A Winter Poem

Emily Dickinson

There’s a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes — Heavenly Hurt, it gives us — We can find no scar, But internal difference, Where the Meanings, are — None may teach it — Any — ’Tis the Seal Despair — An imperial affliction Sent us of the Air — When it comes, the Landscape listens — Shadows — hold their breath — When it goes, ’tis like the Distance On the look of Death — (Image: poetryfoundation.org.)

Radio That's Good Enough to Eat

I tend to have local CBC AM Radio on constantly, so I'm working away here now - well, I'm distracted a bit by the lovely sunshine outside, and watching its shifting spills on the Southside Hills - but mainly I am writing/editing, with Radio Noon broadcasting away. And they just said the nicest words: homemade Jam Jams. You just have to say "Jam Jams" and I'm ready to eat two rows of Purity Jam Jams - but homemade Jam Jams? Ambrosia. If you're like me, and if you're a Newfoundland then you are genetically oriented towards Jam Jams, you might like this recipe and this column (very good to read while eating Jam Jams no doubt).

(Image: eastcoastcatalogue.com.)

Caught a cool opening at Eastern Edge on Saturday, complete with mascots, Star Wars riffs and werebears in artistic conversation.

(Image from Jennifer Barrett's online comic.)

Did you notice the light, around 4:30 yesterday evening? The sky was extraordinary, pure 17th century Dutch school with vivid bands of topaz and apricot lit by a low winter sun, and some Grant Boland touches of sky-reflected-on-wet-streets and halo pops from streetlights thrown in.

(Image: artpictures.co.uk.)

What a tale of woe our grocery list tells:

1. Advil
2. Motrin
3. Buckley's. Yes, entire household has been felled by sore throats, choking coughs, general crankiness, etc. But I couldn't leave things looks so dire, and added:
4. Champagne (two bottles). One for friends who have had beautiful baby daughter, one for us to keep in the fridge, because everyone should always have a bottle of champagne in the fridge, because you just never know.

(Images: teamsugar.com.)

It is Old Christmas Day

or the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Kings, also called Wise Men or Persian Priests, Balthasar, Melchoir and Gaspar, followed that yonder star. Hope you celebrate the day in your chosen fashion.

(Image: The Magi, by He Qi, China.)

"Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general

all over Ireland..." if you recognize that quote you'll know it's from James Joyce's The Dead, one of the most haunting love stories ever written. And you'll also be happy to learn that tomorrow night, January 6th, there will be a reading of this text by Bryan Hennessey at Commissariat House, 7pm, admission $10. (Full disclosure: Mr. Hennessey made an honest woman of me seven years ago.) January 6th is also, of course, Old Christmas Day, or the Feast of the Epiphany, the night The Dead is set on. Perfect timing to experience the lovely, lovely writing: "...It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills...the snow falling faintly through the universe..."

(Image: barnesandnoble.com.)