Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays

Over on Poetry Daily today, the "poem of the day" is James Richardson's "Vectors 2.0: More Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays." It kind of reminds me of those aphorism lists people email around, or used to - I don't get so many anymore, except occasionally from my father. I had a cousin who used to send umpteen per day, but she can't find me since I changed my email address and didn't update her.

Anyway, this list is more thought-provoking, sometimes head-scratching, and original. It makes me think it might be a good writing exercise - to write out your own aphorisms and ten-second essays. Here's one of my favorites from Richardson's list:

18. Do not be too quick to pull out your flaws. They endure dry seasons, thrive uncared for. They have deeper roots than you. They hold the slope in place.

And one for the grumpy girl:

36. Why do I complain, since I'd brush off solace? Some pains I just have to say, as if to confess faults before someone accused me of them.

11:18:29 AM      trackback [] 

Fantastic weather

Well, I was planning to work all day today, but given that the weather report for today is "Fantastic" while the rest of the weekend looks like at least partly rain, maybe I'll do some of that work over the weekend and get outside today.

Tonight we're planning to go down to Providence for WaterFire. I guess we picked the right night weather-wise to go. Should be fun. I have been before but M has not. He's in for a treat. I just hope it's not too crowded. I remember the first time I went. I guess it must have been three or four years ago. My friend Carol, who lives south of Providence, and I were having dinner at a nice restaurant at the Providence Place Mall after doing a little shopping. After dinner we went for a walk and stumbled on a WaterFire night. Actually, I think Carol had heard of it and suggested we walk over and check it out. The weather was iffy that weekend, so there weren't too many people. But it was absolutely magical.

Here's a taste of it from the website (see photos here):

WaterFire’s sparkling bonfires, the fragrant scent of aromatic wood smoke, the flickering firelight on the arched bridges, the silhouettes of the firetenders passing by the flames, the torch-lit vessels traveling down the river, and the enchanting music from across the world all engage the senses and emotions of those who stroll the paths and bridges of Waterplace Park. WaterFire has captured the imagination of many thousands of people, bringing life to downtown, and continues to revitalize Rhode Island’s capital city.

 

10:38:53 AM      trackback []