Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Ingenious, eh?

Our grandson, who turns six on 1 April, recently said when he learned that some films (FSK 12) are only recommended for children over 12: "Then I'll have to live my complete life over again."

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXXIV – Book of the South

Libro del Sur

André Heller *22 March 1947

Today ten years ago

Today ten years ago, "out of the blue" my friend Jams died, seven days before his 50th birthday.
I am still sad. And grateful.

Thanks for being, Jams.

Friday, March 17, 2023

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Laughing Lhursday*

Another torn knee patch.
The third in two months.
What luck that granny lives vis-a-vis.


Let's see how long this one lasts.

 

 * [For first time visitors]: Typo in the title? Nah. It's just that
I would not let a tiny T spoil an avantgardistic alliteration.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXX – Small Anthology of Poetry in Spanish

This small anthology of poetry in Spanish
makes me looking forward to July 19th
when the following will be published:
Surveying a poetic continent.
 

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXVII – Good Climate, Nice Neighbours

Stories
[engl.: Good Climate, Friendly Inhabitants]
 

Nadine Gordimer (20 November 1923 – 13 July 2014)

Wednesday, March 08, 2023

Monday, March 06, 2023

Mo(o)nday Poetry

Cuando sale la luna
se pierden las campanas
y aparecen las sendas
impenetrables.*
* From Federico García Lorca's Canciones de luna

Sunday, March 05, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXI – Niemandstal

Niemandstal / No Man's Valley
Young Literature from Iceland

Friday, March 03, 2023

Thursday, March 02, 2023

In memoriam Claude

Claude, February 2020
A MAN MUST FACE HIMSELF
 
I hung two sealskins on my wall....
 
Some people say
'Oh! the poor dear things!'
with pity in their hearts,
while chewing bloody steak
and cuddling in fur coats.
 
And I think of **
Jonahsie
magnificently himself: a Man,
hunter by destiny
spearing the seals,
with no guilt in his soul,
no pity in his heart,
but beaming pride
that his day-work was done:
the best for his kin---
and that's all he could do...
 
And I think of
Kakee, his wife,
cleaning, stretching, smoothing, sewing the skins
with a skill
as old as the Woman called Eve,
and bringing me the gift
with beaming pride:
the best for a friend---
and that's all she could give...
 
And I wonder why
we worry about who eats whom
when Life is a cycle?
We all prey, and we grow
feeding on each other.
 
A seal
a breathing tomato
an egg that could be born
a drink of pure water
a flower for a vase
some grass to walk upon
the warmth of the sun, of a smile, of a body
a poem for a soul
and stars to fill a dream.
 
I hung two sealskins on my wall...
 
A Man must face himself
and accept it!
 
Claude Prévost Gamble
 (June 1970)


** And I think of Claude who died today two years ago.
Thanks for all. De tout coeur!


Claude during a storm on Moose River,
whilst working as a nurse
at an Indian hospital;
James Bay, Winter 1955