Thunder in the night moves poets . . .
Wednesday, August 6, 2025. It's Odin's day . . . and the warming continues for TulseyTown with moderate Southerlies, mid 90's.
Pay attention to what you pay attention to. Think about what you think about. Evaluate what you value.
Eighty years ago today the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan.
Poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born on this day in 1809 Lincolnshire, England. At the height of his career, he was one of the most famous men in England.
Today is also the birthdate of Andy Warhol. The multi-disciplinary artist was born in 1928 Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His experimental work generated a lot of noise.
The thunder of bison has returned to the Osage prairie.
Ain't it funny how the night moves with the thunder...
Boom and echo . . .
Tuesday, August 5, 2025. It's Tiw's day . . . and a warming trend settles into TulseyTown beginning today. Easy Southerlies, bright sun with only a few clouds. 90's. In other familiar words, August in Okieland.
Creativity is not an act of knowing. It's an act of discovery. That's why 2nd drafts (and more) are part of the process. So, too, editing.
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be very intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Einstein, from anecdotal accounts, most notably a recollection by Dr. János Plesch, a physician and friend of Einstein’s. (from ChatGTP).
Fairy tales are above all in service of life’s most difficult, most unfinishable task — knowing who we are and what we want. – Maria Popova, The Marginalian.
“Particulars” seem to most open us up to universals, which is what poets have always understood. – Fr. Richard Rohr, Meditations, The Center for Action and Contemplation, 8.5.25
Birthdays
Wendell Berry turns 91 today. The novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer was born in 1934 Port Royal, Kentucky.
The great French short-story writer, Guy de Maupassant, was born on this day in 1850 Normandy, France.
It’s the birthdate of John Huston. The prolfic motion-picture director, writer, and actor was born in 1906, Nevada, Missouri.
The first man to set foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong, was born today in 1930 Wapakoneta, Ohio.
“No man chooses evil because it is evil; he mistakes it for happiness.” – Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Men
The first of several Nuclear Test-Ban Treaties, was signed on this day in 1963 Moscow
The word “Echo” tells us that whatever we give to the world, will be returned to us. – David Whyte
Upon Receiving the Gift of a Handmade Box
[…]
My friend worked for days on the box,
measuring and cutting.
[…]
A whipporwill paused mid-call.
[…]
Who has heard the songs and not held out hope.
Who has wanted something only for
another – only that a burden be lifted,
that a stranger, or creature survive?
– Joanna Klink, “Upon Receiving the Gift of a Handmade Box” in Poetry, July/August 2026.
Mixing metaphors in a blender . . .
Monday, August 4, 2025. It's the Moon's day . . . Forecasts for TulseyTown indicate a chance for a thunderstorm this afternoon. Otherwise a mix of clouds and sun with upper 80's and light Easterlies.
Birthdays
Barack Obama turns 64 today. Our 44th President was born in 1961, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Billy Bob Thornton is no doubt celebrating his 70th today. The multi-laureate award winning actor, writer, director, and musician was born in 1955, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
It's the birth date of Louis Armstrong. The leading trumpeter and one of the most influential artists in jazz history was born in 1901 New Orleans, Louisiana.
And, the romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on this day in 1792 Sussex, England.
Percy
Our new dog, named for the beloved poet,
Ate a book which unfortunately we had
Left unguarded.
Fortunately it was the Bhagavad Gita,
Of which many copies are available.
Every day now, as Percy grows
Into the beauty of his life, we touch
His wild, curly head and say,
“Oh, wisest of little dogs.”
– Mary Oliver “Percy” from Dog Songs. Penguin Books. 2013.
At the bottom of the blender . . .
What is “gerrymandering?” Heather Cox Richardson explains in Letters From An American, posted Sunday morning.
Trump is already moving to undermine the upcoming '26 and '28 elections.
“Go jump in the Gulf of Maine...”Joyce Vance focuses on voting issues in The Week Ahead.
Texas Democrats decided to get the hell out of Texas amid a legal “piss-fight” over redistricting with national ramifications. – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American, Monday morning.
In spite of the bleakness, Robert Reich has some hope.
Always brief distractions from the various forms of change in all its metaphorics . . .
“Wednesday” is back for season 2 on Netflix.
And here's a bit o' reinforcement for the few renegades reading today ...