High Coo – Nov 1 – National Authors Day

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My favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. You may recall one or two of his better-known novels: Cats Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five or Breakfast of Champions.

Vonnegut was born in Indiana on November 11, 1922 and continued until April 11, 2007. As he would have said, “So it goes.” For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut

On a similar timeline…. “In 1928, the president of the Illinois Women’s Club, Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, came up with the idea to create a day that recognized American authors. …The inspiration for the holiday came while she was in the hospital during the First World War. She had just read Irving Bacheller’s “Eben Holden’s Last Day A-Fishing” and sent a letter to him expressing her love for the book.

After receiving the letter, he responded by forwarding a signed copy of another one of his stories to her. McPherson, overwhelmed by his generosity, thought of a way to repay the gesture. She concluded that a national day for authors would do the trick and presented the idea to the Generation Federation of Women’s Clubs. The club approved, and in May 1929, issued an endorsement to celebrate American Authors on National Author’s Day….

McPherson’s granddaughter, Sue Cole, took on the responsibility of promoting the holiday when her grandmother passed away in 1968. She urges people to send appreciation notes to their favorite authors to celebrate their contributions towards making life easier. The idea is to recognize all the people who have contributed to American literature.” https://nationaltoday.com/national-authors-day/

It’s too late for me to send an appreciation note to Kurt Vonnegut but I can share my appreciation for him on this holiday.

Who is your favorite author? Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, J.K. Rowling, someone else?

Today’s haiku: National Authors Day

Your book set the hook

your story reeled me in –

caught by your word lures

BTW: November is National Novel Writing Month. https://nationaltoday.com/national-novel-writing-month/

High Coo – Oct 31 – Happy Halloween?

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Three thoughts for today:

First, the Christian religion co-opts another pagan holiday (the Celtic New Year on November 1) with All Hallows’ Evening and Scottish and Irish children go door-to-door reciting poetry, singing, telling jokes and doing tricks for free food. Centuries later the religious holiday is co-opted by secular marketeers. Is turnabout fair play? https://nationaltoday.com/halloween/

Second, I’m scheduled for a hospital visit today for a KUB ultrasound to determine if my kidney stone has moved and what the next steps will be for its demise. What might my trick or treat be today?

Third, I’m scheduled to give a poetry reading in 5 weeks at a local Indie bookstore and cafe. It will be my first reading there so I’m excited and a little frightened at the same time. I would appreciate any advice you would offer.

Today’s haiku: Happy Halloween?

fear and joy unite

laughing and shrieking today –

what horrors await?

High Coo – Oct 30 – Visit a Cemetery Day

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“Visit a Cemetery Day is a holiday that takes place every last Sunday in October. This year it falls on October 30. It is a day that allows us to honor the life of those who are gone. It is a chance to admit that, though they’re no longer physically with us, we still have them in our memories. It is a day when people go to the gravesite of friends and families who have left this world.

WHY VISIT A CEMETERY DAY IS IMPORTANT

To honor the dead – On this special holiday, we get to honor those who have gone before us. It is good to cherish the memories they left behind.
Understand life better – When we visit the cemetery, we get a better insight into life and appreciate that we must cherish it.
Helps to remember the dead – On Visit a Cemetery Day, we get to recall the times we spent with departed loved ones. We remember all the things they’ve done for us and the memories we shared.” https://nationaltoday.com/visit-a-cemetery-day/

Today’s humble haiku: Visit a Cemetery Day

There for us in life

we are there for you in death

Together we rest

High Coo – Oct 29 – Feed the Birds Day

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Welcome

Wild Birds Unlimited – http://www.wbu.com

“Today, the British Royal Society for the Protection of Birds celebrates Feed the Birds Day. R.S.P.B. advises people to put out food and water for birds regularly. These can be kept in safe environments where the birds can land, rest and replenish themselves. Birds can be in danger of malnutrition during colder months. The weather naturally limits the amount of food the birds get access to in the wild.

WHY RSPB FEED THE BIRDS DAY IS IMPORTANT

It raises awareness – The holiday contributes to the conservation of wild birds. People are made aware of the problems birds encounter and how to help them.
It protects birds – People are more likely to help birds as a result of the holiday. Birds have easier access to food and water, which makes it easier for them to survive.
It helps the environment – Birds play a vital role in the ecology. They aid in the maintenance of a healthy environmental balance. Protecting them contributes to environmental protection.”

