As you circle from side to side, said Blurtso, imagine your arms are a banner attached to a flag pole, a banner waving in a warm breeze, a banner on top of a pumpkin pie factory, announcing a pumpkin pie sale…
Category: Haste and leisure
“Blurtso considers his inner parakeet” (XCVII)
And they gathered and said, “Speak to us of quality time.”
And Blurtso replied:
Most of the people don’t spend much time
with most of the people they’re around most of the time.
“Blurtso considers his inner parakeet” (XV)
And they said, “Speak to us of rest.”
And Blurtso replied,
“The wave travels many miles, then breaks to pieces.”
“Bonny and Pablo hit the hay” (V)
It’s raining on the roof, thought Pablo. The last snow is melting and the earth is beginning to open. Soon the breeze will be warm and the smells will be sweet. It was a long winter, but the cabin was cozy with Bonny and Ditto and a cellar of food. And the crackling fire. What a pleasant place to be, on the edge of spring in the rain, in the warmth of our cabin.
“Blurtso hears a harbinger”
The sounds are changing, thought Blurtso. People are coming out of their houses and lingering beneath the softening sky. The animals are poking their noses in snowless corners and the tulips will soon be up. Some say one tulip is like another—red, pink, yellow, blue—but I can taste the difference.
“The journey of Ditto Lundif” (II)
Did you stash the treasure? said Ditto. The treasure? said Virginia. Yes, said Ditto, the gold coins. I don’t have any gold coins, said Virginia. Splendid, said Ditto, I knew I could depend on you not to tell… now, if we could only get out of this refrigeration car before we freeze… did you bring the nail polish remover? Nail polish remover? said Virginia. Yes, said Ditto, to dissolve the teeth on the tumblers in the lock… hey… what was that?! What was what? said Virginia. That noise, said Ditto, it sounded like a wild boar gnawing on a human bone. I think it’s a squirrel on the roof, said Virginia. Yes, said Ditto, a whole family of wild boars launching themselves madly at the train… it’s a good thing I worked with wild boars in the circus, and can reproduce the high-pitched squeal that halts them in their tracks… quick, the nail polish remover…
“Blurtso considers his inner parakeet” (XII)
And they gathered before him and said, “Show us.”
And Blurtso replied, “The show is over.”
And they nodded, and went their way.
“Bonny celebrates until the cows come home”
I didn’t know you were Irish, said Pablo. Actually, said Bonny, I’m Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and English. My oldest ancestors arrived in the Isles around 400 B.C. and lived in all the various regions. I used to celebrate Saint Andrew’s Day on November 30th, Saint David’s Day on March 1st, and Saint George’s Day on April 23rd, but now I celebrate them all on Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17th. Does that mean you have to drink four times as much beer? said Blurtso.
“By yon bonny banks and by yon bonny brays…”
“Blurtso considers his inner parakeet” (IX)
Is Blurtso still pining for Lizzy? Actually, said Pablo, he’s doing much better since he converted the house into an animal shelter.
Circle from side to side, said Blurtso, shifting your weight from hoof to hoof… left hoof full, right hoof empty, right hoof full, left hoof empty…
“Blurtso looks at the snow” (XXV)
I wonder why it seems that everyone I meet is busier than me? I go to school, keep up with my classes, give my time to charitable causes, and help friends in need… but I still have time to sit and watch the snow. Maybe donkey years are longer than human years, and a donkey’s day is seven times longer than a human day.