Tag: english literature

• Queen Elizabeth II and a Teatime Afternoon

  

  I’ve enjoyed this teacup for awhile, without knowing anything about the people specifically, but because my grandma in law, Arlene gave it to me, the one who lives in Massachusetts nearby, who’s married to my grandfather in law, Gerry. In a burst of great excitement moving through their dining room, she’d said to me; “You […]

  09/09/2022 2:17 pm

  antique, boston, catholic, england, english education, english literature, full moon, heavenly, history, home, lovingkindness, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, scotland, spirituality, tea, teatime, vacation time

• New Fantasy Novel Found at the Bookshop, A New Poem Sent In, The Fun of a Giveaway I Had Not Won

  

  This is the new book I found Uprooted by Naomi Novik at the bookshop last time, by an author of our time, fantasy genre. I picked it based on the cover first and then the line on the cover: ‘enjoyable fantasy with the air of a modern classic.’ I am currently reading the book (Aug. […]

  08/17/2022 2:28 pm

  beach, books, boston, creative process, english education, english literature, fairies, fantasy, fun, home, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, mythology, novels, poetry, tea, teatime, writing process

• From the Prose Poetry of Miss May Ziadeh, Chapter “Intimate Pages”

  I have an idea for the blog to share my own little lines of literary critique of May’s writings (besides my book review of her poetry book, Fleurs de Reve Flowers of a Dream, 1911), the kind of attentiveness she valued in her own reviews and critiques, ’tho would’ve rarely in her time and place […]

  07/25/2022 8:00 pm

  20th century, arab renaissance, catholic, english, english literature, france, french, fun, garden, gratitude, lebanon, letters, may ziadeh, meditate, meditation, moon, morningtime, my photography, nature, philosophy, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, prose poetry, romantic era, sky, spirituality, sun, writings by may ziadeh

• A New Start

  It’s 5:04 pm…I begin… * The living-room this morning was a sunlight-theater…I started reading again, wishing to continue the book; Peeko winked at me when I held it up. I think he may like the picture on the cover. *** and I am still beginning 📰😊💕

  07/22/2022 1:31 pm

  english literature, fun, henry james, memoir stories, morning, novels, peeko, uplifting

• From Songs for Strangers and Pilgrims, Sealed, Signed, Love, Christina Rossetti

  

  by Christina Rossetti … This poem may have been written sadly, but I read it warmly…I read it as my love has both the key and my heart kept safely in heaven, in her own, brings a little heaven in when she comes in; the key recalls to me with whom and how I share […]

  07/15/2022 9:56 am

  19th century, art, catholic, christina rossetti, english literature, form poetry, heavenly, lord byron, love, lovingkindness, may ziadeh, moon, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, prose poetry, secrets, soulmates, spirituality, sun

• Two Quotes from The Portrait of a Lady: Choose

  

  📖 2) She fixed her eyes upon him, and there was something in their character that reminded him of large, polished buttons; he seemed to see the reflection of surrounding objects upon the pupil. The expression of a button is not usually deemed human, but there was something in Miss Stackpole’s gaze that made him, […]

  07/14/2022 5:23 pm

  19th century, english literature, henry james, inspiring, novels, philosophy, wisdom

• A Portrait of Peeko, Reading The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James as Much as I Want To

  

  “What would you like to say to your fans?” I said to Peeko, and snapped this photo.😊🐱^ * The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James is so funny. I’d found myself more irritable overall though when I was following strictly the schedule for the Goodreads group, Old Books, New Readers, and I thought I […]

  07/12/2022 7:27 pm

  19th century, art, creative process, english literature, literary salon we keep, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, novels, peeko, poets, reading, wellness, writing process

• Memorable Quotes from The Portrait of a Lady

  

  (My cat Peeko napping with the lounge-clothing I’d laid out ready to put on after my bath that day.) I am reading The Portrait of a Lady (1881) by Henry James with a Goodreads book group. It’s great so far, especially the dialogue; I’d like to share a couple of quotes that stood out to […]

