On Watching "Bright Star"

The character portrayed in this film is an evenly balanced, thoughtful, and sensitive young man, not the tempestuous, feverish, burn-the-candle-at-both-ends figure I've come to believe John Keats was. Perhaps it's my lack of biographical knowledge that takes me by surprise me in this portrayal...

I almost forget that in days gone by, the word, spoken and written, was so cherished. It seems that people loved to gather in the evening after dinner to recite poetry, speeches, verses, as well as perform music or theatrical tidbits. I get it. There was no radio, television, or internet. The word was everything. Letters were the windows to the soul and far away places.

Today words are everywhere. Perhaps they are like tourist sights to those who are local residents. They are there, but in the course of the daily routine, are part of the background, noticed but not truly seen.

Winter

It's been an unusually severe winter in these parts. Southern Connecticut is not known for long bouts of cold and snow, but this year the ground has been blanketed in white for weeks. Most people despise it. They say, I can't wait for Spring, but I like it. It's a distraction. It puts a monkey wrench in life, throws the world on it's head. Going out in the frigid temperature gives people pause. You don't just open the door, and walk out. You must put on your coat, gloves, hat. If it has just snowed, you need to shovel a walk to the car. You have to brush the snow off the car, turn it on so that the inside is heated up to a cozy temperature. When you drive, you must slow down, and use more caution. Some people don't, but they pay the price. It makes people think, be more mindful of things around them. You can't escape it - that's the nature of Nature. People can't control it. It dictates to people. In a sense, it speaks. Hopefully, some will listen.