I totally suck as a person with both an English BA and an MFA! How could I possibly miss the death of Lucille Clifton?? She died last Saturday (February 13th, 2010).
The poetry of Lucille Clifton is not overwhelming; it does not beat the reader down. There is a quiet power and deep love in her work. It is a weird analogy but her patterns always remind me of water ripples--the reverberations feeding out from the central point until they touch the edges of our outer self. It brings comfort and transformation.
Links
Sorrows.
Won't You Celebrate With Me. [video]
Remembering Lucille Clifton. [Poetry Off the Shelf]
Far Memory.
Showing posts with label notable passing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label notable passing. Show all posts
20 February 2010
28 January 2010
Literary Passings
J. D. Salinger, author of Catcher in the Rye, died yesterday. He was 91.
Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, died yesterday. He was 87.
Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, died yesterday. He was 87.
available star-crossed references:
notable passing
27 January 2009
Only the Literary...
Moon Report: 2% of full. waxing crescent.
Today, John Updike, author of The Witches of Eastwick, died of cancer. There are some lovely pieces at NPR, BBC, and the New York Times.
Notable Passing
Today, John Updike, author of The Witches of Eastwick, died of cancer. There are some lovely pieces at NPR, BBC, and the New York Times.
available star-crossed references:
notable passing
31 December 2008
The End
Well, we've hit the end to another year. It seemed to run by pretty quick--or maybe that's just because of all the craziness.
Wrapin' Up:
1. Election End!
Holy crap the whole thing is finally over! I swear it felt like the race started just after Jr. won a second term. The campaign ads were driving me batty and the news kept talking and talking over the same damn things for years. Personally, I think they should limit the time to run for public office to a year. Anyone intending to run for a major post (House, Senate, or President) should not announce their intentions until the week after election day the preceeding year. So, if one intended to run in 2008, it could not be announced until Monday after election day in 2007. That way the news and all the talking heads wouldn't have YEARS to run endlessly over the same information.
2. Obama.
I am very glad we have elected a President who is well-spoken and well-educated. Everyone makes a big deal because he is African American--I could care less if he were purple with polka dots. Obviously, it is a great statement of achievement for African Americans as a whole. However, I would argue that his election is an achievement for America. He is able to bring everyone to the table to talk in a rational manner rather than just mowing them down by labeling them "Un-American". Bully politics does not make anyone popular or effective. Working with all sides to find a solution is helpful and goes a long way toward spreading goodwill.
3. Intolerance.
This year has been filled with stories from everywhere about intolerance. I don't care who you are or how you believe in God. I do care when actions are designed to say to a population or group that they have no right to exist. The whole michegaas in the Middle East involving not only Hamas and Israel, but the whole area--if religion were ignored, could there be an easing of tensions? Couldn't they sit down and discuss what would help the region as a whole?
And to everyone who has voted this year on making same-sex marriage illegal, shame on you. What does it matter what people do behind closed doors? Perhaps someone could look at your life and find it also unacceptable. Who are you to judge? Who are you to make someone else live life according to your personal values?
4. Notable Passings.
CBS listings
Those listings have neglected:
Robert Prosky, actor. Dec. 8.
Harold Pinter, playwright. Christmas Day.
Eartha Kitt, singer. Christmas Day.
Freddie Hubbard, jazz trumpet. Dec. 29.
May they and their families find peace.
5. Interesting Diversion.
I just heard about Same Time 7:15 on NPR as I was waking up. This group has been taking photos of their life at 7:15pm each night for a year. Today will be their last photo. However, you can see the archives of this year posted on their site. Some of the pictures are funny, some mundane (like our own lives), and some heartwarming. Go check it out!
6. Joy and Merriment.
Wrapin' Up:
1. Election End!
Holy crap the whole thing is finally over! I swear it felt like the race started just after Jr. won a second term. The campaign ads were driving me batty and the news kept talking and talking over the same damn things for years. Personally, I think they should limit the time to run for public office to a year. Anyone intending to run for a major post (House, Senate, or President) should not announce their intentions until the week after election day the preceeding year. So, if one intended to run in 2008, it could not be announced until Monday after election day in 2007. That way the news and all the talking heads wouldn't have YEARS to run endlessly over the same information.
2. Obama.
I am very glad we have elected a President who is well-spoken and well-educated. Everyone makes a big deal because he is African American--I could care less if he were purple with polka dots. Obviously, it is a great statement of achievement for African Americans as a whole. However, I would argue that his election is an achievement for America. He is able to bring everyone to the table to talk in a rational manner rather than just mowing them down by labeling them "Un-American". Bully politics does not make anyone popular or effective. Working with all sides to find a solution is helpful and goes a long way toward spreading goodwill.
3. Intolerance.
This year has been filled with stories from everywhere about intolerance. I don't care who you are or how you believe in God. I do care when actions are designed to say to a population or group that they have no right to exist. The whole michegaas in the Middle East involving not only Hamas and Israel, but the whole area--if religion were ignored, could there be an easing of tensions? Couldn't they sit down and discuss what would help the region as a whole?
And to everyone who has voted this year on making same-sex marriage illegal, shame on you. What does it matter what people do behind closed doors? Perhaps someone could look at your life and find it also unacceptable. Who are you to judge? Who are you to make someone else live life according to your personal values?