  07/09/2022 2:31 pm

  19th century, art, benevolence, classics, creative process, english literature, henry james, literary salon we keep, medieval era, novels, peeko, wellness

• Tell Me About You

  There might have been a small overflow of posts from 10 yrs ago or more come up in your email from the blog this weekend from when I was updating my WordPress plan…These were posts mysteriously restored and not an avalanche of relevant news, my apologies. I wrote this About Me yesterday to share on […]

  06/20/2022 5:22 pm

  21st century, abstract, antique, art, beauty, benevolence, books, boston, catholic, classical music, creative, creative process, creative writing prompt, dance, english literature, fairies, farmers market, fiction, free writing, fruit, fun, garden, gratitude, handmade, home, inspiring, interior design, landscape, library, love, meditate, meditation, meditative, memoir, morningtime, music, my mystical experiences, novels, peeko, philosophy, poetry, poetry books, poets, pop music, reading, secrets, self-reflection, short stories, sketch, sketches, sky, soulmates, spirituality, sun, tea, uplifting, wellness, writing process, writing progress, writing prompt, writing theory, yoga

• Stepping Into a Novel Set in 1000 AD Like I’m In It Already

  

  June 13, 2022 A beautifully unfolding novel I find myself at ease in the place and am amused to find myself sharing so many interests with the characters in this historical novel (set in Scotland about 1000 years earlier than our current time): Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King. I share with the characters interests […]

  06/13/2022 3:20 pm

  21st century, angelic, art, australia, beauty, benevolence, books, catholic, classical, classical music, ed sheeran, england, english, english literature, fiction, full moon, garden, inspiration, inspiring, library, love, lovingkindness, medieval era, meditation, missouri, moon, morningtime, music, nature, novels, philosophy, poetic, poetry, poets, reading, scotland, secrets, spirituality, susan fraser king, tea, uplifting, virtue, wellness

• Peeko’s Fiction Pick and Photo Shoot

  

  photos Jun 11, ’22 evening I am reading at a slow, meditative pace the novel, Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King set in Scotland in 1000 AD. I hadn’t seen many historical fiction novels set at this time or place. My cat Peeko (shown above) does no tricks; he poses his own way in these. […]

  06/12/2022 9:17 am

  21st century, beauty, books, catholic, classical music, creative process, english, english literature, fun, home, interior design, library, love, lovingkindness, medieval era, meditation, meditative, memoir, memoir stories, mindfulness, moon, morningtime, music, my photography, narrative, nature, night, novels, peeko, philosophy, poetic, scotland, soulmates, spirituality, susan fraser king, taize, uplifting

• An Intoxicating Book, A Bird Tries to Break into My Window, and More Recent Life Stories

  

  this flower was scented like strawberry and sugarcane 📰📻📚🌸 Intoxicated by A Book and Some Flowers I’d found a book recently called The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, and I noticed before I read the book that it was scented so beautifully like the beach by the sea and a sweetly potent suntan fragrance…I breathed […]

  06/08/2022 7:08 am

  16th century, 21st century, beach, books, boston, edgar allen poe, edna st. vincent millay, england, english literature, fairies, fiction, fun, garden, greece, home, library, literary salon we keep, longing, love, medieval era, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, narrative, nature, night, novels, peeko, plays, poetic, poetry, poets, reading, rumi, sadness, scotland, sea, susan fraser king, tea, uplifting, william shakespeare, yoga

• The Gift by H.D.