RSPB Feed the Birds Day

See https://nationaltoday.com/rspb-feed-the-birds-day

And let us not forget Mary Poppins song to Feed the Birds

Though her words are simple and few
“Listen, listen”, she’s calling to you
“Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag”

Songwriters: R.M. Sherman, R.B. Sherman
For non-commercial use only.
Data From: Musixmatch

Today’s haiku: Feed the Birds

we all need some help

from time to time – remember

to pay it forward

For more information on how to feed the birds see advice from Wild Birds Unlimited at https://www.wbu.com/get-started/

High Coo – Oct 28 – Love and Fear and Smiling

High Coo – Oct 27 – Happy Birthday Dylan Thomas

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Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas born Oct 27, 1914, died Nov 9, 1953, in NYC at the age of 39.

Famous for the line “do not go gentle into that good night“, Thomas described himself as a “roistering, drunken and doomed poet“. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas)

Considered one of the great English language modern poets of the 20th Century, Thomas developed and maintained his popularity through his radio recordings.

His poetic style was suggested to be influenced by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Thomas Hardy, James Joyce, D. H. Lawrence among others. Dylan Thomas responded that his greatest influence was Mother Goose:

“I should say I wanted to write poetry in the beginning because I had fallen in love with words. The first poems I knew were nursery rhymes and before I could read them for myself I had come to love the words of them. The words alone. What the words stood for was of a very secondary importance … I fell in love, that is the only expression I can think of, at once, and am still at the mercy of words, though sometimes now, knowing a little of their behaviour very well, I think I can influence them slightly and have even learned to beat them now and then, which they appear to enjoy. I tumbled for words at once. And, when I began to read the nursery rhymes for myself, and, later, to read other verses and ballads, I knew that I had discovered the most important things, to me, that could be ever.” Myers, Jack; Wukasch, Don (2003). Dictionary of Poetic Terms. University of North Texas Press, U.S. ISBN 978-1-57441-166-9.

Unfortunately, the talented Dylan Thomas died far too early from advanced bronchopneumonia disguised by excessive drinking. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas)

Here is today’s homage haiku: Happy Birthday Dylan Thomas

Such a silly goose

no ugly duckling you – drink,

drank, drunk, dreary death

The White Horse Tavern in New York City, where Thomas was drinking shortly before his death.

High Coo – Oct 26 – Storied Strings p.3

High Coo – Oct 25 – Storied Strings p.2

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Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art

OCT 8, 2022 – MARCH 19, 2023, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Highly recommend this creative historical display in Richmond, VA. (https://vmfa.museum/exhibitions/exhibitions/storied-strings-guitar-american-art/)

This project includes beautiful paintings, photos, and many guitars and musical recordings. Examples include:

*Jessie with Guitar*, 1957, Thomas Hart Benton (American, 1889–1975), oil on canvas, 42 x 30 ½ in. Jessie Benton Collection © 2022 T.H. and R.P. Benton Trusts / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

*Odetta*, 1958, Otto Hagel (American, b. Germany, 1909–1973), gelatin silver print, 13 9/16 x 10 9/16 in. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, Hansel Mieth/Otto Hagel Archive, 98.117.66. © Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona Foundation.

Today’s homage haiku: Storied Strings p.2

pretty troubadour

with musical companion

your song sets us free

https://vmfa.museum/pressroom/news/vmfas-original-exhibition-storied-strings-guitar-american-art-opens-october-8/

High Coo – Oct 24 – Storied Strings

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Attended the VMFA’s Original Exhibition Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art. VFMA is the very impressive Virginia Museum of Fine Arts based in Richmond, VA. See https://vmfa.museum/pressroom/news/vmfas-original-exhibition-storied-strings-guitar-american-art-opens-october-8/

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is the only art museum in the United States open 365 days a year with free general admission. For additional information, visit www.VMFA.museum.

I will share more in the days to come.

In the meantime, here is today’s haiku: Storied Strings

Pluck, slide or strum it

fingerpick, if you prefer –

music anywhere

Astronaut Chris Hadfield records first song in space @ the Verge

High Coo – Oct 23 – Happy Birthday Randy Pausch

Life Matters

CHOOSE LOVE

High Coo – Nov 1 – National Authors Day

High Coo – Oct 31 – Happy Halloween?

High Coo – Oct 30 – Visit a Cemetery Day

WHY VISIT A CEMETERY DAY IS IMPORTANT

High Coo – Oct 29 – Feed the Birds Day

WHY RSPB FEED THE BIRDS DAY IS IMPORTANT

High Coo – Oct 28 – Love and Fear and Smiling

High Coo – Oct 27 – Happy Birthday Dylan Thomas

High Coo – Oct 26 – Storied Strings p.3

High Coo – Oct 25 – Storied Strings p.2

Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art

High Coo – Oct 24 – Storied Strings

High Coo – Oct 23 – Happy Birthday Randy Pausch