The Full Glass Now Empty

1932-2009

Not much more to say than reiterating what a deep loss Mr Updike's passing is to those of us who cherished his work and worth. His last New Yorker essay, The Full Glass is a poignant vestige.

Sump'in for Friday...

New Year...

ANOTHER full-orbed year hath waned to-day,

And set in the irrevocable past,

And headlong whirled long

Time's winged blast

My fluttering rose of youth is borne away: Ah rose once crimson with the blood of May,

A honeyed haunt where bees would break their fast,

I watch thy scattering petals flee aghast,

And all the flickering rose-lights turning grey.

______________________

Poor fool of life! plagued ever with thy vain Regrets and futile longings! were the years Not cups o'erbrimming still with gall and tears?

Let go thy puny personal joy and pain!

If youth with all its brief hope disappears,

To deathless hope we must be born again.


-Mathilde Blind

Christmas Folly

I hear the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of Peace on Earth, good will to men!

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

: St Nicholas :

-JRR Tolkien

'St Nicholas, mon bon patron,

Envoyez-moi quelque chose de bon.'

-French St Nicholas Prayer

Different Kinds of Leftovers...

Well... the carcass has been cleaned and there are the frenzied shopping daze to look forward to ahead with crowds of mindless fiends grabbing for everything in sight.

I still find it amazing, seeing how we're supposedly in an economic crisis, that the ambivalence and deep-set denial just phases no one- $$-away! Then there are those who are really bunking-down and sacrificing themselves for their deprived children as the NYtimes wastes commentary on-- what's a woman to do if she can't buy those designer jeans-- oh, I'm going to cry!

Meanwhile Mumbai has it's own beast running amok and I had to stop a moment and take a double take of the New Agey Deepak Chopra suddenly sounding like a connected and interested SA native speaking from a level of genuine concern. Of course he's broadcasting from the comforts of Cali, (and I think I almost was hearing some of the dripping hooey trying to seep out with the "inflammation creates more inflammation" prognosis) as most of us can just meekly observe, shudder and keep our thoughts with those caught up in within this unfolding tragedy.

Think it's time to stop "wishing" things will get better and start engaging in much more profound and meaningful ways that can bridge dialogue and further understanding of just what is at stake here, how our politics and policies and $$ affect all of us in means we just don't want to contemplate fully... especially when our stomachs remain full- satiety can dull one to complete complacency.

-t

: Ringraziamento Felice :

And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express,
Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less,
That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below,
And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow...
- John Greenleaf Whittier