Now mind is clear as a cloudless sky. Time then to make a home in wilderness.
What have I done but wander with my eyes in the trees? So I will build: wife, family, and seek for neighbors.
Or I perish of lonesomeness or want of food or lightning or the bear (must tame the hart and wear the bear).
And maybe make an image of my wandering, a little image—shrine by the roadside to signify to traveler that I live here in the wilderness awake and at home
Allen Ginsberg 1926-1997
Allen Ginsberg Born: 3 June 1926, New Jersey, USA Nationality: American Died: 5 April 1997, New York, USA
Ginsberg was a poet, philosopher, and writer. In the 1940s as a student at Columbia College, he began a close friendship with WS Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, forming the core of the Beat Generation. He opposed militarism, economic materialism, and sexual repression. He embodied various aspects of this counterculture with his views on drugs, openness to Eastern religions, and hostility to bureaucracy. Ginsberg is best known for the poem ‘Howl’ which denounces the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity within the United States at the time
Malle Babbe 1633-35 Baroque, Dutch Golden Age Oil on canvas Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, Germany
“Malle Babbe “ is an unusual portrait depicting a woman sitting at a table holding a beer jug in her right hand and perched on her left shoulder sits an owl. She is laughing with her head turned to her left. Plainly dressed in brown with white collar and cuffs. It is considered that the subject was a real citizen of Haarlem and, using the translation of the Dutch “Malle Babbe” (“Malle” being crazy and “Babbe” a diminutive of Barbara), who is likely to suffer from a mental illness.
Franz Hals 1582/3-1666
Franz Hals Baroque, Dutch Golden Age Born: 1582/83, Antwerp, Flanders Nationality: Dutch Died: 26 August 1666, Haarlem, Dutch Republic
Hals was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Particularly known for his portraiture, he lived and worked in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Hals played a vital role in the evolution of 17th-century group portraiture and his known for his loose brushwork
So the story goes typing too fast led to abracadabra being misspelled as abacadeba and thus creating the Magic 9, Nine lines of nine syllables with a rhyme scheme of
abacadeba
Example
Bewitched by Divina Collins
Shalt not thy deprave the spell of love enchanted words that melts the heart that cast thy spells deep within thereof within a mystical aura of spiritual magic that only lovers become reminiscent of powers of the occult shall be of sorcery perceived from insight of spirits above inspiration within shall not ever depart when a bewitched spell is as worthy of
Inspired by and written for Simply 6 Minutes – thank you, Christine
Simple Choice Form: Busta Sonetto 3
Hidden in the density of trees The secret plans of escape While humans lurch from scrape to scrape As the world falls to its knees
And into chaos living must descend And the time is coming when we will go Or stay and meet the face of death A simple choice, still some will say no And stay until the bitter end
But me I’m gonna take that flight To see a new world in another place Born for peace before time stands still A brighter future born of grace For me the time has come, the time is right
Written by Jezzie G In the season of paradox cowards slink, The world in ambiguity is enslaved. The writer’s quill flows with contrary ink, Without the clarity all is depraved. This life is mortality’s enigma. We seek to understand the baffling. It’s lost in a mindless, puzzling stigma, Among the intellectual waffling…
You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. For much of the autumn and winter Red-tailed Hawks appear as solitary hunters. I see single hawks often in my drives through southern Arizona’s farmlands. However, occasionally, I’ll see two birds perching side by side. Seeing this […]
Pale Shelter Album: The Hurting Date: 1983 Genre: Alternative/Indie Artist: Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears were formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith after the dissolution of their first band, Graduate. Tears for Fears were associated with new-wave electronic bands of the early 1980s and achieved international success. Their debut album “The Hurting” reached the top of the UK Album Chart. In 2021, Orzabal and Smith, received the Ivor Novello Award for “Outstanding Song Collection” in recognition of era-defining albums and innovative hit singles.
