After three days of steady rain -
over two inches said the radio -
I follow the example of monks
who write by a window, sunlight on the page.
 
Five times this morning,
I loaded a wheelbarrow with wood
and steered it down the hill to the house,
and later I will cut down the dead garden
 
with a clippers and haul the soft pulp
to a grave in the woods,
but now there is only
my sunny page which is like a poem
 
I am covering with another poem
and the dog asleep on the tiles,
her head in her paws,
her hind legs splayed out like a frog.
 
How foolish it is to long for childhood,
to want to run in circles in the yard again,
arms outstretched,
pretending to be an airplane.
 
How senseless to dread whatever lies before us
when, night and day, the boats,

strong as horses in the wind,
come and go,
 
bringing in the tiny infants
and carrying away the bodies of the dead.
 
~ Billy Collins ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_America

Found this very interesting.

This reminded me of our conversation over the holidays misterskank.

 
From Slate.com's Human Nature column: 

"A study suggests extreme happiness may be bad for you.

Findings: 1) "The highest levels of income, education and political participation were reported not by the most satisfied individuals, but by moderately satisfied individuals." 2) Extremely happy people "earned significantly less money" and earned lower school grades than moderately happy people. 3) They "may not live as long," either. Theories: 1) Happiness makes you complacent and kills your drive. 2) It makes you slow to adapt. 3) It makes you too optimistic and insufficiently vigilant about your health. 4) It may overstimulate your cardiovascular system.

Researchers' conclusions: 1) "Happiness may need to be moderated for success." 2) "Extremely high levels of happiness might not be a desirable goal."

Human Nature's conclusions: 1) Success may need to be moderated for happiness. 2) Extremely high levels of success might not be a desirable goal."

Just purchased a few new albums that I really like. First, I've been hooked on Okkervil River lately--Black Sheep Boy is fantastic but several years old. I am starting to get into their newest, The Stage Names. Also, just purchased and really dig the past two album by Brooklyn band The National. Also, check out another Brooklyn band Pela and their last album Anytown Graffiti.

 

Finally, I've been listening to the soundtrack for "I'm Not There," the new Bob Dylan biopic/bogus pretentious art flick. I saw the screening of this movie in NYC and walked out. Heard they edited a few of the parts I loathed--Richard Gere riding a horse in the old west and Christian Bale's entire role made me squirm they were so bad--so if they've cut out much of those sections, perhaps its better now.

In any event, the soundtrack is an amazing compilation of covers that actually hold up well to Dylan's originals. schencka and misterskank, I think you'd like this soundtrack alot.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/22/071022fa_fact_talbot

 

I know I've posted about this show before. Great article about the show and its creator, David Simon.