Poem: Your Catfish Friend

Your Catfish Friend

If I were to live my life 
in catfish forms
in scaffolds of skin and whiskers 
at the bottom of a pond 
and you were to come by one evening
when the moon was shining 
down into my dark home 
and stand there at the edge of my affection
and think, "It's beautiful 
here by this pond.  I wish somebody loved me,"
I'd love you and be your catfish 
friend and drive such lonely 
thoughts from your mind 
and suddenly you would be at peace,
and ask yourself, "I wonder 
if there are any catfish 
in this pond?  It seems like 
a perfect place for them."

--Richard Brautigan 

Music: Pink Martini

Pink Martini is a little known musical group that is one of my favorites.  While it's hard to define its genre, it is something between jazz, classical, latin and classic pop.  Although the group hails from Portland, Oregon, their songs are written in several different languages.

Clementine

"Clementine" is probably my favorite song by Pink Martini.  As with most Pink Martini songs, the singer is China Forbes.

Ou Es Ma Tete?

Tempo Perdido

 Sorry about the unhelpful subtitles!

--M.

Title Credits: My Favorite Poem

I first came across this poem in a literature class a good number of years ago.  It was one of those "oh" poems for me--all I could say after I read it was "oh."

Permanently

One day the Nouns were clustered in the street.
An Adjective walked by, with her dark beauty.
The Nouns were struck, moved, changed.
The next day a Verb drove up, and created the Sentence.

Each Sentence says one thing—for example, “Although it was a dark rainy day when
        the Adjective walked by, I shall remember the pure and sweet expression on her face
        until the day I perish from the green, effective earth."
Or, “Will you please close the window, Andrew?”
Or, for example, “Thank you, the pink pot of flowers on the window sill has changed color
        recently to a light yellow, due to the heat from the boiler factory which exists nearby.”
In the springtime the Sentences and the Nouns lay silently on the grass.
A lonely Conjunction here and there would call, “And! But!”
But the Adjective did not emerge.

As the Adjective is lost in the sentence,
So I am lost in your eyes, ears, nose, and throat—
You have enchanted me with a single kiss
Which can never be undone
Until the destruction of language.

--Kenneth Koch

I really enjoy the comparison between grammar and love here.  This is, quite simply, one of the sweetest poems I have ever read.  The wistfulness of the Conjunctions is to my mind quite touching.  "Effective" in the second stanza stands out, focusing again on adjectives.  I don't have anything incredibly illuminating to say here, I just wanted to share this. 

--M.

First Blog Post

Welcome to my blog!  I'm Miranda.  I'll start by saying a little about myself.  I live in New York.  I have three pet bunnies--Hermia, Luciana, and Sylvia--all does.  After some thinking, I decided to make this blog about things I've read.  Then it occurred to me that I could talk about songs I've listened to as well.  We'll see where this takes me.  I'm really quite excited.

I can't promise to post with any regularity--I will try for once a week, at least.  Now... wish me luck!

--M.