I come from there and I have memories Born as mortals are, I have a mother And a house with many windows, I have brothers, friends, And a prison cell with a cold window. Mine is the wave, snatched by sea-gulls, I have my own view, And an extra blade of grass. Mine is the moon at the far edge of the words, And the bounty of birds, And the immortal olive tree. I walked this land before the swords Turned its living body into a laden table.
I come from there. I render the sky unto her mother When the sky weeps for her mother. And I weep to make myself known To a returning cloud. I learnt all the words worthy of the court of blood So that I could break the rule. I learnt all the words and broke them up To make a single word: Homeland…..
Mahmoud Darwish 1941-2008
Mahmoud Darwish Born: 13 March 1941, Al-Birwa, Palestine Nationality: Palestinian Died: 9 August 2008, Texas, USA
Darwish was a poet and author, regarded as the Palestinian National poet. Darwish won numerous awards for his works. He used Palestine as a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of his dispossession and exile. Darwish has been described as the political poet in Islam, the man of action whose action is poetry
Alexander Litvinovsky Jazz Born: 1 May 1962, Minsk, Belorussia Nationality: Belarusian
Alexander Litvinovsky
Litvinovsky is a composer of contemporary music. He works in a variety of genres including chamber music, stage production music, choral music, and electroacoustic art
Less ornate than his earlier work, Alberti’s design for the façade for the church San Sebastiano displays many of the characteristics of his style such as decorative columns, a structural symmetry, and rounded arches above the doorways that are repeated at the structure’s pediment. While the façade of the church is its most striking feature Alberti’s remaining plans were never implemented. Work on the project slowed over the course of several years and Alberti died before it was finished.
Leon Battista Alberti 1404-1472
Leon Battista Alberti Early Renaissance Born: 14 February 1404, Genoa, Italy Nationality: Italian Died: 25 April 1472, Rome, Italy
Alberti was a humanist author, architect, artist, poet, linguist, philosopher, priest, and cryptographer. He exemplified the nature of the polymath and is considered the founder of Western cryptography
You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. Northern Cardinals have a range that includes most of the eastern half of the United States and extendinginto the southwestern desert. These birds are a relatively common sight in southern Arizona. I’ll see one of them fairly […]
5150 Album: 5150 Date: 1986 Genre: Rock Artist: Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen was a rock band formed in California in 1972. They are credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the rock scene and were known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen. The band consisted of Eddie Van Halen, his brother Alex Van Halen (drummer), vocalist David Lee Roth, and bassist/vocalist Michael Antony. Toth left the band in 1985 and was replaced by Sammy Hagar, formerly of Montrose. In 2001 Eddie was diagnosed with cancer and died of the disease in 2020
Lost in the last strains of the intensity of sound and the intimacy of Bach on the moonlit air yet suddenly aware his eyes are playing the music in mine a perfect rendition of a long-forgotten love song lost in the wonder of his beauty reflected by moonlight opening the secrets of love I am bound in his unbreakable creation and the loveliness of his lips that kiss with kiss of an angel my angel
For me, it is the comments and the conversations that can be had in comments that make blogging a more refined social media space. So naturally, I think it is important to respond to someone’s comment and of course, it is simply common courtesy and good manners.
Now, what is classed as a response? Can it just be clicking the like button if one feels they have nothing to add to the thread of conversation? I’d say absolutely, yes it can be. The like button comes in handy for letting someone know you have seen their post or comment but maybe are not in a place to answer. I have the WordPress app on my phone which comes into its own when I am away from home but if I am away from home, most likely with my mum, I am not always able to type answers.
I think I have said it before, WordPress has a lovely community aspect to it, unlike the regular forms of social media there doesn’t seem to be nasty social politics going on. Possibly because we all read things that interest us on WordPress so immediately there is some common ground. Perhaps that is it, I don’t know.
Who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion
There was a Boy whose name was Jim; His Friends were very good to him. They gave him Tea, and Cakes, and Jam, And slices of delicious Ham, And Chocolate with pink inside And little Tricycles to ride, And read him Stories through and through, And even took him to the Zoo– But there it was the dreadful Fate Befell him, which I now relate.
