ISLAND CABIN

just something from the newspaper




I read that Christ (christus) means the anointed one
meaning anointed with oil
or grist
gristle
and grease
and I guess wishing the machine to work well
grist for the mill


And also reading Into The Wild
taking turns with Noel because he thought of it first.

Which reminded me of a poem by Philip Larkin,
sort of a bookend. Did you ever read this?





Poetry of Departures

Sometimes you hear, fifth-hand,
As epitaph:
He chucked up everything
And just cleared off,
And always the voice will sound
Certain you approve
This audacious, purifying,
Elemental move.

And they are right, I think.
We all hate home
And having to be there:
I detest my room,
It's specially-chosen junk,
The good books, the good bed,
And my life, in perfect order:
So to hear it said

He walked out on the whole crowd
Leaves me flushed and stirred,
Like Then she undid her dress
Or Take that you bastard;
Surely I can, if he did?
And that helps me to stay
Sober and industrious.
But I'd go today,

Yes, swagger the nut-strewn roads,
Crouch in the fo'c'sle
Stubbly with goodness, if
It weren't so artificial,
Such a deliberate step backwards
To create an object:
Books; china; a life
Reprehensibly perfect.