The New Version

Hurray, hurray, the First of May:
Osama Bin Laden is dead today!

A Story Demon

A horrible green demon held in captivity the beauty of the world. And then, a miracle: the Firebird swooped down, vanquished the demon and set free the beauty - the white maidens and their lovers, the handsome young men.

This will be the subject of painting number five.

Memorial Day, May 31, 2010

It has been a day of mixed grieving, sorrow for those who have died in wars everywhere, but also for certain friends and loved ones. There is no loneliness more empty and cold than knowing we can never meet again on this earth, and that the laughter we have shared has turned to tears - sincere and uncontrollable.

I thank my friend of many years, Jean Ullrey, who said a silent prayer in church yesterday for me. She has always reminded me that a stack of interesting books waiting to be read, and time to read them in comfort, is one blessing we have in common.

More about everything I can think of will be in the following blogs. I will welcome my Twitter and Facebook friends and I do hope to read a comment from them now and then in answer to questions posed here, if any.

What Janus Saw and Sees

TwentyTen: Janus saw the full moon rising, a true Blue Moon, a double treat. We will not write about the past for we know its content. With Janus we look ahead, not knowing what we may see but only what we hope. I think of that little poem about the meaning of life, true in its simplicity: the meaning of life is to live.

Shall We Pas de Deux?

Is Ballet a contact sport? On May 28, 2005 I posted remarks on Odysseuse on the Move which are relevant during this Christmas Season. Here are some excerpts: Professional ballet dancers, male and female, are well-trained athletes. The men appear to have superhuman strength as they perform their leaps and turns and seem to hover in midair. They also lift and join the fragile ballerinas in dance - but it must be remembered that the small and fragile female dancers are also athletes, feminine and graceful though they are. Every muscle in a dancer's body is strong as steel and flexible as rubber. Ballet is a strenuous discipline; its dancers may perform at their best for a limited number of years.

As a young ballet student I was surprised to find that several members of the Chicago Bears football team had been ordered by their coach to join our beginning class. Why? It seems the men would benefit on the field from the agility of movement attained in classwork. Is ballet a contact sport? The answer is obvious.

His Like Shall Not Be Seen Again

Senator Edward M. Kennedy died August 25, 2009, The title I used on this blog may not have been quoted accurately, but it reflects my feelings. MSNBC told us the sad news early this morning. It wasn't as if we hadn't been forewarned.

I took it hard and suddenly felt I didn't want to be by myself, sorrowful and lonely. I went to a fine bakery and bought a dozen beautifully decorated cake slices - a cheerful note which I brought as a treat to our office for our three excellent maintenance men and our apartment manager. Cheerful note or not, the five of us - Louise, Paul, Gary, Al and I - were of one mind: sad.
We talked about Teddy as if we'd known him personally and discovered our politics agreed. It was good to be with others. I went back upstairs to my apartment and the office crew enjoyed coffee and cake.

There has been nonstop coverage of Ted's achievements, his friends, political and personal, and his family. Health care for all citizens may receive a boost and actually happen. And my jaunt to the bakery and to the office helped relieve my dark mood.
The funeral arrangements have been made, and I shall watch it as closely as I watched his brother John's.

Back To Normal

Well, hello! If it's August 1, 2009 then surely something happened since the little green man with the curly yellow top whirled himself away on May 1? Marguerite Louise a/k/a Odysseuse has found herself wishing to react in prose, and at length, to events both public and private. Twitter is all right, but blogging has a satisfying scope. So here go the chips and let them fall where they may. If the previous sentence sounds familiar to you, then you are of my generation no matter what your age in years! See you later, alligator! Gloryosky, it feels good to be writing to you again.

Hurrah Hurrah! The First of May!

Odysseuse greets you once more with a tribute to the First of May.

Where Do They All Come From?

A little green man
in a fluffy yellow hat
underneath the rim
of a toadstool sat.

He twirled his finger
and he twitched his toe,
he looked at his watch
and said "Time to go!"

He jumped to his saucer
and quickly spun away
but he left his yellow hat
on the field of May.

Marguerite Louise Monette

Here's your chance to indulge in a bit of doggerel: fill in the blanks in the following lines.

Hurrah, Hurrah, the First of May!
Outdoor (blank, blank) starts today!

Have fun!

A Valentine Phenomenon

When we walk we float
over curbs, skirt open manholes,
teeter on brinks, oblivious:
nothing exists but us.

Through some phenomenon of mind
other people fade, become transparent,
disappear.

And yet I see you clearly
and I know that you see me.

The Other Side of July

At the toe edge of a footprint in warm dry earth
A tomato worm, ruptured, just past agony, still;
Velvet-moss skin, riven, emits yellow-green effluent,
Bulging obesity suspended in slime.

The shadow of a hand sweeps across the blight,
Dims the shining ooze and withdraws,
Leaving behind a sprig of stalk,
Ragged leaf, yellow star blossom,
And a bitterspice pungency in the air.

MLM

Wimbledon 2008: Toreador Si!

Rafael Nadal was declared the Wimbledon Champion, his first victory in that grass court match. Roger Federer had won at Wimbledon five times in a row and was trying to win number six in order to excel Bjorn Borg's five consecutive wins. He came within a few seconds of breaking Borg's record, and the four hour plus match will go down in Wimbledon history as a once in a lifetime event.

The bullfighter and the fencer (see previous post) met and proved that differing techniques are equal when it comes to winning, although in this case the fencer lost. Tennis fans are looking forward to many years of competition between Roger and Rafa, the One and the Two in the world, both supreme athletes and gentlemen. The sports world can be proud of them.

Wimbledon 2008: The Bullfighter or The Fencer?

Rafael Nadal (Spain) and Roger Federer (Switzerland) will compete for the 2008 Wimbledon title tomorrow, July 6

Nadal is mentioned first, although he is second in the world of tennis to Federer's first place. This comelately sports reporter (tennis only) is highly prejudiced in Roger's favor but is striving for a neutral position as befits a person of Swiss descent.

Wimbledon 2007 ended with Federer and Nadal vying for the title which ended in a five set final won by Roger. It was then that this reporter became aware that tennis is not a game for weaklings but is for serious and competent athletes, and, played well, is worthy of close attention and enthusiasm.

The rules of tennis and its scoring are complicated. Much can be learned on various websites devoted to tennis, including live scores for matches that cannot be seen on TV but are of enormous interest. TV coverage provides a good way to analyze the players' techniques. Nadal moves as if he is in the bullfight ring out-maneuvering a raging opponent who must be dominated and vanquished. Federer moves with a fencer's speed and agility as well as strength and will to win. Both are formidable players.

Our hearts and minds will be on Centre Court in London tomorrow. May the best man win. Go Roger! Go Rafa!