Happy Pentecost everyone! By an unexpected coincidence, on the Church's birthday I ended up with a post going up regarding America's birthday...though not the one you're probably thinking of: There is not space to explore all of these possibilities, so let us go straight to the official choice. The use of July 4th is really … Continue reading America’s Birthday at the Everyman
Friday Flotsam: Illness, History, and Poirot
1. I'm not sure, but I think I got a touch of food poisoning yesterday. This resulted in one of the more miserable night's I've experienced in recent memory as I was repeatedly up and, ah, clearing the pipes at both ends, so to speak. While I no longer feel like my internal organs are … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Illness, History, and Poirot
Poem – “Providence”
Where bay and river tranquil blend,And leafy hillsides rise,The spires of Providence ascendAgainst the ancient skies. Here centuried domes of shining goldSalute the morning’s glare,While slanting gables, odd and old,Are scatter’d here and there. And in the narrow winding waysThat climb o’er slope and crest,The magic of forgotten daysMay still be found to rest. A … Continue reading Poem – “Providence”
Friday Flotsam: Abbreviated Vacation Version
1. I'm in Maine right now visiting the kids, and I mean that in both sense of the word. I'm both visiting my niece and nephew, and one of my sister's goats just recently gave birth, resulting in frolicky, happy twins who are indescribably cute. 2. Most people like animals, which is to say they … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Abbreviated Vacation Version
Catholic365 – Masculine Spirituality
Another C365 article went up today, this one some thoughts on Male Spirituality I had after a retreat last December: In particular, it highlighted something for me. In my experience, it is difficult for modern men to really love Our Lord, or to feel towards Him that intense devotion and attraction that we are told … Continue reading Catholic365 – Masculine Spirituality
Poem – “To a Pet Cobra”
With breath indrawn and every nerve alert,As at the brink of some profound abyss,I love on my bare arm, capricious flirt,To feel the chilly and incisive kiss Of your lithe tongue that forks its swift caressBetween the folded slumber of your fangs,And half reveals the nacreous recessWhere death upon those dainty hinges hangs. Our lonely … Continue reading Poem – “To a Pet Cobra”
Two Days to Remember
Today's a confluence of two American celebrations which belong well together. First, as everyone knows, it is Mother's Day, which is why I have the Tiger's baseball game on as I write this. My Mom's a die-hard Tiger's fan and is at the game today (my brother got tickets through his work), and though I'm … Continue reading Two Days to Remember
Saturday Flotsam: Heroic and Pseudo-Heroic
1. Somehow, I forgot all about the Flotsam yesterday until late, so we're doing it today instead. Albeit still kinda late. 2. An idea that came to me that I haven't quite fleshed out. There is today what might be called 'pseudo-heroic' fiction. This is framed as a heroic tale, but has this crucial difference. … Continue reading Saturday Flotsam: Heroic and Pseudo-Heroic
Poem – “Boots”
INFANTRY COLUMNS We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Africa —Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin' over Africa —(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!) There's no discharge in the war! Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an'-twenty mile to-day —Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before —(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!) There's no discharge in the war! Don't—don't—don't—don't—look at what's … Continue reading Poem – “Boots”
Friday Flotsam: Grammar, Super-Heroes, and Socio-Political Stuff
1. I'm learning grammar at the moment. I figured after five books, a few short stories, and dozens of articles published, it was probably time. Don't want to rush into these things. Obviously, I already knew a fair bit of grammar, but I knew it either instinctively, simply out of use, or from distant recollections … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Grammar, Super-Heroes, and Socio-Political Stuff
Serpent's Den 