Thought for the Day - Feb 18

Subject: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Peter T.
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:15 AM

Married in a winter storm,
white blizzard of rice,
lace, curtains, dress, bride --
and the next morning he planted birches in token --
Grandson: what do they make you think of now?
Grandfather strips off a piece of coiling bark, and under, the soft underbark:
You see that colour, boy?
That is what your grandmother's skin was,
that night,
in that hotel room,
snow everywhere outside,
naked.
- Peter Winthrop (cont. poet)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Amos
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:32 AM

Weeeaaauughh! What a beautiful thing this is, Peter T.

What's a "cont." poet.

One from the continent? One contented? One who has been certified as continent?

BTW, I am happy to report apropos of nothing that incontinence also applies to sexual appetites, according to the OED, as in lacking self-restraint. So perhaps we have more incintinent Mudcatters than was previously thought.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Peter T.
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:37 AM

Sorry, he's a contemporary Canadian poet -- writes comedy for TV too.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:41 AM

This kinda reminds me of T.S. Eliot. Amos...HUH?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Troll
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:47 AM

Loverly Peter. It takes me back...

troll

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Crowhugger
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:49 AM

The Thought for the Day transports me to a world of feeling where words are lost and melody is the river.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Amos
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:53 AM

It's realer than Eliot, IMHO. It is sparse and vivid and not a syllable of fat on it. Fine, fine.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: annamill
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 11:02 AM

...as usual, our darling Peter T.

Love, annap

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:41 PM

Reminds me of this:

I sit in long contentment in his house
Wrapped in fire heat and sun heat
The trees break the sun into long lines
Which cross the floor
To meet the steady warmth of the coals
I lie on the old sofa
A rug tucked around me by his gentle hands
Was never lover's bed so surely warm
I see him pass the window -- bowed, slow, sure
Carrying plants, seeds, weeds
All these he can still attend
But when he comes into the kitchen
He puts his hand on my head and says
"The beasts are looking fine"
"Tomorrow" I say "Tomorrow I'll come look"
Though I know he sold them all
A dozen years ago

© Jean Mackie from A Little Piece of Earth

recorded by Jean Redpath on her CD A Woman of Her Time

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Peter T.
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 02:03 PM

Truly fine.
yours, Peter T.