4. Notable Passings.
CBS listings
Those listings have neglected:
Robert Prosky, actor. Dec. 8.
Harold Pinter, playwright. Christmas Day.
Eartha Kitt, singer. Christmas Day.
Freddie Hubbard, jazz trumpet. Dec. 29.
May they and their families find peace.
5. Interesting Diversion.
I just heard about Same Time 7:15 on NPR as I was waking up. This group has been taking photos of their life at 7:15pm each night for a year. Today will be their last photo. However, you can see the archives of this year posted on their site. Some of the pictures are funny, some mundane (like our own lives), and some heartwarming. Go check it out!
6. Joy and Merriment.
Father Ted
Vicar of Dibley
7. Happy New Year.
The tree man came and lopped off the two branches that were threatening to rip apart the wild cherry tree in the back yard. It took him about twenty minutes. But now any twisting wind or ice storm won't crack the tree in half and take out the fence or septic tank. Woohoo!
After a weekend warm up to 60 (and total snow melt with subsequent flooding), we had several sunny days in the upper 30s. But last night, the lake effect snow machine kicked in. We've got about an inch and it is again gently falling. C'est la vie...
I wish everyone who reads this a lovely and gorgeous New Year's Eve. I also wish you a wonderful and healthy 2009 filled with great friends and family, kind words, and joyous events.
available star-crossed references:
father ted,
holidays,
notable passing,
sum-uppery,
vicar of dibley,
winter
23 February 2008
almost done
MOON REPORT: waning gibbous. 87% full.
Well the business will be officially closed at this location in one week. We still have another month to go on the lease so I don't have to kill myself to get the place emptied of furniture and whatnots. Yay. I am THRILLED to bits to be out of a town that can't tell its head from its tail.
Now on to the new venue. We've teamed up with LifeSpaces to provide decor and funky gifts for them. I'm hoping this will be just the miracle we've prayed for. Besides, I've always wanted to do interior decorating! And we'll also offer personal shopping (for gift and decor related items) for those who are seeking something special.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Notable Passing
available star-crossed references:
life notes,
notable passing
23 January 2008
full moons bring the unexpected
Today has been an odd duck kind of day. The moon was full at roughly 8:30am. [I use "today" loosely as I have not been to bed yet and it is now Wednesday in the wee earlies.] Sometimes full moons bring out good things. Sometimes full moons bring craziness. This last one was the latter.
1) Linus and the Change of Routine
Usually the TV gets left on all night in the living room--the sound is low so it doesn't disturb anyone's sleep. Linus gets the ambient light from the tv reflected on the wall by his cage--an effective nightlight. However, last night I woke up and turned it off. Twenty minutes after I went back to sleep, I heard the most horrid scream and heard Linus jump to the bottom of his cage. I ran out and turned on the lights. There was no blood, no injuries, no anything. I picked him up and played on the computer and he fell back asleep on my shoulder in the light of the monitor. The only thing I think is that he woke up in the pitch dark and freaked out because there was no tv light to show him his surroundings. It definitely was NOT a good start to the day.
2) Mailbox Mayhem
I was working from home this afternoon and outside there was a terrible bang. I look out to see a Brown Oldsmobile in my yard about ten feet from a very large maple. There was less than an inch of snow on the ground, but the tracks come straight out of the street and ran across our yard after taking out the mailbox. By the time I registered what happened and threw a coat on, the car was gone and our mailbox was smashed flat and the whole stand was in pieces. I guess I'm happy they didn't kill themselves on the tree. And we needed a new mailbox anyway. But shouldn't you stop and put a note out to say "OOPS, sorry. Let me get you a new box" ?
3) Passings
I always make a note in my journals for those who have passed. Sometimes they are expected and sometimes not, but they are always sad.
1) Linus and the Change of Routine
Usually the TV gets left on all night in the living room--the sound is low so it doesn't disturb anyone's sleep. Linus gets the ambient light from the tv reflected on the wall by his cage--an effective nightlight. However, last night I woke up and turned it off. Twenty minutes after I went back to sleep, I heard the most horrid scream and heard Linus jump to the bottom of his cage. I ran out and turned on the lights. There was no blood, no injuries, no anything. I picked him up and played on the computer and he fell back asleep on my shoulder in the light of the monitor. The only thing I think is that he woke up in the pitch dark and freaked out because there was no tv light to show him his surroundings. It definitely was NOT a good start to the day.
2) Mailbox Mayhem
I was working from home this afternoon and outside there was a terrible bang. I look out to see a Brown Oldsmobile in my yard about ten feet from a very large maple. There was less than an inch of snow on the ground, but the tracks come straight out of the street and ran across our yard after taking out the mailbox. By the time I registered what happened and threw a coat on, the car was gone and our mailbox was smashed flat and the whole stand was in pieces. I guess I'm happy they didn't kill themselves on the tree. And we needed a new mailbox anyway. But shouldn't you stop and put a note out to say "OOPS, sorry. Let me get you a new box" ?
3) Passings
I always make a note in my journals for those who have passed. Sometimes they are expected and sometimes not, but they are always sad.
May your families and friends find peace.
available star-crossed references:
notable passing
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)