  The Gift —by H.D. (born 1886, Pennsylvania) Instead of pearls—a wrought clasp— a bracelet—will you accept this? You know the script— you will start, wonder: what is left, what phrase after last night? This: The world is yet unspoiled for you, you wait, expectant— you are like the children who haunt your own steps for […]

  05/31/2022 11:20 am

  20th century, beach, beauty, english literature, garden, inspiring, literary salon we keep, love, missouri, modernism, pennsylvania, philosophy, poetry, poets

• Books and Art: Sifting Through for the Best of Rumi, Kahlil Gibran Scare, and My Creative Plan for the Day

  

  I do this too…(I liked finding this illustrated at The Boston Fine Arts Museum, my own photo of this artwork I saw there)…with my silver aluminum water canteen and poetry book, and a rock to sit on. Friday, May 27th, 2022 Sifting Through for the Best of Rumi I think I’d really confused and worked […]

  05/28/2022 7:24 am

  17th century, 19th century, 20th century, 21st century, abstract expressionism, arab renaissance, art, art museum, artists, azima melita kolin, beach, books, boston, bruce degen, childrens books, classics, creative process, egypt, english, english literature, french, garden, home, Kahlil gibran, lebanon, library, longing, love, may ziadeh, medieval era, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, music, my photography, narrative, nature, new york city, novels, ocean, philosophy, poems of may ziadeh, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, psychology, reading, rumi, sketch, soulmates, spirituality, tea, wellness, yoga

• It’s Monday and the Right Rumi Has Arrived

  

  May 23rd and continues a few days It’s Monday and the right Rumi has arrived. I’d sorted through editions, I found this pocket-like book containing that same 800 yrs ago poetry, but this time presented by various translators, the main editor’s aim to preserve Rumi’s original rhythm and conciseness. I could see that coming true […]

  05/23/2022 10:55 am

  arabic, beauty, book reflection, books, classics, england, english, english literature, fairies, farsi, gratitude, literary salon we keep, longing, love, love poetry, medieval era, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, peeko, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, reading, rumi, spirituality, translations, turkey, william shakespeare

• Shakespeare Gets a Bath

  

  (kind of) I have enjoyed the spa-like activity of lounging my legs and feet in the bathtub with warm water and soaps, not as a relaxation goal but it makes the skin softer and fragrant. In the meantime, I thought I’d bring Shakespeare’s play I got from the library, called Cymbeline, in to read with […]

  05/23/2022 10:29 am

  art, beauty, boston, classics, creative, english, english literature, gratitude, home, inspiring, interior design, library, medieval era, meditation, meditative, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, narrative, plays, poetic, reading, wellness, william shakespeare

• A Note Found and a Bookmark and A Great First Art Show

  

  I found this bookmark in a library book I’d taken out and read yesterday, a slim blue copy of literary insight with a little biography of poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. From that book, these lines of a poem by Edna I’d not heard of spoke to me most poignantly: The stone the angel rolled […]

  05/17/2022 7:57 pm

  19th century, 20th century, 21st century, angels, art, art shows, artists, books, boston, catholic, charlotte bronte, classics, creative process, creative writing prompt, edna st. vincent millay, english, english literature, fairies, fiction, fruit, gratitude, home, inspiring, interior design, library, literary salon we keep, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, narrative, nonfiction books, novels, peeko, poetic, poetry, poets, psychology, reading, spirituality, t.s. eliot, writing prompt

• A Flowing Poem, Picked from an Anthology: “Upon Julia’s Clothes” by Robert Herrick

  A poem to enjoy from the second anthology I’d been reading through, The Norton Book of Light Verse edited by Russell Baker. UPON JULIA’S CLOTHES Whereas in silks my Julia goes, Then, then, me thinks, how sweetly flows The liquefaction of her clothes! Next, when I cast mine eyes and see The brave vibration each […]

  05/14/2022 6:47 am

  17th century, anthologies, england, english, english literature, gratitude, library, meditate, meditative, morningtime, philosophy, poetry, poets, reading, Robert herrick

• From Love Sonnets of Proteus, poem by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt

  I am reading through poetry in a pair of anthologies I’d found at the library…here’s one, the first in the book. * From Love Sonnets of Proteus by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt I see you, Juliet, still, with your straw hat Loaded with vines, and with your dear pale face, On which those thirty years so […]

  05/13/2022 2:06 pm

  20th century, anthologies, creativity, english, english literature, garden, inspiring, library, mythology, nature, nonfiction books, philosophy, poetry, poetry books, poets, reading, sonnets, spirituality, traditional form, traditional forms

