Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Grey is the colour

After Lunch
Idylwyld Inn, London, Ont.
October 3, 2010


Grey is the colour of the pillars on the porch of the Idylwyld Inn; also the colour of the porch floor and the colour of both the hair and the suit of the man sitting on his walker surrounded by family, all of whom just came from the hotel dining room and now stand silently staring at him while he stares at grey porch floor and then someone says "Oh, you brought the Volvo," and, after a lull, someone else says, "Well, this sure is a nice spot," then another lull and the grey man on the walker looks to his left and here comes the Volvo and everyone is suddenly animated with goodbyes -- "Goodbye dad... bye, bye, take care of yourself," and there are hugs and the relief is palpable as dad is put into the Volvo and the sons and daughters and spouses become awkwardly chatty with each other as they take turns reaching in to pat dad on the shoulder one last time, then someone closes dad's door -- Bye dad! they all shout, all smiles now while dad sits alone, hermetically sealed in the unmoving car and the family shuffle on the pavement in silence and then one mutters to another about what kind of hydrangea this is growing in front of the porch and a few others quickly express their own muttered bemusement about the shrub until the driver starts the car and it begins its escape around the circular driveway and onto the street and the family, their backs already turned, search for their own car keys -- no one sees dad's face looking out the window as he's driven away in the Volvo, they barely say goodbye to one another in their haste to their separate (grey) cars, all long exhalations, shoulders dropping as doors unlock, slam shut, engines start; no one waves as one by one they also escape.

Not that it matters, but the hydrangea is 'Annabelle'.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Business Card: Changes

Contents of Phyllis' brown suede purse
November, 2010


Business Card: Changes, Family Hair Care, 'Alisia' handwritten in corner

IGA Receipt for $39.66 with list on back: rubbing alcohol, milk, butter, coffee

Sheet of binder paper folded four times listing grocery items in one corner, the name of a local nursing home in another and the number(s) seven hundred and thirty nine.45 in a third

Three mini post-it note pads

Receipts: Shoppers Drug Mart, Commisso's Food Mart, Jug City

Business Card: Scissors Hair Design, handwritten on back: Dec.15/04 $63 perm & set

Dunlop Seniors Association Membership Card (#637), for the year 2002

Prayer Card from funeral January 10, 1989

Medical Emergency Card, with list handwritten on back: bran flakes, soup, oranges, Kleenex, cold cuts, bread, milk, Javex

Swiss Chalet paper napkin with red lipstick smudge

Receipt from Scissors Hair Design, $14

Ticket Stub, #895933

Four Toonies, One Quarter, Two Dimes, One Nickle, Thirteen Pennies

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

cat dressed as skeleton

Faux titles for paintings
in Painters Eleven exhibit
Museum London, October 2010


Cat Dressed as Skeleton for Halloween
Hydro Lines
Duck and Doughnuts
Laundry in Storm
Mail
Nuclear Beach
Lost: Search and Rescue
Aerial View, Town
Aerial View, Space Town
Costco on Mars
Subdivision Colours
Downtown, Hot Wind
Interior, Dragon's Belly
Robot Eye
Blue Campsite
Vulture and Frog over Arizona Desert
Springs, Snakes, Sand
Glorious Car Crash/Quake
End is Near
Apple Core
HIghschool Disaster
Anchor and Weights/Scales
Burned Smoked Salmnon Pizza
Fiddler on the Greens
Socis in the Drainpipes
Candy
View of Rain Outside Window
Pre-history Colours
Family Tree(s)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

