Beth! I was reading my Neruda copy of Odes to Common Things TODAY and last Monday I bit the bullet and ordered The Complete Odes (225!) for my October writing workshop! We are still very much 🧘🏻♀️🧘♀️💕!
What a lovely piece to read with my morning coffee. Having known you for several years now, Beth, I experience each of your pieces as if read in your calm, soothing voice. I “hear” them. Perhaps you’ll consider audio versions, live readings of select pieces. We need to hear your voice above the din just now.
Do you know what, dear Audrey? I bought a microphone, I downloaded an APP, I started to read pieces (I did just four), then worried about boring people with my voice. I may just begin again. It's wonderful encouragement. Thank you. xo
Coincidentally (?) 'Tomorrow Will Bring Sunday's News' has reached the top of my 'tbr aloud' pile, so my friend gets to share it - and I get the immense pleasure of hearing it, as your glorious rhythms and cadences roll off my tongue
"Spinning - the mule and ring frame, spindles, travelers,rings, building motions, calculations for draft and twist and production...
If you can love a thing for the words of the thing..."
Thank you again for the gift of your book. She is loving it btw, even though, sick as she is, it is perilously close to the edge for us
Janey, I am thinking of you, reading to your friend. Please give her my love as you read of those I have loved, and will always love, to the end. Thank you.
Hardly anything ..well maybe the death of a friend…can get in the way of my day being brighter because of hot chocolate.
Only Droste will do. One heaping tablespoon of the cocoa powder, (from the perfectly made box which is a pleasure to open for the first time), in my special cup.
One heaping tablespoon of sugar, then a twist of salt.
The hot water by this time is ready. It goes almost to the top of the cup and there is a lot of stirring necessary before a dollop of milk.
It can last for a whole crossword puzzle and in hot weather be iced chocolate.
Oh my GOSH. This is no mere ode (though, of course, no ode is mere). This is recipe as experience, weather as guide, chocolate as salt and sugar. I'm in heaven with my imagining. Hello to you, dear Nancy.
Yesterday I had a really hard time. You are so brave, to watch that special right now. My imagination is doing fierce things. Worse, I don’t even need an imagination. It’s all right there. In real time.
Thanks for this post, Beth. Several of Pablo Neruda's books sit on my poetry shelf, antidote to The Troubles, American Style. Naming things we love is one thing we can do. "I love you because I know no other way" ...
Here I am, reading along, Neruda and Kephart, Neruda and Kephart, you guiding us so deftly (as usual) through this lovely poem and, ultimately, to our own possibilities—and then, woven right in with your words, am I! Can’t wait for this day with you in Philadelphia to start, dear Beth. That train better be on time!
How could you not be here, on this day, Debbie Levy? We're both taking trains. We will both have to hope. One way or the other, we'll find each other right on time.
Beth! I was reading my Neruda copy of Odes to Common Things TODAY and last Monday I bit the bullet and ordered The Complete Odes (225!) for my October writing workshop! We are still very much 🧘🏻♀️🧘♀️💕!
I KNEW it!! I just KNEW it. May your birds, big and small, sing to you today. xo
What a lovely piece to read with my morning coffee. Having known you for several years now, Beth, I experience each of your pieces as if read in your calm, soothing voice. I “hear” them. Perhaps you’ll consider audio versions, live readings of select pieces. We need to hear your voice above the din just now.
Do you know what, dear Audrey? I bought a microphone, I downloaded an APP, I started to read pieces (I did just four), then worried about boring people with my voice. I may just begin again. It's wonderful encouragement. Thank you. xo
Reading aloud is wonderful 😊
Coincidentally (?) 'Tomorrow Will Bring Sunday's News' has reached the top of my 'tbr aloud' pile, so my friend gets to share it - and I get the immense pleasure of hearing it, as your glorious rhythms and cadences roll off my tongue
"Spinning - the mule and ring frame, spindles, travelers,rings, building motions, calculations for draft and twist and production...
If you can love a thing for the words of the thing..."
Thank you again for the gift of your book. She is loving it btw, even though, sick as she is, it is perilously close to the edge for us
Blessings xx
Janey, I am thinking of you, reading to your friend. Please give her my love as you read of those I have loved, and will always love, to the end. Thank you.
ODE TO HOT CHOCOLATE
Hardly anything ..well maybe the death of a friend…can get in the way of my day being brighter because of hot chocolate.
Only Droste will do. One heaping tablespoon of the cocoa powder, (from the perfectly made box which is a pleasure to open for the first time), in my special cup.
One heaping tablespoon of sugar, then a twist of salt.
The hot water by this time is ready. It goes almost to the top of the cup and there is a lot of stirring necessary before a dollop of milk.
It can last for a whole crossword puzzle and in hot weather be iced chocolate.
Oh my GOSH. This is no mere ode (though, of course, no ode is mere). This is recipe as experience, weather as guide, chocolate as salt and sugar. I'm in heaven with my imagining. Hello to you, dear Nancy.
Kind of joyful. And a great exercise.
we could all use that extra joy. I'm going to ode today about something of yesterday. I'm glad you are all here, to help put me in the mood.
And I so appreciate your posts.
Birth right. The noise just got louder.
I have been paralyzed. Paralyzed.
I just watched a PBS special on Hannah Arendt. Ohmigod talk about prescient. That the biggest risk comes from the Executive. And so on.
Yesterday I had a really hard time. You are so brave, to watch that special right now. My imagination is doing fierce things. Worse, I don’t even need an imagination. It’s all right there. In real time.
Thanks for this post, Beth. Several of Pablo Neruda's books sit on my poetry shelf, antidote to The Troubles, American Style. Naming things we love is one thing we can do. "I love you because I know no other way" ...
I am in no way surprised that his books are there with you — and loving IS something we can all actively and helpfully do. Yes.
Here I am, reading along, Neruda and Kephart, Neruda and Kephart, you guiding us so deftly (as usual) through this lovely poem and, ultimately, to our own possibilities—and then, woven right in with your words, am I! Can’t wait for this day with you in Philadelphia to start, dear Beth. That train better be on time!
How could you not be here, on this day, Debbie Levy? We're both taking trains. We will both have to hope. One way or the other, we'll find each other right on time.
Thinking like Neruda can make for joy in this life.
And boy do we need that joy right now, Linda. Thank you.
Yes we do!!
Ode to scarves
Glory and gratitude to scarves,
their fine flowy flexibility,
their soft warming capability.
...
Flowery or not,
scarves hide our turkey neck,
prettier than a turtleneck.
...
Scarves can cover
our head,
or our cleavage. 😊
Beautiful words. Thank you for the depth and inspiration 💕
Juliette, thank you!
I’m ready to spend the afternoon writing an ode. Seeds to knitting needle to watchband…it’s all mine.
I hope you had a most glorious afternoon.
Your prompts are always so imaginative -- and they lead us right into our own imaginations!
The best part of it all is that I have friends like you.