• A Rhythm of Yours

  2 songs lyrics: WANDERING —by Courtney Hartman Your generous heart changed me Listening to the songs you sing About loving, imperfectly But loving just the same Singing, we can make a life of being free We can make a life of you and me We can make a life of wandering And the wandering doesn’t […]

  05/09/2022 6:27 pm

  19th century, 21st century, acoustic, artists, boston, charlotte bronte, Courtney hartman, creative process, english literature, folk music, fruit, gratitude, inspiring, literary salon we keep, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, music, my mystical experiences, philosophy, poetic, poets, pop, pop music, singer-songwriters, spirituality, sun, wisconsin

• May 7th… Mother’s Day…Bedroom Retreat

  

  library corner this afternoon by the window This morning I was very excited to take out the newest flower that had been pressed for a month in a closed book on the shelf (without me intentionally looking; one day I opened the book to read and happened to see it; placed it back.) 🤫It’s a […]

  05/07/2022 8:07 pm

  20th century, 21st century, angels, antique, antiques shop, art, artists, birthday, books, boston, catholic, chopin, classical, classical music, classics, creative process, english literature, fairies, france, french, garden, grandma jean, gratitude, home, interior design, lebanon, longfellow, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, monet, morningtime, music, my photography, peeko, philosophy, poetry books, poets, sky, wellness

• It Is May Again…

  Just give me two plums and a classic book to read and I’m good. I have a flower in a book that has remained closed for a month to be opened again in just three days. I learned that books are best treasured well by supporting their spines (kind of like babies), and that may […]

  05/04/2022 5:07 pm

  21st century, books, charlotte bronte, classics, english literature, fairies, fruit, garden, gratitude, handmade, home, interior design, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, my photography, philosophy, poetic, poets, reading

• A Serenade by Ameen Rihani

  

  A Serenade by Ameen Rihani from Myrtles and Myrrh (1905) The moon hath said her sad good-bye,     My sleeping queen; And all the stars are wondering why    Thou art unseen. Behold! abashed, they take to flight, As through the casement breaks thy light.                 Arise, my dawn, arise!       […]

  05/01/2022 6:36 pm

  20th century, ameen rihani, arab renaissance, creative process, dreams, english literature, form poetry, garden, gratitude, italy, lebanon, meditation, meditative, moon, morningtime, my photography, nature, new york city, octet, philosophy, poetic, poetry, poetry books, poets, reading, romantic era, sky, spirituality, traditional form, traditional forms, wellness

• A New Pansy Flower, Creative Days, and a Pair of Literary Salon Tuesdays

  

  This purple and yellow pansy flower on my balcony was born just today, and I kissed it gently this morning when I woke and saw it there…😘 and again this afternoon. Welcome to the world. 😊💕🍃 And this ‘Birds’ print chair made me smile when I saw it at the furniture store last week! I […]

  04/27/2022 7:15 pm

  20th century, 21st century, ameen rihani, art, books, boston, catholic, creative, creative process, edna st. vincent millay, egypt, english, english literature, garden, gratitude, Kahlil gibran, kate chopin, literary salon we keep, maine, may ziadeh, memoir, memoir stories, morningtime, my photography, narrative, nature, nonfiction books, novels, peeko, poetic, poets, reading, spirituality, writing process

• “The Castle Tower”

  

  The Castle Tower a pantoum by Jade Nicole Beals You’ve said I am entwined with the numberless. The castle tower trades its lace for the sky. All night, the tower climbs in secret, spinning its uppermost lace into the finest clouds. Please place your hands upon mine. The castle tower trades its lace for the […]

  04/25/2022 7:36 pm

  21st century, boston, creative process, creativity, dreams, english literature, fantasy, form poetry, french, fruit, gratitude, literary salon we keep, literary theory, magic realism, malaysia, memoir stories, morning, morningtime, my poetry, nature, pantoum, philosophy, poetic, poetry, poetry month, poetry three, poets, reading, sky, sun, writing process, writing theory