Saturday, September 4, 2010

paternal wisdom

i've spent wildly on literature this week and, when my book arrived, was unexpectedly reminded of a conversation with my father when he had been retired from work a little while

i asked why he kept a large coil of rope near his bed

"in case of fire"

Thursday, September 2, 2010

yet another 3BT

In the early sunshine on Clapham Common, a girl comes bounding into the avenue who might be described as a pocket rocket, every limb bursting with inflated muscle, not sinewy but more like rising dough … and she remains straight-backed as she lifts both arms to adjust a silky ponytail, moving it a little higher without breaking the rapid rhythm of her stride or losing any of her speed, and then, having lowered her arms again, she gently accelerates into a full sprint that curves away out of sight ... all too soon.


Next night, during a dream, I take yet another of a lifetime of interesting nocturnal journeys, and find myself in a village of picturesque cottages, some in ruin or disrepair, but many kept beautifully and delightfully furnished.  Rushing in elation from house to house, I find myself on a village green that is so large and undulates so spectacularly that it might easily be used as a golf course, and I begin to run, and then feeling my cool bare feet moving effortlessly across the grass, I take great leaps, each of which might qualify me for an Olympic record.  Then, without explanation, I raise my pillow above my head with both hands and use it as a hang glider so that I swoop and wheel above the hedges and walls.  In a moment I am teaching villagers and visitors this new skill, and we wonder how we hadn’t learned it before … it seeming so easy now and so natural.


Waking with a thirst from these moments of joy, I go to stand quietly in the kitchen, first peeling an orange and then slicing an apple in the dark.

peek-a-boo

Monday, August 30, 2010