You know–or at least you ought to know, For I have often told you so– That Children never are allowed To leave their Nurses in a Crowd; Now this was Jim’s especial Foible, He ran away when he was able, And on this inauspicious day He slipped his hand and ran away!
He hadn’t gone a yard when–Bang! With open Jaws, a lion sprang, And hungrily began to eat The Boy: beginning at his feet. Now, just imagine how it feels When first your toes and then your heels, And then by gradual degrees, Your shins and ankles, calves and knees, Are slowly eaten, bit by bit. No wonder Jim detested it! No wonder that he shouted “Hi!”
The Honest Keeper heard his cry, Though very fat he almost ran To help the little gentleman.“Ponto!” he ordered as he came (For Ponto was the Lion’s name), “Let go, Sir! Down, Sir! Put it down!” The Lion made a sudden stop, He let the Dainty Morsel drop, And slunk reluctant to his Cage, Snarling with Disappointed Rage. But when he bent him over Jim, The Honest Keeper’s Eyes were dim. The Lion having reached his Head, The Miserable Boy was dead!
When Nurse informed his Parents, they Were more Concerned than I can say:– His Mother, as She dried her eyes, Said, “Well–it gives me no surprise, He would not do as he was told!” His Father, who was self-controlled, Bade all the children round attend To James’s miserable end, And always keep a-hold of Nurse For fear of finding something worse
Hilaire Belloc 1870-1953
Hilaire Belloc Born: 27 July 1870, La-Celle-Saint-Cloud, France Nationality: French-English Died: 16 July 1953, Surrey, England
Belloc was a writer, historian, poet, orator, satirist, sailor, writer of letters, soldier, and political activist of the early 20th century. His work was inspired by his Catholic faith. Belloc became a naturalized subject of Britain whilst maintaining his French citizenship in 1902. He was president of the Oxford Union and from 1906 to 1910 he served as MP for Salford South
Dmitri Shostakovich Classical Born: 25 September 1906, Saint Petersburg, Russia Nationality: Russian Died: 9 August 1975, Moscow, Russia
Dmitri Shostakovich 1906-1975
Shostakovich was a composer and pianist who became internationally known following his First Symphony premiered in 1926. He was regarded as a major composer of his lifetime. Shostakovich combined various musical techniques within his works and his compositions are known for their sharp contrasts, ambivalent tonality, and elements of the grotesque
Landscape inspired by the View of Frascati by Achille-Etna Michallon
Landscape inspired by the View of Frascati 1822 Romanticism Oil on canvas Louvre Museum, Paris, France
“Landscape Inspired by the View of Frascati” was the winner of the Prix du Rome for historical landscape in 1822. Michallon created the piece in the studio using his first impressions of the natural view of Frascati. Michalllon’s familiarity with the work of 17th-century landscape artists is evident in his use of a panoramic perspective and the picturesque quality of the figures
Achille-Etna Michallon
1796 – 1822
Achille-Etna Michallon Romanticism Born: 22 October 1796, Paris, France Nationality: French Died: 24 September 1822, Paris, France
Michallon was a prodigiously talented artist who tragically died at the incredibly early age of 25. He was the son of a sculptor and studied under Jacques-Louis David and Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. In 1817, he won the Prix de Rome for landscape painting. He studied in Italy for two years but died of pneumonia before he could develop what he had learned
You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. The Horned Lark is an inhabitant of open country, with a year-round range that includes nearly all of the United States. It also is a seasonal resident of northern Canada. In southern Arizona it shows up in […]
you don’t get to say what I should think or pretend you are always there for me so, you can tell your friends how you saved me you are not the hero of my story when you sent me on the path of destruction thinking I would sit back for karma’s revenge but darling I forgot to tell you one thing cross me hurt me just once then my name becomes KARMA
You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. Here’s another bird that I photographed on the grounds of the Elkhorn Guest Ranch, a Say’s Phoebe. Say’s Phoebe is a flycatcher, closely related to the Black Phoebe and to the Vermilion Flycatcher. It is a bird […]
With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climbest the skies; How silently, and with how wan a face! What, may it be that even in heavenly place That busy archer his sharp bow tries? Sure, if that long-with-love-acquainted eyes Can judge of love, thou feelest a lover’s case; I read it in thy looks; thy languished grace To me that feel the like thy state decries. The even of fellowship, O Moon, tell me: Is constant love deemed there but want of wit? Are beauties there as proud as here they be? Do they above love to be loved, and yet Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?
