Translating the Ordinary

Journal drawing: “A Way Out.”

A stream-of-consciousness excerpt from yesterday’s journal.

Two Cranes on the Edge of a Pond, Indian School, c. 17th century.

A short digital flipbook I made a couple of years ago on the field of expressive arts therapy.

♫ “Northern Sky” by Nick Drake

One night in January, just messing around.

Journal excerpts from June and July.

… move like a gymnast in the wild storm, bending like the trees and whirling like the wind among the rain-soaked leaves. … sweep like a dancer across the stage, landing step after step, leap after leap, as the music swells from the orchestra pit. … glide…

The Introduction, Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, c. late 19th or early 20th century.

We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to. - W.

Blue Bells, Benjamin Williams Leader, 1858.

📺 The Other Bennet Sister

Ecce Ancilla Domini!

I thought this scene from the Derry Girls s1 finale was moving and so well done, especially in its stark juxtaposition of “kids being kids” at a talent show and an episode of brutal violence unfolding on the news.

Garden bouquet.

Nothing is hopeless; we must hope for everything. - Euripides May 22 “I have no answers, only questions.”

Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. - Wendell Berry

For this issue of my newsletter, I decided to comb through my journal and extract some (lightly edited) fragments written over the last few seasons.

Speak, the child said.

The cat in the old woman’s bag is eating at the leather, but the old woman is crawling on her stockinged knees to find her glasses once again.

May the man be blessed, yes, this day and all   the days of his life with the sweet consolation of answered prayers received in the pews of Roman churches dimly   lit by white wax candles.

In the glory of your birth, you were dead.

A girl stood at your door and started knocking: short, staccato taps.

Have I asked for bread and gotten a stone‌ again?

People keep coming to the well to drink the cool, simple water.