Sunday, August 18, 2024

Neighborhood Reads, an adorable independent book store

On a trip to Washington, Missouri I have discovered a charming bookstore  named Neighborhood Reads 

The store has an excellent book selection, including classics, contemporary, foreign and American authors, for both fiction and nonfiction.  I had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Dawn Kitchell, and discussed about the upcoming (Sept 13-14, 2024) Missouri Book Festival 

Dawn organizes reading events well attended by current and future readers, as shown in this February 2024 post in USA Today.

credit and full USA Today post




Saturday, November 5, 2022

Chicago flight


In haibun (a literary form originating in Japan), prose and verse (mostly haiku) coexist; the transition between them  brings on a “shift” that (ideally) offers depth and additional perspective.  

Here is my "Chicago flight" haibun, just published in Failed Haiku #83  - page 88.


Chicago flight


She stops by my seat, and signals that the middle seat is hers.  I stand up and help her with her luggage – a delightful tiny suitcase with floral motifs. Less than two minutes into our chat, the question arrives: “Where are you from?”

“You mean…where …my accent is from?” I ask in turn, smiling.

“Yes.”

“It’s Romanian.”

“Ah, how interesting. You know, I’m retired now, but I’ve been a violinist.  I love European music.  I love this Romanian composer, Bela Bartok.” 

“Bela Bartok is a great musician, indeed, but…” I want to tell her that Bartok is Hungarian, but she is faster:

“Tell me the name of another Romanian composer.”

“Enescu,” I say.  “George Enescu.” 

“A, of course…and, one more?” 

Ciprian Porumbescu comes to mind, and although I hesitate a bit, I go ahead, pronouncing the name slowly.  She repeats it; we both laugh.  Chatting softly about everything and nothing, time passes pleasantly.  After we land, she turns to me and says,

“My name is Lucy.  What is yours?” 

“Cristina.”

We say goodbye and she moves toward the exit.  There, she stops and waits.  When I reach her, she whispers softly:

“By the way, my name is Claire; what is yours?”

pine tree forest

in the darkest shade

off-key chirps






Sunday, October 30, 2022

Roald Dahl: Watch with glittering eyes...

 “…Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” 

Roald Dahl




Roald Dahl in his writing hut (obviously during winter) in Great Missenden, England.  

Credits 
@HistoryInPics
         https://twitter.com/historyinpics/status/761253070521131008 


Thursday, September 1, 2022

What a fantastic poem: ALBA by Jack Gilbert

 ALBA


After a summer with happy people

I rush back, scared, gulping 

down pain wherever I can get it.  

                                                                                Jack Gilbert (from Monolithos)

                                                                      Art: Gabriela Popa

Sunday, May 22, 2022

 

My dead parents try to keep out of my way.
When I enter a room they have already left it,
gone off to find something that ought to be done
elsewhere in the house, my dad rolling the Hoover,
my mother with dust rag and Pledge. At times
I’ve heard their old slippers, pattering away
down the hall, or seen for only an instant
what might be the hem of her skirt as it swept
through a door. I leave all the cleaning supplies
where they’re easy to find, and they seem to last
forever. “You don’t need to go!” I call out
through the echoing rooms, but they’ve never
turned back. They leave the floors shining
behind them, and remember to turn off the lights.


more in

Saturday, May 14, 2022

THIS ROSE

Can you believe this beauty has just bloomed in my yard?  This rose, which I have planted three years ago and last year definitely wanted to trash (it was only my busy schedule or more precisely my lack of discipline that prevented me from doing that) --- because it had not bloomed yet...

And in its third year, THIS!  

How shallow I am compared to this rose, to its resilience and wisdom. 








Monday, February 1, 2021

Blinding Snowstorm Haiku

 










The winter issue of Wales Haiku Journal is online now - honored to have my haiga "Blinding Snowstorm" in the Haiga Gallery.

Wales Haiku Journal - Gabriela Popa haiga

Wales Haiku Journal - Winter 2021


Neighborhood Reads, an adorable independent book store

On a trip to Washington, Missouri I have discovered a charming bookstore  named  Neighborhood Reads   The store has an excellent book select...