Golden Apollo, that thro' heaven wideScatter'st the rays of light, and truth's beams,In lucent words my darkling verses dight,And wash my earthy mind in thy clear streams,That wisdom may descend in fairy dreams,All while the jocund hours in thy trainScatter their fancies at thy poet's feet;And when thou yields to night thy wide domain,Let rays … Continue reading Poem – “An Imitation of Spencer”
Two Completely Unrelated Things
Septuagesima Sunday, meaning we're now in pre-Lent and it's time to start settling our penances and easing off the things we're going to give up or cut back on. The other thing...well, I just find this funny:
Friday Flotsam: Anxiety Attacks and Some Better Things
1. Suffered some major depression / anxiety attacks this week, amounting to pretty much a full break down. Been a while since I've had one of those. If you've never had a real anxiety attack, it is like your brain is short circuiting. As you approach the anxious thought / apparently unsolvable problem, your emotions … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Anxiety Attacks and Some Better Things
Meanwhile, at ‘The Everyman’, It’s Groundhog Day!
Today I got to talk about the modern classic Groundhog Day at The Everyman: And for once, the accompanying photo is absolutely perfect The film very wisely does not give any kind of explanation for the time loop, avoiding the triteness that any such answer would bring. Ironically enough, this makes the central conceit feel … Continue reading Meanwhile, at ‘The Everyman’, It’s Groundhog Day!
Candlemas – Ritual Purity
It's a common misconception that Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, is the occasion of His circumcision. Actually, that's on the 1st of January (Novus Ordo has it as the Feast of Mary the Mother of God), eight days after Christmas, suitably enough. Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas (and the final end … Continue reading Candlemas – Ritual Purity
Lighting for Writers
Picture this; you're writing a climactic scene in the Great American Novel. You eagerly describe the awesome cool sword-fight pitting the tortured, but handsome police detective against the evil, but even hunkier vampire in the night-shrouded cemetery, while the blonde-haired and surprisingly comely anthropology student watches with baited breath from her position bound to a … Continue reading Lighting for Writers
Poem – “The Bad Season Makes the Poet Sad”
Dull to myself, and almost dead to theseMy many fresh and fragrant mistresses:Lost to all music now; since every thingPuts on the semblance here of sorrowing.Sick is the land to' th'heart; and doth endureMore dangerous faintings by her desp'rate cure.But if that golden age would come again,And Charles here rule, as he before did reign;If … Continue reading Poem – “The Bad Season Makes the Poet Sad”
Dark Chocolate Ever Loyal
Researching diet info today I came across a post on the benefits of dark chocolate. Top of the list was that it provides "Protection from disease-causing free radicals." As a Monarchist, I can't say no to that!
Friday Flotsam: Top Gun and Reptile Videos
1. End of the week and I'm feeling very tired. As seems par for the course lately. Hitting that 'don't seem to be doing anything' part of the cycle. Blah. 2. But working on that, breaking things down step-by-step to try to get myself moving in the right direction. I've been mostly meeting those small … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Top Gun and Reptile Videos
Poem – “Eldorado”
Gaily bedight,A gallant knight,In sunshine and in shadow,Had journeyed long,Singing a song,In search of Eldorado. But he grew old—This knight so bold—And o'er his heart a shadowFell as he foundNo spot of groundThat looked like Eldorado. And, as his strengthFailed him at length,He met a pilgrim shadow—"Shadow," said he,"Where can it be—This land of Eldorado?" … Continue reading Poem – “Eldorado”