Tuesday, October 17, 2017

O is for Owl

ABC Wednesday
October 18th, 2017

O is for Owl, and for Mary Oliver


Little Owl Who Lives in the Orchard

by Mary Oliver

His beak could open a bottle,
and his eyes - when he lifts their soft lids -
go on reading something
just beyond your shoulder -
Blake maybe,
or the Book of Revelation.

Never mind that he eats only
the black-smocked crickets,
and dragonflies if they happen
to be out late over the ponds, and of course
the occasional festal mouse.
Never mind that he is only a memo 
from the offices of fear -

it's not size but surge that tells us
when we're in touch with something real,
and when I hear him in the orchard
fluttering
down the little aluminum
ladder of his scream -
when I see his wings open, like two black ferns,

a flurry of palpitations
as cold as sleet
rackets across the marshlands
of my heart,
like a wild spring day

Somewhere in the universe,
in the gallery of important things,
the babyish owl, ruffled and rakish,
sits on its pedestal.
Dear, dark dapple of plush!
A message reads the label,
from that mysterious conglomerate:
Oblivion and Co.
The hooked head stares
from its blouse of dark, feathery lace.
It could be a valentine.

Lots more interesting Os here, at ABC Wednesday
with thanks to those who maintain this meme.



Sunday, October 15, 2017

Swan Lake (Part 7)



Sunday Evening
October 15th, 2017

This afternoon I watched 
Anthony Dowell's legendary production of Swan Lake, 
which includes designs inspired by Imperial Russia of 1895, 
when the ballet was first performed.

A few weeks ago I watched Swan Lake
 as performed by a
 less dramaticaly costumed company.

Very beautiful
 but lacking the verve 
which you will see if you watch the video above!

Sorry for the poor quality of the video, 
but even with the little flashing interruptions
 I found this fun to watch....

This is part 7 of the production..
Youtube has videos of the rest of this production
of Swan Lake
(in small portions)
which you might be enticed to watch
if you are a ballet fan.....

If not, perhaps you love children dancing???

Along with Tchaikovsky's beautiful music


.