Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Vintage: "To His Lady"

Here's a decidedly vintage sonnet: October 6, 1983
          First Assignment: Sonnet
          Prof. Richmond's English 117S: Shakespeare

TO HIS LADY

I shall not wander in twisted conceits,
Nor cultivate crazes best left behind,
Nor waste vain efforts procuring young sweets,
When virtuous love composes my mind.
Good thoughts, better words, most excellent verse--
All features to furnish (with wit, with tact)
Fond feelings that now I merely rehearse,
Motions I go through, scenes I enact.
My stage-craft flourishes, though plotting's a ruse:
"Love is a masque where we all play our part."
What use for the scenery, when lacking a muse?
What use for the masque when the muse lacks a heart?
You'll grant I never saw a goddess go:
Down with the masque, my dear--on with the show.

--Matthew Duckworth


(I was cleaning out some boxes in the garage this afternoon when I happened upon a very old box filled with very old assignments--oh beloved undergraduate days.   Prof. Richmond actually read my sonnet aloud in class, which pleased and embarrassed me to no end.)

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Rum Reflections


When I was in my teens, my 20s, and my 30s, I wanted to rescue people. When I was in my 40s, I wanted to rescue myself. At the edge of 55, I'm still committed to a little of both, but I am also fairly sure that the matter is largely out of my hands.

I'd like to help out, in any event, as the case may be.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Feeling Kelpy










2011 shots (my 50th birthday) down off Cannery Row.
Nothing special, just expressive for me.
I'm missing the kelp forest something terrible about now.
Dive time needed.


Thursday, May 5, 2016

TBT: Water / Damage


A 2008 shot, from Hawaii, and the water got into that disposable camera, but that's okay.

I'll never be that young again--and, hey, eight years ago is younger--but I yearn and aim to be in as good a shape as I was that year.  I swam and swam and swam that year.

Aiming to make the rest of 2016 a water-year.