Wislawa Szymborska, 1923-2012

One of my favorite poets, winner of the Nobel Prize in 1996 (and it paralyzed her, according to her New York Times obituary-- she couldn't write another poem for "a few years". I'd love her just for this, if not for her beautiful, ironic poetic voice), passed away today.

More about Ms. Szymborska here and here.

'Could have'

It could have happened.
It had to happen.
It happened earlier. Later.
Nearer. Farther off.
It happened, but not to you.

You were saved because you were the first.
You were saved because you were the last.
Alone. With others.
On the right. On the left.
Because it was raining. Because of the shade.
Because the day was sunny.

You were in luck - there was a forest.
You were in luck - there were no trees.
You were in luck - a rake, a hook, a beam, a brake,
A jamb, a turn, a quarter-inch, an instant...

So you're here? Still dizzy from
another dodge, close shave, reprieve?
One hole in the net and you slipped through?
I couldn't be more shocked or
speechless.
Listen,
how your heart pounds inside me.

Wislawa Szymborska, 'Could have', in View with a Grain of Sand: Selected Poems, trans. Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh, Harcourt Brace & Company, New York,1996, pp.65-66. Via PoemHunter.

Photo of Krakow, Poland, where Szymborska spent most of her life (via Google).

Quote of the day

It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? - Henry David Thoreau

Source: lylaandblu.com via LB on Pinterest

Ginger Rogers rehearsing with Hermes Pan.

Word of the Day

found via Twitter:

cacoethes

Pronunciation: /ˌkakəʊˈiːθiːz/

noun

[in singular] rare

• an urge to do something inadvisable.

  Origin:

  mid 16th century: via Latin from Greek kakoēthes 'ill-disposed', from kakos 'bad' + ēthos 'disposition

  
  

  
  

  

  Source: howtobearetronaut.com via Petrus Paulus on Pinterest

  
  

Filipino traffic cop doing his job...

Tintin

Source: catherinewillis.tumblr.com via LB on Pinterest

No, this isn't about the movie (haven't seen it). Tintin was one of my favorite childhood book series; I don't know how I stumbled on it. Probably randomly picked one up at the Bookmobile (does anyone else remember Bookmobiles? they saved my life) and was instantly hooked. Herge absolutely influenced my drawing style and made me want to travel. Via Chemin faisant (again!), found this fun slide show by Lev Grossman about traveling and Tintin. From the intro:

Some people were inspired to travel by atlases. Some people, by maps. But for some, nothing gave them the travel bug like the adventures of Tintin.

via Chemin Faisant (fabulous tumblr):

 

“A serious and good philosophical work could be written consisting entirely of jokes.”
- Ludwig Wittgenstein 

Gorgeous, soaring, beautiful. With Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and Bruce Cockburn. Rufus Wainwright's voice is so perfect:



and another old McGarrigle song, from the album "French Record":

Happy New Year!

Looking forward to a cozy night in with my kids. I am making Mark Bittman's Cassoulet with Lots of Vegetables, to serve with a big salad, loaf of crusty multigrain bread, and a bottle of Malbec.  For dessert, Pear Gingerbread with whipped cream. Later, we'll make popcorn, light a big fire in the fireplace and watch some Marx Brothers and Errol Flynn movies. Good times!

The Pear Gingerbread is a recipe based on one of Laurie Colwin's. I love her writing and it's time to re-read her novels and short stories (my favorite is The Lone Pilgrim). Several of the recipes from her book More Home Cooking are staples in my kitchen (the Buttermilk Cocoa Cake is a standout).

Maurice Sendak

Lovely interview. "You have to take the dive. And you do not know what the results will be."


(via boingboing.)

Quote of the day

Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via LB on Pinterest

(The Avett Brothers)