At Another's House

July 26
Thursday

Read a bit and watered flowers. Duke and I rode for an hour or two, with no particular place in mind. I played a Librivox recording of Return of Tarzan. Librivox recordings are books in the public domain read by volunteers. Some read better than others. This reader had amusing quirks. Arabs, were A-rabs and his attempts at French and German accents usually ended up sounding Swedish. 

At home I was considering what, if anything, I could do with, or should think about, a fragment recently read in one of Pinsky's poems:

"Like chess a grid of exploits adequately difficult."
                                          Robert Pinsky
                                          Work Song, Gulf Music

I like the poem. The above fragment is one of those short bits of writing that stike me from time-to-time as being wonderfully and fearfully made.

Some descriptions are so vivid/perfect/correct/powerful that they leap from the page, slap me and leave me both admiring and jealous of the writer and his words.

Another example:

"To the right, the sun, cold and pale, is westering. Far off, a little yellow plane scuttles down a runway, steps awkwardly into the air, then climbs busily, learning grace."
                                             Robert Penn Warren
           Segregation: The Inner Conflict in the South

Taken on its face there is no intrinsic value of the words apart from their perfection in painting a picture of an act of no real moment. Yet they strike me dumb; force me to read them again; make me wish I could write so beautifully, powerfully.

I went nowhere with my wonderings, but as I sat Rose called to ask if I would like to eat with she and Roger. I had eaten and said thanks but no. The real reason is my natural bent to avoid human contact. An hour later I repented, suddenly desiring company and called there asking if they had finished eating and could Duke and I come over. They had and I did.

We had a long visit. They are good friends and good for me. They know my virtues and my faults and I am comfortable with them. I felt silly for not immediately saying yes, but was thankful that they still welcomed me.


How many good times have I missed by staying home?

Bright are the daisies
bold the laughter, loud the joy--
In another house


This from Ecclesiastes seems to fit my mood and understanding:

Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one by warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered by another, two     can withstand him.

And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
                                      Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)

Later at home, Ryan stopped by to pick up a simple wooden cross and chain for Pastor Matt, my replacement. It had been given me by the previous pastor. I thought it fitting Matt should have it.