Thought for the Day

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Thought for the Day - Feb 18

18 Feb 00 - 10:15 AM (#180669)
Subject: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Peter T.

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)

18 Feb 00 - 10:32 AM (#180676)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Amos

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.

18 Feb 00 - 10:37 AM (#180679)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Peter T.

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

18 Feb 00 - 10:41 AM (#180680)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Mbo

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

--Mbo

18 Feb 00 - 10:47 AM (#180685)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Troll

Loverly Peter. It takes me back...

troll

18 Feb 00 - 10:49 AM (#180687)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Crowhugger

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

18 Feb 00 - 10:53 AM (#180690)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Amos

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

18 Feb 00 - 11:02 AM (#180695)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: annamill

...as usual, our darling Peter T.

Love, annap

18 Feb 00 - 12:41 PM (#180764)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: katlaughing

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

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

18 Feb 00 - 02:03 PM (#180815)
Subject: RE: Thought for the Day - Feb 18
From: Peter T.

Truly fine.
yours, Peter T.