The next crystal out of my bag is the Orange Calcite. It is a rock-forming mineral found in various countries. With properties most often associated with higher consciousness.
Orange Calcite
Orange Calcite is orange in colour and is used for both energizing and cleansing. It is also known as Calcspar.
It is particularly good for the Sacral and Solar Plexus chakras. Both these chakras are involved with our feelings of belonging in our bit of the world, our connection with other people and the planet, and our creativity. It is an excellent crystal for balancing emotions and releasing feelings of fear and anxiety.
Orange Calcite is used when trying to unlock creative or sexual energies and is one of the few stones that help circulate those energies around the body. And removing any blockages when needed.
Affirmation: I allow my creativity to feed my soul.
I Appear Missing Album: … Like Clockwork Date: 2013 Genre: Alternative/Indie Artist: Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) is a rock band formed by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme in 1996 in California. Homme has been the only consistent member throughout multiple line-up changes. The current line-up consists of Homme with Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar, keyboard, lap steel, backing vocals, and percussion), Michael Schuman (bass guitar, backing vocals, and keyboards), Dean Fertita (keyboards, percussion, backing vocals, and guitar), and Jon Theodore (drums and percussion). QOTSA is known for their blues, Krautrock, and electronica-influenced style of riff-orientated and rhythmic hard rock
You are here and I am not running away instead I answer you with my tears each one trailing down my cheek as if afraid of the emotions unsure of the shadows you cast on my skin as uncertainty and doubt mingle with desire unsaid words moisten as your lips linger on the tear trails a moment too long but not long enough and I inhale the scent of your skin sweet like honeysuckle enticing a bee to taste nectar just enough temptation to linger through until the next time you are here again
Edvard Grieg Romantic Born: 15 June 1843, Bergen, Norway Nationality: Norwegian Died: 4 September 1907, Bergen, Norway
Edvard Grieg 1843-1907
Grieg was a composer and pianist. He is considered one of the main composers of the Romantic era and his music remains the standard of the global classical repertoire. Grieg made use of Norwegian folk music in his compositions and brought fame to the music of Norway
Alex considered himself a normal 19-year-old guy. He loved bikes and working on bikes. In the garden sat his pet projects two bike frames surrounded by their components. His pride and joy, a 650cc Suzuki was in the drive, looking its age and rather beaten up.
Alex gazed out his bedroom window longingly at the machines. He should be out there, fixing and tweaking engines or taking his Suze for a ride in the sunshine. “No hope of that,” he muttered returning to his revision notes and the nagging screen of his monitor.
With mid-terms rapidly approaching Alex had to revise history. He hated history but he needed a decent grade to get into uni. Most of all he wanted to make his dad proud. He figured he owed him that much. His dad was hero and had made sure he and his brother, Max, had a stable upbringing after his mum had died of cancer when Alex and Max were small.
Impatiently Alex read about the battles and dates of WW1 trying to memorize some trigger points likely to come up in the exams. He didn’t hear his dad come in with two mugs of coffee. “How’s it going, Lex?”
His dark eyes looked at his dad, “I don’t think I can do this, Dad”
“Just do your best,” said his dad looking at the screen before quietly leaving the room.
Later his dad yelled from downstairs “Alex, there is someone here to see you”
Alex groaned in frustration and lopped downstairs to find his grandparents armed with photo albums waiting for him. “I don’t need this,” he thought.