White, White, Carter Empress

243 Westbound Trucks on 401
Between Woodstock and Kitchener
October 6th, 11:05 - 11:20 a.m.


White, White, Carter Empress, Churchill, White, Red, Papineau, Green, Brown, Coke, White, Red, Purple, ITS, GTA Traler, Yellow, Ryder, Mobil, White, White, Cascades, Steel, Black, Silver, White, White, Verspeten, Verspeeten Cartage, 16, Papineau, White, 4, Red, Connors, Midlaw, Turquoise, FedEx, CFI, Ryder, 14, DHL, UPS, M&M, 9, FedEx, 3, TIP, The Rosedale Group, Falcon, 4, White, 3, Muirs, Verspeeten Cartage, Verspeeten Cartage, 3, Sleemans, 8, Ceva, CFI, Warner, 4, Green, Ryder, Belden, Black, White, Orange, Schneiders, Everest, Robert, Donnely Farm, Laidlaw, 7, Green,, 35, Verspeeten Cartage, Silver, CN, Callenger, Chrysler, Westfalia Surge, Autobahn, Blue, 4, Westband, President's Choice, No Name, VTL, Autobahn, White, White, Ryder, Martin, Carger, JTI, Blue, Blue, Shaw's, Discount, White, White, XTL, C.A.T., Robert, 22, President's Choice, Black, TNI, 17, Verspeeten Cartage, White, White, White, MTS, Red, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, Chrysler, MacKinnon, Orange, Lime Green, 19, Ryder, Brookville, Blue, Gibson, MTS, 20, CFI, White, White, Verspeeten Cartage, White, White, White, Celadon, Caal Ark, 12, Red, Lime Green, Lessard, 8, Black.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

young and ancient

List of phrases
found in an old notebook
No idea what I meant by them


young and ancient
the art of the sea
black earth appearing
marriage unique between
salute and burst
a fan of rockets
the tocsins were ringing
fertile still
now to evil, now to good
absorbed and disappear
held together by its land
quelques arpents de neige
Einstein's genius
gravitated like iron
baffled horse-player
guilt-neurosis
attungala
vastness is deceptive
exalt & magnify
against the abstraction
urbar giantism
old men remember their youth
propped against N. America

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Loblaw, Powerade

Canadian Flags seen along the 407,
eastbound from 401 to Brock Road


Loblaw, Powerade Centre, DHL/ABB, Canadian Tire Distribution Centre, factory near Torbram Road exit, Gunnebo, church/mosque near exit 53, Royal Containers Ltd., Jaguar, Courtyard Mariott, some building to the north, IKEA, hotel to the north, McDonalds, something to the north, something (hotel?) to the south, Home Depot, hotel to the north near the 82 km mark, office building to the north, AECOM, office building to the north, something to the south, BMW, Smart Centre.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Fridge (contains peaches...)

Contents of Phyllis' world
Listed between 10:00 a.m. and 10:17 a.m.
August 18th


Fridge (contains peaches, applesauce, milk, Ensure, cranberry juice, green grapes, rye bread, butterscotch pudding, liverwurst), radio, vase with hydrangea, log book, three framed photos, five magnetic on fridge, recycling box, table for plates (2), cup, bowl, one set cutler, water jug, paper towel, butter, salt, peanut butter, cutting board (dad made), placemat, teatowel, dish rag, shoes (1 pair, black), slippers (1 pair, pink), three sets sheets (green, navy, tan), pillowcases (several), three hand-crotched afghans, one bed, one bedspread (brown geometric), one recliner, one patio chair, one clock, gel seat pat (used on recliner and wheelchair), wheelchair, walker, burgundy fleece blanket, two boxes Kleenex (tulip motif), one coffee mug with dad's picture on it smoking a cigar (holds four pens and two crochet hooks), basket of wool (white, red, brown/beige twist), xmas cactus in lime green pot, fake sunflowers in yellow pot, phone (not connected), floor lamp, toiletries, clothes, commode, tv (not hooked up), bulletin board with more photos, lampe berger, plunger, extra paper towel, extra juice, blue and white polka dot visor, hot water bottle (red), extra dish cloths and tea towels, little side table that dad made, two end tables (dad made one), laundry basket (plastic, white), edelweiss doily under table lamp, five pillows (two on bed; one on recliner; two on patio chair, one of whihc is burgundy crushed velvet trimmed in gold braid), curtains, yodelling woodchuck (yodel is prompted by pressing woodchuck's belly), two magazines, "Don't Forget" magnet holding up DNR form, daisies and yellow things resembling dandelions in a cup, needle, spool of grey thread.

