Tag: drawings

“Blurtso hears a whisper” (II)

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Harlan? said Blurtso. What? said Harlan. Did you hear that? Yes, said Harlan. Do you think our snake is back? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. What do you think he’s doing? said Blurtso. I don’t know, said Harlan. Why do you suppose, said Blurtso, that people hate snakes? I don’t know, said Harlan. Have you ever been bitten by one? said Blurtso. No, said Harlan. I suppose they don’t all bite, said Blurtso. No, said Harlan, I suppose they don’t. What animals do snakes dislike? said Blurtso. I’ve heard, said Harlan, that snakes dislike mongeese. Have you ever seen a mongoose? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. What do they look like? said Blurtso. They’re like ferrets, said Harlan, only bigger and with mean-looking noses. Do you think we should get one? said Blurtso. I’m not sure, said Harlan, we might be happier with snakes.

“Blurtso hears a whisper” (I)

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Harlan? said Blurtso. What? said Harlan. Did you hear that? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. What do you think it is? said Blurtso. I don’t know, said Harlan. It’s coming from downstairs, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. Can you hear any breathing? said Blurtso No, said Harlan. It must be very small, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan, maybe it’s a bird, or a snake. A snake? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. Don’t they go south? said Blurtso. I’m not sure, said Harlan. They must, said Blurtso, Boston is too cold for a snake. Unless he’s in a barn, said Harlan. Yes, said Blurtso, with solar heating and laminated windows. You have laminated windows? said Harlan. Yes, said Blurtso. No wonder it’s so warm, said Harlan. Can snakes climb ladders? said Blurtso. I don’t think so, said Harlan, unless they’re circus snakes. Circus snakes? said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan. Hey, said Blurtso, there he goes again! Yes, said Harlan. But that was a jerky sound, said Blurtso, it didn’t sound like a snake at all. No it didn’t, said Harlan. Unless, said Blurtso, it was a circus snake imitating another animal. Yes, said Harlan. Did you hear that? said Blurtso. No, said Harlan. That’s what I mean, said Blurtso, I think our snake has gone. I don’t know, said Harlan, snakes can be very quiet. That’s true, said Blurtso, we could have a barnful of snakes and not even know it. Yes, said Harlan. Maybe I should pull up the ladder, said Blurtso. There, can you hear anything now? No, said Harlan. Neither can I, said Blurtso. Maybe we should get some sleep, said Harlan. It’s going to be hard, said Blurtso, with the silence of the snakes.

“Blurtso looks at the snow” (VI)

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It’s very quiet. I can’t even hear the cars in the street. The flakes are so big that the ones near the window are a blur. I wonder how much it’s snowing at Bonny and Pablo’s cabin? It makes me happy to think of them all together, sharing a snack around the fire. I hope they have enough firewood. I’m sure they do. Bonny is good about that sort of thing. And so is Pablo. Even Ditto had a fire when I stopped by. I’ll bet the flakes are melting quickly on the lake. I’ll bet you could stray from the path and not even know. You’d have to make a new path, which wouldn’t be a path, but only a trail of wandering. When it gets dark you can’t even see the rise and fall of the land. Hmmm, it sure is quiet. I wonder how much it’s snowing at Bonny and Pablo’s cabin?

“Bonny and Pablo go for tapas”

There’s a bar on Inman Square named after Salvador Dali.

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Ración de tortilla y una caña, said Pablo.
Y para la señorita? said the barkeep. Lo mismo, said Bonny.

“Blurtso enjoys things that fall”

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There goes another snowflake, said Blurtso. I like to watch things that fall—leaves, feathers, snowflakes—things just a little heavier than air. There’s something relaxing in watching them let go, something soothing in their acceptance and lack of direction, their trust in the cycle… of soil and stars.

“Blurtso makes a resolution”

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It’s a new year… I guess I’d better make a resolution. Let’s see… “this year I resolve to…” hmm… “I resolve…” hmm… what does that mean…? To be “resolved,” to be “determined,” to be “unyielding in one’s purpose,” to be “intransigent,” “inveterate,” “obdurate,” and “inflexible.” Hmm, I don’t really like that. I think being flexible is the key to happiness. Of course, flexibility implies rigidity, that is, something to be “flexible” about. Hmm… what I need is a resolution that is both rigid and flexible… I know!… “This year I resolve… to be less resolved.”

“Pablo sings his songs”

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Here are some songs I’ve written.

Cliffs of the heart

You can’t say yes

The best we can do

The snow is melting

Slipping into stone

Out of line

Kindness

Undo what’s done

Devil’s Sister

Liar sun

Because I love you

The hope it is

Letting go

Crossroads night

Take me there

All I want is a breeze

The beginning of you

Hell on the inside

The kingdom meant for me

Eight ounces of water

Go around

Catch, glide and shove

Too late for you

This girl do

Sleeping where the rich people play

Of all the gold

Echo

Afraid this time

Tenderness

A safe place to go

Seize the moment

Haven’t had yet

My Michelle

Cruel shapes

You made him a promise

Seventh day

My baby’s arms

More than the blues

Drink beer on stage

I’m in you

Save me

Giraffe

 

“Somewhere a dog barked”

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They say dogs bark when they see a spirit, and they can sense when a person has died. But I’ve never seen a spirit, even when I was standing next to a barking dog. I wonder what else I’m missing?