This, Too, Shall Pass

Yeah, pretty much like that.

Yet it is only the end of March. I have seen serious snowfall around here on April 17. Admittedly, that was many years ago, but with Indiana weather, anything is possible.

I love Indiana. Really, I do. The weather perhaps not so much; but then, it is doubtless the climate that gives us the beauty that is Hoosierland, and I guess the weather is a function of the climate. Or the climate is the cumulative total of the weather. Or something like one of those.

Truly, I complain much less about the weather as I age. Two reasons for this, I think. The first is that I am so grateful to the good Lord for granting me another day in which to live that I think it would be ungracious of me to whine about it. The second is that we have been blessed with the health and wherewithal to enable us to escape the winters by absquatulating to the South; and winter weather is the part I dislike most!

American Poet

YET DO I MARVEL

I doubt not God is good, well-meaning, kind,

And did He stoop to quibble could tell why

The little buried mole continues blind,

Why flesh that mirrors Him must someday die,

Make plain the reason tortured Tantalus

Is baited by the fickle fruit, declare

If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus

To struggle up a never-ending stair.

Inscrutable His ways are, and immune

To catechism by a mind too strewn

With petty cares to slightly understand

What awful brain compels His awful hand.

Yet do I marvel at this curious thing:

To make a poet black, and bid him sing!

The above poem was written in 1925 when Cullen was 22 years of age. He was one of America's most recognized and honored poets of his time; and though his writings fell out of publication following his death, there has been a renewed interest in his work in recent years, especially in the realm of academia. I first became acquainted with this poet's work in the 1950s about a decade after his death.

I have read several analyses of this poem by different critics. It is evident to me that criticism consists of the application of one's own biases and belief-system to the work being analyzed, coating it with the lacquer of self that is the critic. The intent of the author is thus obfuscated to the point that it is difficult for one to determine what that meaning was at penning. It is the case that the poem can speak to you. Do not let the prejudices of others determine for you what is being said.

Countee Cullen, March 30, 1903 –January 9, 1946 RIP

References:

Modern American Poetry

Modern American Poetry, see esp. Fetrow

Poets.org

Afropoets.net

On The Cumberland Road

Construction of the Great National Pike was authorized on March 29,1806, thus to become the first federal highway. Actual construction began in 1811. This route from Cumberland, Maryland through Wheeling and Indianapolis ended at Vandalia, Illinois and was variously known as the Cumberland Road and the National Road.

The original intent to extend the road through St. Louis and on to Jefferson City, Missouri was stymied by lack of funds and construction ended in 1838. It was the first highway in the United States to use macadam surface. US 40 basically follows the alignment of the National Road; and much traffic once borne by US 40 now uses I-70.

Jim at Down the Road is a true aficiando of roads and the places they will take you. For interesting tours and studies of road alignments, one needs to follow Jim on his journeys.

Map: Wikipedia

Pop Culture

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, born March 28, 1986, is better known by her stage name Lady Gaga . I have heard of her. I suppose everyone has. But it is gratifying to me to be able to say truthfully that I have never heard her. I hope to keep it that way.

Lest you conclude that I am just an old stick-in-the-mud, let me clarify for you and save you the exercise of jumping to conclusions. Indeed I am.

I am not picking on the "artist" in question. I feel exactly the same way about a huge number of people who are currently enjoying their fame.

("All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players...Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion" -Shakespeare)

Of course, "second childishness" is reserved only to those who grew out of the first one.

And in the interest of full disclosure, I will say that it is quite likely that I enjoy and appreciate a number of performers whom others, perhaps even you, would regard just as I regard these persons I choose to ignore.

Variety. Isn't it wonderful? There may even be something for everyone.

Happy 25th Birthday anyway, young lady.

Psalm 103

A Psalm of David, verses 1 through 5.

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. kjv

Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. niv2011

Alaba, *alma mía, al Señor;
alabe todo mi ser su santo *nombre.
Alaba, alma mía, al Señor,
y no olvides ninguno de sus beneficios.
Él perdona todos tus pecados
y sana todas tus dolencias;
él rescata tu vida del *sepulcro
y te cubre de amor y compasión;
él colma de bienes tu vida[a]
y te rejuvenece como a las águilas. nvi

High School, Phase One

Butler 74 Florida 71 !!

About six months ago, I posted an account of my junior high school years, bringing us to my graduation from eighth grade. I revealed then that this was the beginning of a five-year stint in parochial schools.

In the fall of 1949 I enrolled as a freshman at Colorado Springs Bible School. The good news was Admin/Classroom Building

that I lived at home and did not have to board on campus, though many youngsters did just that. The bad news was that it was still school.

Up until the year before my matriculation there, my father had been president of the school. The school encompassed high school grades nine through twelve and a four-year college level program encompassing Christian ministry and/or theological studies. I was acquainted with the school.

You may believe the assertion that I received no special consideration because of my father's previous connection to the institution. You might believe, along with me, that in fact I came under heightened and biased scrutiny because of the connection. But if you do, you are in danger of falling into the same error to which I was subject. Truth, I was just another student subject to the same rules and standards as all the rest of them. I have verified this with empirical evidence shared by my contemporaries over the years, finding that I wasn't so special in any sense of the word.

More later.

And Then What?

Butler 61 Wisconsin 54 (!)

Couple of weeks ago while BBBH was undergoing heart cath, I was at loose ends wandering around the hospital. I apparently snapped this picture, although I don't remember doing so. It showed up when I went to process my pixels.

I don't remember posing for these pictures, but I can testify to the verity of the message. This is pretty much exactly what has happened to my sorry old body, and I have remained somewhat active. (Well, I use the word processor.)

Through the Looking Glass

Chapter 10

She took her off the table as she spoke, and shook her backwards and forwards with all her might.

Chapter 11

The Red Queen made no resistance whatever; only her face grew very small, and her eyes got large and green: and still, as Alice went on shaking her, she kept on growing shorter--and fatter--and softer--and rounder--and--

--and it really WAS a kitten, after all.

--Through the Looking Glass-- Lewis Carroll