Forgetfulness - by Billy Collins

Forgetfulness 

- by Billy Collins -

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,

as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,

something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.

Whatever it is you are struggling to remember,
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.

It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.

No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.

 

Gabe and Nath - by TPO

Gabe and Nath 

- by TPO -

Indra Rios Moore ===> I C S C N !

Indra Rios Moore ===> I C S C N !
ኢንድራ ሪዮስ ሙር ===> አይ ከን ሲ ክሊርሊ ናው !
💛 💛 💛

The Adventures of Gabriel and Nathalie - by Hénock Gugsa

The Adventures of Gabriel and Nathalie

by Hénock Gugsa 
=======================================================

Some time back, in my never-ending travels (cruises) on the internet, I ran into a website called "Tumbler".  So, I checked it out from here to Sunday, and it is quite an entertaining and unique website.  It is mostly a repository for blogs of all kinds:  story rooms, chat rooms, art rooms, media rooms, etc.

I signed up as henock928 and now have my own room which I have named: "Asta9 ".  But this is all not so relevant to the little story  I want to share here.

Inside Tumbler, there is a blog called "Gabenath Fanblog" which is basically about the (fictional ?) lives of the Agrestes, Gabriel and Nathalie (née Sancoeur).  There is also a third character named Adrien who is Gabriel's son / Nathalie's stepson.

As far as I can figure, the authors/contributors of Gabenath Fanblog must be francophone because I have had to go in and edit (amend) words or phrases that are obviously bad translations from French. Actually, though, I have discovered the blog is originating in Germany.  At any rate, I am here presenting seven little episodes (encounters ) between the characters.  Enjoy!

Episode 1 -

Nathalie: "Where'd the mistletoe come from?"

Gabriel, blushing while staring at Adrien: "Adrien!"

Adrien: "What, someone had to make the first move and clearly neither of you were gonna do it."

Episode 2 -

Adrien: "Nathalie likes it when you’re mysterious."

Gabriel: "Got it."

[later, on his date ...]

Nathalie: "So, dear, where are we going for dinner?"

Gabriel: "None of your business."

Episode 3 -

Nathalie: *hugs Gabriel*
Gabriel: "What is this?"

Nathalie: "Affection?"

Gabriel: "Disgusting."

Nathalie: "..."

Gabriel: "....Do it again."

Episode 4 -

Adrien: "Why are you two holding hands?"

Gabriel: "Studies show it relieves stress."

Adrien: "Oh, okay, I just thought maybe you were dating or something."

Nathalie: "We are. We’re also really stressed."

Episode 5 -

Nathalie: "I was attracted to you first."

Gabriel: "Well, I confessed first."

Nathalie: "I asked you out first."

Nathalie: "And, well, I said ‘I love you’ first."

Gabriel, getting down on one knee: "I proposed first."

Nathalie: "Well, I- WAIT WHAT?"

Episode 6 -

Gabriel: "You know, I really don’t like your last name."

Nathalie: "What’s wrong with Sancoeur?"

Gabriel: "I don’t know... it just doesn’t suit you. You should change it."

Nathalie: "Change it?! To what?!"

Gabriel: "Agreste."

Episode 7 -

Nathalie: "Don’t change the subject."

Gabriel: "What’s the subject?"

Nathalie: " Me. "

Ann Sullivan and Helen Keller - by TPO

Ann Sullivan and Helen Keller

 - by TPO -

On March 3rd, 1887, Anne Sullivan arrived at the Keller's home !
Anne's and Helen Keller's association began on that date and lasted till 1936 when Anne died.
Anne Sullivan - (1866-1936) Helen Keller - (1880-1968)

The Walk Home - By James Tate

The Walk Home *
By James Tate (1943-2015) 

=======================

          I told the doctor I wouldn’t be seeing him again. “No, I guess
you won’t,” he said. I walked out the door feeling really good. Of
course I knew I was going to die, but still the day looked bright to
me. I walked down to the water. Ducks were circling around and about.
A sailboat sailed by. I walked along the shore. The sun beat down
on me. I felt as though I might live forever. I sat down on a bench
and watched the joggers pass. A pretty blonde walked by and I said,
“Hello.” She looked at me and said hello. A man with a greyhound
on a leash walked by. I got up and started to walk. A woodpecker
was pounding on a tree. An airplane flew over, leaving a thick trail of
smoke. I left the lake and walked on up the road. I crossed at the
streetlights and crossed the bridge. A car swerved to miss me. I
thought, that could have been it, the end right there, but I walked on,
bravely dodging the cars. When I got to the residential district, I
felt relieved. There were large elms and maples overhanging the street,
and people pushing baby carriages. Dogs ran loose everywhere. A man
stopped me and asked if I knew where 347 Walnut Street was. I said
I didn’t. He said, “Oh well, it didn’t matter anyway.” I said, “Why?”
He said it was a funeral notice. I walked on, bumping into a fat lady
with a load of groceries. I said I was sorry. She kept going, dropping
a load of grapefruit. Then, further on, there was a giant explosion across
the street. Police and firemen were there right away. It appears it
was a gas main beneath the shop. No one was there, luckily, but the
firetrucks had their hands full. I left before it was out. The shop
was pretty much destroyed. When I got home I was tired. I made
myself a cup of tea and sat down on the couch. I thought about calling
my mother, but she was in heaven. I called her anyway. “Mom, how are
you doing?” I said. “I’m bored. Don’t come here. There’s nothing to
do,” she said. “Aren’t there angels?” I said. “Yes, but they’re boring,”
she said. “But I was going to come see you,” I said. “Go to hell, it’s
more exciting,” she said. I had fallen asleep with my teacup in my
hand. When I awoke I realized I had thought it was a phone. My
mother would never be so sarcastic about heaven.
_____________________________________ 
* Source: Poetry Magazine (January, 2019)
  

Opéra : la Scala de Milan - by TPO

Opéra : la Scala de Milan 

- by (de) TPO -

~ l'une des plus belles salles de théâtre du monde !
~ One of the most beautiful theater halls in the world !!