Become a Habit

Shadows and reflections upon the surface of a car, gilded illusions of the day's final hour

A Fixed Idea

(By Amy Lowell)

What torture lurks within a single thought 

When grown too constant, and however kind, 

However welcome still, the weary mind 

Aches with its presence. Dull remembrance taught 

Remembers on unceasingly; unsought 

The old delight is with us but to find 

That all recurring joy is pain refined, 

Become a habit, and we struggle, caught. 

You lie upon my heart as on a nest, 

Folded in peace, for you can never know 

How crushed I am with having you at rest 

Heavy upon my life. I love you so 

You bind my freedom from its rightful quest. 

In mercy lift your drooping wings and go.

Three trees illuminated in the late afternoon light

Well, I was in the mood for more poetry. ;-)

I really haven't very much to share today. But, since it is Amy Lowell's birth date, we can appreciate her lovely poetry and call it a day.

Resting on a Quiet Night

Entryway at the South Coast Botanic Gardens on a winter afternoon

It's one of those nights when my energy ebbs low, even though I have plenty about which to write and to share, photographs and ideas aplenty. Certainly, I could push myself to produce a witty review of some art exhibition or a lighthearted celebration of a birth date or historical fact. But, let's be honest, I'm tired.

Instead of some coherent essay or critical review, I'll offer you a couple images, featuring two of my favorite compositional elements, the passageway and the reflection. I have an affinity to their thematic qualities and find them aesthetically pleasing.

Just because I'm having a lazy evening doesn't mean that I'm going weak on the content. ;-)

Empty swimming pool reflecting the twilight sky

And some music. . .

In a Reflective Mood, Again

 Reflected through a glass darkly.



Over the past few days, there has been a lot of navel-gazing here at Paideia. Too be honest, those are the easiest types of posts to write, much easier than producing a quality essay or coherent review. Don't worry!!! I plan on putting up posts with greater substance shortly.

I'm just getting back up to speed. One of the problems is that the holidays have not been conducive to going out and doing interesting things, at least things interesting to a general audience of readers. ;-)

Of course, time constraints are also a problem. For instance, today is J.R.R. Tolkein's date of birth, in 1892. I would have liked to write a bit about it, but I guess we'll make do with a few bits of music inspired by his works.

Stop the Clocks!!!

 Triple stop!!! Within a puddle, the stop sign is reflected.



It would have been a bit humorous, after all the bold proclamations of yesterday, if I had failed to put up a post on the second day of the year. Fortunately for my pride, I made it under the wire with a nice “reflection” photo. There is something cool about looking at the world upside down in a body of water.

Anyways, I really thought that I had a bunch of time tonight to write up a full blog post, but somehow it slipped away. If only we could stop the clock, making the hours stretch until we can accomplish all those things that we desire. There are too many movies to watch, books to read, stories to tell, and delights to experience to fit into the leftover time of the day, after the daily grind in finished.

Well, we'll make it work out somehow.