These are the reflections of a Secular Franciscan. I look not only at my own spiritual journey, but also at issues of life, economic and social justice, morality, the arts, and more through the lens of Franciscan Spirituality.
Robert Frost has always been my favorite poet. One of my reading goals has been to read all the volumes of his poetry.
I just read his last volume: In the Clearing, published in 1962. He was by that time 88.
He apparently delayed publishing this collection because he recognized they did not represent his best work.
I agree.
It lingered long enough for him to include his poem for the inauguration of John Kennedy in 1961 (which included "The Gift Outright").
There are a few flashes of his skill, but most of the poems are weak. They read like the work of a lesser poet, or a poet who's fire was going out. Nevertheless, it was still worth reading.
I have two more works to read to complete my goal: A Masque of Reason, and A Masque of Mercy.
Both were written in the 1940's, so I have hope of them being more typical of the Frost I've always liked.
The Stand Together for Life rallies bring Catholics and Protestants together outside Planned Parenthood to pray, speak, and sing for life. Our May 27, 2023 rally involved the police as well!
It seems the neighbors and'or Planned Parenthood got an injunction of some sort that said we could not have stands holding up speakers or cameras for the rally. Everything had to be held by hand.
So we did. Human stands!
That did not prevent us from hearing from a variety of individuals speaking or praying.
As part of today's rally, people placed flowers at the foot of a cross.
And placing hands on the building, we prayed for the victims of Planned parenthood, including those who work there, and in the hope that the place will close.
As I continue to clean out books stored in my garage, I've come across a few I decided to read before donating them.
The latest book is From The Earth To The Moon by Jules Verne.
Years ago I read his 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and enjoyed it. I can't say the same for this books.
I wasn't sure if he was trying to be satirical, but it sure reads like that. Meanwhile, he gets caught up in so many dull details to try to establish scientific veracity. But some of that science is nonsense. And I kept wishing for more action, more actual dialogue. Plus, the ending left things up in the air (so to speak!); I'm not surprised there was a sequel that continued the story.
I'd seen the movie made of this book. They wisely added far more plot and action. The movie actually was not that good, but it was better than the book!
Not a book I'd recommend.
I also found a copy of 20,000 Leagues in the boxes. It's been decades since I read it, so I will later give it a reread to see if my fond memories of the book are because it is good, or because I was a young teen when I first read it. I'll find out.
Right now, though, reading another book I uncovered: The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury.
A bit of absurdity from Monty Python's Life of Brian:
FRANCIS: Why are you always on about women, Stan?
STAN: I want to be one.
REG: What?
STAN: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me 'Loretta'.
REG: What?!
LORETTA: It's my right as a man.
JUDITH: Well, why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?
LORETTA: I want to have babies.
REG: You want to have babies?!
LORETTA: It's every man's right to have babies if he wants them.
REG: But... you can't have babies.
LORETTA: Don't you oppress me.
REG: I'm not oppressing you, Stan. You haven't got a womb! Where's the foetus going to gestate?! You going to keep it in a box?!
LORETTA:crying
JUDITH: Here! I-- I've got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can't actually have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody's fault, not even the Romans', but that he can have the right to have babies.
FRANCIS: Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother. Sister. Sorry.
REG: What's the point?
FRANCIS: What?
REG: What's the point of fighting for his right to have babies when he can't have babies?!
FRANCIS: It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.
I finally read Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather.
I don't know why it took me so long!
I read her My Antonia years ago and enjoyed it. Death was on Joseph Pearce's list of 100 Great Works of Literature Every Catholic Should Know, so I borrowed it from the library.
A wonderful book. It's amazing to realize that for someone so sensitive to Catholic characters and beliefs she was not herself Catholic.
I highly recommend it.
This marks 57 of the books Pearce lists that I have read completely.
Right now, I'm reading some of the books I've discovered buried in boxes in the garage. (I'm in the process of donating books to clean them out.) First up is From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne. I may go on to another science fiction book or two that I've unearthed. I also found a copy of East of Eden by John Steinbeck - which I read some 50 years ago, and has been stuck in a box for close the 30 years.. None of the books in the "might read" pile are on Pearce's list, by the way.
But I did find a copy of Emma by Jane Austen - a book on his list. So I've added it to the pile.e pout in the garage for rs as I clean out.
Now, what do I do with all the old textbooks no one wants?
I heard this Pete Seeger song the other night at a craft brewery open mic session. I liked the version I heard that night. I also always liked the other versions of the Kingston Trio (above) and Peter, Paul and Mary, and, of course, by Pete.
It hit me this would be a good song to learn and add to my repertoire!
The words vary depending on who is singing it, but here are the basic lyrics I know:
Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young men gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
And where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, a long, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
And where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
And where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them, every one!
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
At least once a year, we watch The Robe with Richard Burton. It's one of the movies that pops up about Easter time, though it is also one of the movies that gets shown repeatedly on oldies channels.
I've always enjoyed it.
I've had a copy of the novel, written by Lloyd C. Douglas, tucked on a bookshelf upstairs for a long time. I finally decided to read it.
First, many of the important elements of the novel are in the movie. The movie did, for cinematic reasons, change a few details, like when the fight with the centurion in the Holy Land takes place, or the growing conflict with Caligula, who, in the book doesn't really show up until the last chapters. The movie also leaves quite a bit out for reasons of length. It's all understandable given the different genres.
In the novel, you get a more complete picture of the relationship between Marcellus and Demetrius. We get to see the incidents in Athens, more of what happened in the Holy Land, the escape from Capri, and Marcellus's ministry in Arpino. Those really added depth. And I learned that Caligula is actually a nickname meaning "little boot," which apparently was a source of jokes!