“I understand you are studying the Somme,” his grandfather said.
“Trying to, gramps,” he replied, hoping it didn’t sound too sarky.
“Then this might just help you,” said his grandfather, placing an old album of photos in his hand. “My dad made this album when he was in the army, and this is his diary.”
Alex flicked his eyes over a few pages of the diary. Suddenly the Battle of the Somme was personal and real. “Gramps, he was there”
A few months later, a battered Suzuki was parked in the quad of a hall of residence. Inside, on the third floor, Alex was unpacking himself into his new room, ready to start his university career.
While walking home along an empty street The thoughts of you are flooding through my mind As twilight hours in amber softly greet My dreams of love that I have come to find. As night begins to fall and stress unwind You seem a million miles away; yet near, So, close my senses tingle as defined By love behind the fence, I built in fear. And as I walk, I shed another tear For distance keeps you far away from me If only destiny would make love clear And turn my prudence so my eyes can see The love I long to hold within my arms To fill these empty streets I walk with love's sweet charms
You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. Here’s another species that I photographed on the grounds of the Elkhorn Guest Ranch, an American Robin. The very bright plumage on his breast suggests that he is a male (females are paler). Robins are a relatively […]
Maurice Ravel Impressionism Born: 7 March 1875, Ciboure, France Nationality: French Died: 28 December 1937, Paris, France
Maurice Ravel 1875-1937
Ravel was a composer, conductor, and pianist. Although he rejected the term he is often associated with Impressionism. During the 1920s and 1930s Ravel was regarded internationally as France’s greatest living composer
Pieta 1575-76 High Renaissance Oil on canvas Gallerie dell’ Accademia, Venice, Italy
One of the last paintings by Titian “Pieta” was created to hang over his grave and depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ. She is accompanied by Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene. It is believed that Nicodemus is a self-portrait and that Titian is viewing his own imminent death in Christ and touching his body in the hope of eternal salvation. Unfinished at Titian’s death the painting was completed by Palma il Giovane.
“Pieta” is darkly atmospheric, a possible indication of Titian’s fear of death. It is lit by shafts of moonlight and a putto carrying a torch. This allows the artist to use bold chiaroscuro, with the light illuminating the image of a pelican, symbolic of the Passion of Christ and redemption. In the right-hand corner, there is a small picture within the picture of Titian and his son Orazio in prayer, possibly asking to be spared from the plague ravaging Venice at the time and eventually killing both of them. Statues of Sybil and Moses flank the image and seemingly overwhelm the depiction of the mourners and indicate the frailty of life.
Titian 1490-1576
Titian Renaissance, Mannerism Born: 1490, Pieve di Cadore, Italy Nationality: Italian Died: 27 August 1576, Venice, Italy
Titian was a painter and regarded as one of the greatest painters of the Renaissance, combining Mannerist and High Renaissance ideas to develop a style that is remarkable ahead of his time. His creativity dominated Venetian art and the city rivaled the artistic centres of Rome and Florence
I come from there and remember, I was born like everyone is born, I have a mother and a house with many windows, I have brothers, friends and a prison. I have a wave that sea-gulls snatched away. I have a view of my own and an extra blade of grass. I have a moon past the peak of words. I have the godsent food of birds and an olive tree beyond the kent of time. I have traversed the land before swords turned bodies into banquets. I come from there, I return the sky to its mother when for its mother the sky cries, and I weep for a returning cloud to know me. I have learned the words of blood-stained courts in order to break the rules. I have learned and dismantled all the words to construct a single one: Home
Mahmoud Darwish 1941-2008
Mahmoud Darwish Born: 13 March 1941, Al-Birwa, Palestine Nationality: Palestinian Died: 9 August 2008, Texas, USA
Darwish was a poet and author, regarded as the Palestinian National poet. Darwish won numerous awards for his works. He used Palestine as a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of his dispossession and exile. Darwish has been described as the political poet in Islam, a man of action whose action is poetry
Jezzie G 