [...]
The bough will break, but sleep, baby, sleep
Posted in Poems, Ranier Maria Rilke, To Say Before Going to Sleep, tagged culture, life, poetry, random, rilke on November 15, 2011 | 2 Comments »
To Say Before Going To Sleep by Rainer Maria Rilke I would like to sing someone to sleep, have someone to sit by and be with. I would like to cradle you and softly sing, be your companion while you sleep or wake. I would like to be the only person in [...]
Elf-ing has its privileges
Posted in Elf-ing has its privileges, tagged birthday, gifts, poetry on November 10, 2011 | 1 Comment »
At my age, birthday fuss sometimes makes me cringe. Really great presents do not, which is why I want to share a few that I’ve received. First, a friend found me these salt and pepper shakers who have been welcomed into my growing elf family in spite of the fact that they [...]
Just what the doctor ordered
Posted in Poetry found, tagged culture, family, Maryland, poetry, random, sisters on November 8, 2011 | 2 Comments »
I love the Midwest, but sometimes living here I need a strong dose of quirky. I spent last weekend in Chestertown, Maryland with my sisters, my mother and a handful of nieces, and I’m happy to report that quirk has been dispensed. Chestertown is a small historic Eastern Shore town, population 5,000, situated [...]
Oh for the days of strong legs and thicker skin
Posted in Fujiwara No Kiyosuke, I May Live on Until, tagged aging, culture, death, life, poetry, random on November 3, 2011 | 1 Comment »
I may live on until I long for this time In which I am so unhappy, And remember it fondly. —Fujiwara No Kiyosuke Translated by Kenneth Rexroth I found this poem in a lovely little book of my father’s called 100 Poems from the Japanese. I have no idea why he bought [...]
