Top Ten Lists
Top Ten List of Small Things Pt. 2
On January 31, 2021 by Speranza
4. Feeding the Birds: Many years ago, I was a well-intentioned novice, hanging out a puck of seedy suet which no bird was ever able to access due to its squirrel value. I also purchased jumbo bags of suspiciously cheap seed which produced the same experience. I now finally have a practice that works. We only buy Safflower and Niger seed which the squirrels have almost zero interest in and the feeders are always well attended. Mr.& Mrs. Cardinal arrive together, politely taking turns and transform the front window into a Victorian Christmas card. There are finches too and many others and I am always touched by their gentle, searching faces. I do feed the squirrels, separately, in the backyard and cannot dislike them as many people do; in fact, we now have three “regulars” that we have named: ‘Sid Vicious’ (arrogant-cool, often knocking at the window, smiling crookedly); ‘Elvis,’ black fur and ears slicked straight back and ‘The Friar,’ the largest of all and could easily pass for a groundhog as he teeters on the ledge, where I’ve left a few peanuts in the shell and apple cores. Yes, I’m aware how geriatric this all sounds but it adds another much needed strata of connection in these dark Covid days.
Covid Times . Introspection . Top Ten Lists
Top Ten List of Small Things
On January 30, 2021 by Speranza
This is not intended to be yet another gust of Pollyanna-overload – I only seek to catalogue a few of the things that have helped even a little during these endless days of sad news. I think it was Stephen Colbert, (himself one of these helpful things) who commented recently that he was really looking forward to not hearing the words “another grim milestone” every.single.day. I am also acutely aware how lucky we are to be able to plan and discuss coping strategies – because after all, the luxury of time, companionship and good food are all such individual gifts.
And I get that.
Tales from the Public Library
The Time Tunnel
On January 23, 2021 by Speranza
I’ve worked in public libraries both in Canada and the Isle of Man for more than half of my life – so needless to say, I have seen some … things. Working with the public in any capacity is often challenging but at the library, I believe the true stress comes with constantly having to alternate between positive and not so positive situations: helping two likeable, intellectual older women choose fiction titles; angry curmudgeons demanding addresses for subsequent angry letters they intend to write; a shy toddler sliding a drawing of a lovely pink dragon across the desk; and then a clearly agitated person demanding assistance in locating his brother who, he informs me is a headhunter now. And the crumpled magazine picture he shows me of his ‘brother’ holding a spear is clearly more of a, shall we say, traditional headhunter, and not the Human Resources type you may be thinking of.
And of course he doesn’t know his name.
Poetry . Writers
The Moon, Ten Times by Pat Schneider
On January 20, 2021 by Speranza
O round, cool face of forever
float free
for me
Saucer without a teacup
without the tyranny
of tea
Owl eye without a pupil
blind
to contradiction
My white balloon
has lost its string
and me
Round, open mouth
of the goddess
of light
The night sky’s
exclamation:
Oh!
Puppeteer
of tides,
rock the shore of the world
Bright Frisbee
the dog star lost
in the night
Perfect pearl
crown of cornfields
and night watchmen’s hair
Bellybutton
of God
Permission granted to post here by: Pat Schneider, Writing Alone and with others, Oxford Univ.Press, 2003.
I have truly adored this poem since the first time I read it – the descriptions are exquisite and everything about it is full of unselfconscious whimsy and joy. I’ve been a huge fan of Pat Schneider’s work for years now and when I originally emailed her directly to ask permission to eventually put this on the blog, she was supremely gracious and we began a brief bit of back and forth correspondence which was absolutely thrilling to me.
British Stuff . Covid Times . Music . My Father . Nostalgia
Radio, Radio
On January 17, 2021 by Speranza
In a never-ending attempt to escape the scourge that is known as The News, I convinced The General to join me in a random sampling of radio stations from around the world this week. We were looking for different. And, unapologetically cheering.
This led to reminiscing about my teen years spent on the Isle of Man (sandwiched handily between England and Ireland) and specifically, Christmas 1974 when I received my first transistor radio.
My father watched the unwrapping solemnly, telling me that this was a special radio with only a very few stations and since he had already set it to the best one, he strongly hinted that it was not to be changed. This Very Special Station was currently airing the Queen’s speech. Afterwards, I learned that I could rock out to the BBC World report and maybe even catch a few overviews of the Middle East later on. My dad seemed unusually pleased with himself.