Tag: harlan

“Blurtso hears a whisper” (III)

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Harlan? said Blurtso. What? said Harlan. I’ve been thinking, said Blurtso, that we shouldn’t get a mongoose. Why not? said Harlan. Because, said Blurtso, it might make the snakes angry. You may be right, said Harlan. And the last thing we want, said Blurtso, is a barn full of angry snakes. That’s for sure, said Harlan. Right now, said Blurtso, they’re not bothering anyone, and they scarcely make a sound and always keep out of sight. That’s true, said Harlan. I’ve never even seen one, said Blurtso. Neither have I, said Harlan. I wonder if it’s sad to be a snake, said Blurtso, always keeping quiet and staying out of sight? I wouldn’t know, said Harlan, I’m never out of sight. Yes that’s true, said Blurtso, is it hard to be so noticeable? Sometimes, said Harlan. Do you ever wish you were a snake? said Blurtso. No, said Harlan. I guess snakes have it pretty good, said Blurtso, never being noticed. Yes, said Harlan, I suppose they do. Except, said Blurtso, that everyone hates them. Yes, said Harlan, there is that.

“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.

“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

 

“Blurtso and Harlan watch the snow” (II)

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I guess there’s not much snow in Borneo, said Blurtso. No, said Harlan, but there are many palm trees. I like palm trees, said Blurtso. So do I, said Harlan, there’s nothing like napping in a palm grove… listening to the wind in the leaves, and feeling the shadows on your skin. Yes, said Blurtso, a palm grove is a great place to nap, and so is a recliner, under a palapa next to the sea. Yes, said Harlan, there’s nothing like napping to the sound of waves, with a cap pulled down on your eyes. A Red Sox cap? said Blurtso. Of course, said Harlan. The snow is nice too, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan, there’s nothing like napping in a loft, with a cup of hot cocoa, listening to the slosh of cars in the street. Yes, said Blurtso, or napping under an oak, on a summer day, in an empty field in Maine. I still can’t believe, said Harlan, the Red Sox didn’t win the World Series.

“Blurtso and Harlan watch the Muppets”

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“We’re Marley and Marley… Oooooooooooooooooooooo…”

Do you think we could be Muppets? said Harlan. I don’t know, said Blurtso, they seem pretty talented. Yeah, said Harlan, even the fruit was singing. And the frog, said Blurtso, was doing long division.

“Blurtso envies Rudolph”

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There’s always tomorrow

“Blurtso sees an ant” (IX)

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It’s nice to be home, said Blurtso. Yes, said Harlan, it is. It’s nice to see our hay again, said Blurtso, and pie tins, and cocoa powder, and Blurtsobarn coffee mugs. Yes, said Harlan. And my painting easel and brushes, said Blurtso, and Patrick O’Brian novels, and “Mister Ed” dvds, and Tony Robbins tapes, and patchwork blanket, and phonograph player and 1970’s LPs, and Cutco knife set, and autographed copy of Leaves of Grass, and French door windows, and step ladder to the loft. We’ve only been gone three days! said Harlan. I know, said Blurtso, but it seems like years.

“Blurtso sees an ant” (VIII)

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I guess, said Blurtso, he wasn’t a hermit ant.

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I miss our barn, said Blurtso. So do I, said Harlan. It’s very unsettling, said Blurtso, when someone invades your home. Yes, said Harlan, you feel violated. What if they don’t leave? said Blurtso. We’ll make them leave, said Harlan. How? said Blurtso. If we turn off the solar heater and open the doors, said Harlan, they’ll get cold and go back to their underground nest. That’s a great idea, said Blurtso. But we’ll have to spend a few days in the house, said Harlan, until we’re sure they’re gone.