Sunday, September 22, 2024
"Black Nazi"
Monday, September 16, 2024
PTSW: If I Could Tell You by W.H. Auden
If I Could Tell You
Time will say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.
If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.
There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know.
The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time will say nothing but I told you so.
Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.
Suppose all the lions get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away;
Will Time say nothing but I told you so?
If I could tell you I would let you know.
by W.H. Auden
This is an example of a villanelle. He takes a couple of liberties with the form in the last verse but that's what it is.. That pleases me because when I try formulas like this in my poetic efforts, I usually find a way the break the rules just a little. It works awfully well here. I can never read it just once, and if there's no one about I read it aloud.
Saturday, August 17, 2024
James Edward Shaw
My Uncle James was an important part of my life from very early on. He was the next younger of my father's four brothers.
I'll store some pictures of him here and write about him as I get a chance. I would love to hear the memories others have of this good man. (If you leave a comment please add your name to the comment itself -- comments here rarely are labeled by a name -- very frustrating.
Charles Shaw (my father who had his big personality even as a boy. James Shaw (my uncle and Charles’ younger brother) |
Charles & James Shaw |
Grady and James Shaw at Indian Springs. |
A thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at the Grady & Lillian Shaw home on Main St. Milstead, Georgia. James is in the plaid shirt. |
James, Grady, Jr., and Jack |
James, Terrrell, and David Shaw on the porch of the Grady and Lillian Shaw home on Main Street in Milstead GA. |
Natalie Roseberry- "I remember him fondly! He and Aunt Lillian would come and visit us! And I remember him bringing Aunt Lillian one time so he could go on a date!"
A family reunion at the Hearn home in south Fulton County. |
James at Mexico Beach, FL |
James Shaw, Carol Shaw Johnston, Lillian Wilkerson Shaw, and Sheila Matthews Shaw at Grantville, GA. circa 1992. |
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Morning Walk
Watching the sunrise over the Rome skyline. |
A view of the construction on West Third from the Ross Bridge. That is one huge crane. |
There's new signage at the Town Green for the Riverwalk... |
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Hope and Joy!
It is still a close race. The future of our republic is still on the line in 2024. I am very sorry that the great sourpuss criminal and sore loser of Maralago still has significant support...
But hope and joy are in the air!
It reminds me of the feelings I had in the campaigns of 1976...
and 2008.
Such excitement. Such hope. Such an optimistic and joyful campaign.
America is at its best when it looks forward.
Our team of Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz have intelligence, wonderful experience, optimistic natures, deep love for our country, strong respect and understanding of our history, progressive principles in the tradition of FDR, Ike, LBJ, Obama, and Biden, a willingness to reach across the aisle to find solutions, and a determination to bring our nation together for an even greater future.
They are, I hope and believe, the face of our future.
I am so happy to lend my voice to theirs, and the many thousands who are cheering them at every rally, to declare -- We won't go back!
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Reunion!
My sister Carol and her husband Ron invited all their relatives to their lake house near Waverly Hall, Georgia, for a joint reunion. The original date was nearly a month ago and, because of illness, had to be postponed till today. The crowd was smaller than we might have otherwise had, but what fun. Thanks Carol and Ron!
I didn't take a lot of pictures but here are few. I'll add text to these pics and more pictures from others as I can. But here are these for now.
Ron and David (and others I'm sure) helped some of the kids with fishing and caught some bass and crappie. |
Zoe with some the dolls from Mother's es |
My niece Lyn and her daughter and son-in-law, Natalie and Chris. |
Linda and Wayne Baird. Wayne is my first cousin, youngest son of my mother's brother Grice. |
With four of my siblings, L-R: David, Joan, Carol, Debi, and me. |
Carol had some wonderful beading supplies and these three girls had a great time designing and creating bracelets and necklaces. |
Somehow the bead necklace Mia had created was dropped and the beads scattered all over the front porch |
Ron had set up a range for shooting clay targets and several folks had a great time trying their shooting skills. |
Joan in the chair, with Natalie, Lyn, and Jessica. |
Linda takes a shot. |
Debbie fires away. |
Wayne and I sat in Sheila's air conditioned Camry to watch the shooting. |
My sister Joan with my first cousin (once removed) Debbie Boyd Amodeo |
Jane explained that these items are examples of "tatting" that Mama Baird did with finer thread and smaller needles than she used in her crocheting. |