Have you ever noticed how,

in certain wooden houses,

footsteps on the boards

overhead sound like heartbeats?

There is as much absence

in the sound as pressence

as much loss as gain

as though despite its own

evidence it may prove my

solitude.

But I don’t want to be alone.

Never truly alone in this world.

Don’t leave me. Tell me

who will care in thrity

years or forty to lift my chin

and say look a bird.

Last night, we had wind

and the dog barked, made

the house nervous. But we

all stayed in bed, waiting

for the breeze to die.

There were no footsteps.

Kyle Kimberlin

April 11 2004

I greet my fellow Christians with the glorious truth that Christ our Lord is risen from the dead, having broken the bonds of hell and death.

Christ is Risen!

… Indeed He is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead

trampling down death by death

and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

“He came to His own, and His own received Him not.”

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God.”

O Death, where is thy sting?

Amen.

— The Paschal sermon of St John Chrysostom

Well I’ve been quiet for a couple of days. I’m up in Northern California, visiting my brother J and his family. Been busy, driving and such. It’s really pretty up here, in the trees, the foothills of the Sierras. The air is warm and smells of sunlight in tall trees.

Today is my nephew T’s birthday. He’s 3. He has colored his eggs for an Easter egg hunt tomorrow. His mommy and Nana baked him a green cake with little toy bugs on it; in fact, the whole cake is built like a bug with 6 legs. He likes bugs, you see. Maybe there will be photos online later.

Last night, we were in the front room. Moths were coming to the porch light outside the widow. Suddenly, there was something huge flapping and darting around with them. We all went to see. It was an enormous and beautiful moth. In our haste to see it, we accidentally let it in through the front door. It flattered in and settled on a cushion of the sofa. An amazing creature. J took pictures of it, and I’ll post one later. … J and dad removed the cushion carefully, gently, and carried it outside. For a time, the moth rested on Dad’s hand, then flew away. We thought it was a Luna Moth, because of its size. J did some research online, and we learned it’s a silkmoth.

Gotta get ready for T’s party at Chuck E. Cheese.

In a mind-numbing twist of irony, the tape recordings of two reporters were erased at a speech by Justice Antonin Scalia, at which he said, “The Constitution of the United States is extraordinary and amazing. People just don’t revere it like they used to.” … Apparently, Mr. Justice Scalia longs for the good old days, before the First Amendment was added.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Those pesky amendments. It’s just no fun squashing the 4th Estate anymore. Anybody think maybe Scalia is almost as crazy as King George? … Me oui, Josephine, I am as sane as you! … no no, I am not a justice, I am Napoleon! … Methinks we’re gonna need a bigger net, mon ami.

Yahoo! News Link:

This story is not going to get any coverage in the mainstream media. Remember, you read it here first. The president’s sense of humor waxes a bit pale. His jokes are dyin’. Get it? I’m funnier than he is!

A haiku by Hayato T, a junior high school student in Japan.

A thousand origami cranes

I put my wish for peace

Into them

Peace Haiku from Ohshima:

Looks like the emperor’s new cloak is beginning to come apart at the seems …

Guardian Unlimited: Uprising in Iraq could derail Bush:

“Other members of the president’s party, raised the alarm over the emergence of the Shia militia and general unraveling of security. Senator Chuck Hagel, told the Washington Post the US was ‘dangerously close’ to losing control in Iraq. “

All went well for my little Tasha in her visit to the vet this morning. He said it’s “looking great,” and all but gone. So it was just a lesion, not a raging homicidal malignancy. Thank God. And thank all of you who offered prayers and kind thoughts.

Tasha got her regular bath as well, and this weekend she gets to go with me and the rest of the family up to Northern California to visit my brother and his family. It’s my little nephew’s third birthday. I understand we’re dining at Chuck E. Cheese in celebration.

I’m worried. A month ago, I took my dog Tasha to the vet and he found a little nodule on her anus. (She’d been scooting.) He said it should be checked in a month, and if it’s grown she might need surgery. Her appointment for the followup is in the morning.

She’s seems like she feels fine – very little scooting or signs of discomfort lately. And I don’t see the problem, but I’m not a vet. I’m concerned. She’s 13, which is pretty old to be having surgery.

I realize that few people are actually reading this blog, but if you’re out there, say a prayer OK? Thanks.

Did you know that Paris has a subway station named after Roosevelt? I didn’t either. See though, we used to be friends with them. Maybe if we elect Kerry this fall, we can be again. We can all invite a French person over to stay a couple of days, see the sites of the good ol’ USA, maybe go out for some nice Italian food.

… is Wanda tartar. Boston woman has close squeeze with a Darwin Award.

“An American poetry professor struggles to reach a definition of poetry through a Socratic dialogue with one of his students, encountered in the local supermarket. “

Link

Good stuff, Maynard!

And here’s a fine bit of Strand’s poetry:

The story of the end, of the last word

that none would be bearable.

— Mark Strand