Category: Epiphanies
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The joy of collections . . .
I’ve been thinking about collections, lately, but more precisely, collections of poems. Small collections of poems are often collated by the poet into small leaflets, or the so-called ‘chapbook’ format. Not a book, more a small collection of a few poems loosely grouped into some sort of theme. I was prompted the other day by…
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The joy of challenges resolved
Life has felt rather fraught, over these past two months, and joys have mostly been subsumed in fretting. So it’s a delight, finally, to share some resolutions to some of these infrastructural, if prosaic, challenges, and to be looking forward to new creative projects. Considering that the ancient Romans had wonderful spas, indoor plumbing, and…
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Exuberance
Oh! The peonies are out in full floral abundance, this morning. Acquired as tightly wrapped buds from the grocery store, as one does, they sat in water along with the luscious-smelling stocks, and gradually began to unveil themselves. When I came down this morning, all I could think of was: exuberance! Behold, world, this is…
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Metaphor and meaning
Sometimes I wonder if the best meanings are most often conveyed through metaphor. I know I’ve not been able, for example, to make any sense of the venality of so many contemporary politicians across the world, without thinking of original sin and selfish lies. But then, my upbringing was built on a foundation of metaphor,…
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. . . come sailing by . . .
Among the eclectic variety of seasonal songs, delivered with appropriate gusto by the SongWave Choir over our weekend of concerts, the lower voices shared in a Humberside version of the carol ‘I Saw Three Ships.’ As related in the programme notes, the connection of the ships to the heralded events surrounding the Nativity was finally clarified…
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Being part of a community
I had a little epiphany yesterday late afternoon, as darkness fell. As you walk down the road towards New Galloway’s Town Hall, you can see two clock faces, and they’ve been lit since the clock was repaired. Before that happy event, I was up in the tower helping to clear countless years worth of jackdaw…
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The ineffable wonder of water . . .
I’m to mow the lawn this morning, with our lovely rechargeable battery- powered Bosch mower. When I looked out of the kitchen window, the delight of the glistening droplets caught my eye, sparkling as they were in the sunshine across the grass. Not because I should have to delay my mowing chore until the sun’s…
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The incredible, effulgent beauties . . .
On Friday, two days ago, at the end of the new-to-us garden, an incredible peony blossom opened. Earlier in the day we’d listened to a wonderful, beautiful song by Michael Marra, Happed in Mist, presented on BBC Radio 3’s Breakfast by Petroc Trelawney, which elicited a quick response of tears. The conflation of these beautiful…
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The surprise of the old, informing the delight of the new
In 1883, James Faed the Younger presented a large painting titled ‘The Town Park’ to the Royal Burgh of New Galloway. This painting is stored with great care in the main hall, behind protective panels at the front of the large room. I’ve never seen it, but thanks to ArtUK we can consider it in…
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As the sun rises
The daffodils at the top of our new-to-us garden nod towards the dawn of Easter Sunday. We seem to have been imbued with a surplus of joyful moments, this weekend, with more to come. Yesterday I finally sat down and did my hour’s stint on this month’s VisualVerse.org prompt. It had taken rather longer in…
Roads to Joy 