She apparently thinks it’s the Death Star, but I SWEAR I am seeing Pac-Man after a lengthy meth addiction.
[UPDATE: Remember being a kid in 1985, and thinking the 1950’s were just a really weird part of history before you were born? THAT’S HOW KIDS RIGHT NOW THINK OF THE 80’S. Good Lord.]
Pete Harrison has long been a valued contributor to this blog. Tonight I’m fortunate enough to feature a poem he’s authored himself — one which I happen to like a lot.
Thanks, Pete!
*****
We had just made love
There was enough light to see her
So I looked at her
Under the soft light
She smiled and asked what I was looking at
I said I was looking at her
Every part
Every mark
Every mole
She said she wished I would not do that
She said she had parts of her that she did not like
She said she had been told that they were imperfections
And when I told her it was all these parts I loved
Because they were all parts of her
And to me she was perfection
She laughed quietly
And looked away from my eyes
I will never be with her again
And I still don’t know
If she believed it was true
For me about her
Or about her for herself
And I still don’t know
Why she would believe anyone or anything else
I just got some nice news from Samantha Rose over at Peeking Cat Poetry Magazine. They’ve selected my most popular poem, “Confession,” for publication in the upcoming Issue 10.
“Confession” first appeared in Dead Beats Literary Blog on October 9th, 2013.
I’ll post information about how to purchase copies of Issue 10 when it becomes available.
Thanks, Peeking Cat!
I took these shots yesterday of the Sandy Hook memorial playground in West Islip, New York, just past the marina and nestled against the Great South Bay. This particular playground is dedicated to a little girl named Madeline Hsu.
It’s one of 26 such spaces in the tri-state area dedicated to the 26 victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
You can read more about the memorial sites here:
Photo credit: “Staglieno 30072015 03 Monteverde Celle” by Vassil – Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
What can I say about the “Sherlock” Christmas special, “The Abominable Bride?” Extremely little, for fear of spoilers.
I will say that I loved it — I’d rate it a perfect 10, as I would just about any episode of this amazing TV show. Also, as good as the trailer was … I can say that it offers much more in its story than you’d expect.
I’d also say that it strongly, strongly parallels a movie that I happen to love — right down to its surprise plot device, key character interactions, and a symbolic act by the main protagonist in the climactic scene. The similarities are just too much for this to be a coincidence — it’s just got to be a well done (and a damn fun) homage. It’s unexpected, too, as the film I’m thinking off probably appeals to a different fan base. “The Abominable Bride” also cheerfully skewers another excellent recent film and the twist employed there. [My blog posts link automatically to Facebook. If you see this via my page, then PLEASE do not name the movies you think I’m talking about.]
There’s some terrific acting, especially between Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and our main villain. And the dialogue is as sly and superbly delivered as always. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a new episode of “Sherlock” and not laughed out loud at least once. The stronger, more assertive John Watson (Martin Freeman) that we see is damn terrific. (There’s a compelling and sensible reason why this iteration of Watson seems a little different than our usual mild anti-hero, but I just can’t say why.)
My quibbles were wholly forgivable. I thought that the Victorian versions of Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey) and Mycroft Holmes (Mark Gatiss) were just so cartoonish that they seemed right out of a “Saturday Night Live” sketch. It “took me out of the movie,” and hampered my willing suspension of disbelief. It felt more like farce and silly sight-gags, instead of the dry, dialogue- and character-driven humor that the show is known for.
I also though that the climactic scene occurring among three primary characters, felt a little … off. Was it just not staged right? Was the pacing off? Maybe I got the sense that I was looking at a soundstage? I’m not sure.
Finally, I am an inveterate horror movie fan, and I might have liked to have seen the director and screenwriters play up the horror story elements just a little bit more here. The mystery for this episode was a jewel of an opportunity — a garish, fearsome “ghost bride” that assassinates men. It could have been just a little scarier, given that story. I know that “Sherlock” is not a horror show, but its creators did just fine in making their adaptation of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” both a bit frightening and a proper mystery.
But, again, those are just forgivable quibbles. This show remains the best thing on television!
[Update: there’s a direct reference to “The Five Orange Pips,” but we see little parallel with the story shown.]
This is just a quick word of thanks to the police and military professionals who’ve kept us safe this holiday season. If it’s anything that recent events have shown us, it’s that your bravery and professionalism are needed now more than ever.
Godspeed, and thank you for your service.
Starring ME! MYSELF! AND I! The spirits of my deceased ancestors! The painting behind me! Which I myself would not have selected!! (Sorry, Mom.) Ben! And Jerry!! Or, rather, their eponymous product!! Nirvana, via my playlist!! Whatever godforsaken animal that is at the house across the street that is howling so grotesquely!! (It’s either one of those new “coywolves,” or a depressed Lycan, or a wounded goddam Hound of the Baskervilles; I’m not sure. You kinda don’t expect that in New York.)
My trip home was arranged on the fly; I didn’t contact a single high school friend. This is the fruit of my lack of foresight.
I might just resurrect my childhood imaginary friend Kachoual. He was a Bengal tiger, and goddam huge. I’d be less wigged out about the geographically incongruous hellhound I’m hearing.
Oh, well — four minutes! Happy New Year!!!
Friends near and far, I wish you a Happy New Year! I hope that 2016 brings you peace, safety, love and wonder.
The picture below is “New Year’s Eve Foxfires at the Changing Tree, Oji,” by Utagawa Hiroshige. It’s part of his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo,” a series of prints completed between 1856 and 1859. I’m unfamiliar with the mythology connected with it, but it depicts foxes breathing fire at Shōzoku Inari Shrine (site of the Changing Tree) in Ōji, Tokyo.
It’s quite beautiful, and tonight it just felt right. This is a contemplative New Year’s Eve for me, as I’ve been haunting my childhood neighborhood after visiting family in New York. And I described for my mother at length how beautiful was the fox I found playing along the stream I so often pass down in Virginia.
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 