Friday, July 23, 2010

other words


From Confessions of an Advertising Man, (Dell, 1963)
by David Ogilvy
'How to Write Potent Copy'

"...Other words and phrases which work wonders are HOW TO, SUDDENLY, NOW, ANNOUNCING, INTRODUCING, IT'S HERE, JUST ARRIVED, IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVEMENT, AMAZING, SENSATIONAL, REMARKABLE, REVOLUTIONARY, STARTLING, MIRACLE, MAGIC, OFFER, QUICK, EASY, WANTED, CHALLENGE, ADVICE TO, THE TRUTH ABOUT, COMPARE, BARGAIN, HURRY, LAST CHANCE...[and] can be strengthened by... DARLING, LOVE, FEAR, PROUD, FRIEND, and BABY. One of the most provocative advertisements which has come out of our agency showed a girl in a bathtub, talking to her lover on the telphone. The headline: 'Darling, I'm having the most extraordinary experience... I'm head over heels in DOVE.'"

Thursday, June 24, 2010

holly, heather, blossom

People spoken with more than a few times,
to make arrangements for Phyllis' care,
on returning to her own home after hospital
June 10-18


Holly, Heather, Blossom, Claire, Kristin, Pam, Dalane, Nicole, Catherine, Karen, Bev, Sandy, Lynn, Annabelle, Pat, Cheryl, Susan, Myra, Regine, Jennifer, Katarina, Adelle, Ruth, Joan, Cathy, Sandra, Sarah, Camilla, Cindy, Sharon, Beverley, Joanna, Tanya, Darlene, Helen, Tammy, Courtney, Debbie, Petula, Diane, Donna, Kelly, Lois, Gloria, Pat, Karen, Dawn, Karen, Christine, Nora, Irene, Carlene, Maureen, Wanda, Laura.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

ataraxisa, barista

South African Wine Tasting
Wychwood Barns, Toronto
June 9; 6:30 p.m.


Ataraxia, Barista, Boekenhoutskloof, Reyneke Wines, Belllingham, Beyerskloof, Boschendal, Cloof, De Grendel, De Toren, Delheim, Durbanville Hills, Fairview, Flagstone, Fleur du Cap, Glen Carlou, Graham Beck Wines, Hoopenberg, The Juno Wine Company, Ken Forrester, Kumkani, La Motte, Laborie, Lammershoek Winery, Leopards's Leap, Meerlust, Overgaauw, Post House, Slent Farms, Spice Route, Springfeild Estate, Stellenzicht, The Winery of Good Hope, Tokara.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

apple plum dumplings, apricots

Phyllis, May 31,
2nd day in Emerg

Apple plum dumplings, apricots, why am I thinking of apple dumplings, isn't it funny how the mind works. I'll bet dad has another one, wouldn't it be funny if when I get to heaven, there he is sitting with his arm around someone. Oh no, I wouldn't get angry, I'd laugh, just what I expected, I'd say, and then behind her back I'd shove in a big needle. Where am I? Is this a hotel? I'm ready to go, I have no purpose anymore. Why are people here if they have no purpose? Your eyes are blue, so blue. Funny how you forget these things. No, I'm not thirsty or hungry or cold or uncomfortable. I'm nothing. Where do you live, it's in a forest, right? Near water. I thought so. A forest and water, that's what I remember. How far is it? Fifteen minutes by car? That's too far to walk, I don't think I'd make it. My mother was a good mother. I'm not sure why. I can't remember why she was good, what made her so good, what she did. I'll never be that good. You have to run after kids. All the time. Every day, all day. It adds up. I guess I don't have to do that anymore. Time goes by, where are those years? If dad was still here everything would be okay.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

planted, peppers: eight

Two-four weekend,
Garden status


Planted, peppers: eight jalapeno, seven bulgarian carrot, eight italian roaster; planted, tomatoes: three stupice, three sugary, three galina's, three sioux, three azoychka, three eva purple ball, three abraham lincoln, three giant belgian, three sylvana's from work; planted, cucumbers: eight armenian, four english; planted: eight basil, four egglplant, five swiss chard, four morning glories (heavenly blue), three chilean flowering vines, eight kale; to be planted: 4 celery, four cauliflower, one dill, two oregano, two thyme, one parsley, eight kale, eight morning glories (heavenly blue), three flowering chilean vines, thirty six nasturtiums, three swiss chard, twelve white impatiens, one sage, two rhubarb, ten asparagus; already growing: asparagus, radish, chives, tarragon, blackberries, red currants, gooseberries, horseradish, feverfew, lemon balm, peppermint, raspberries, coriander, mesclun, arugula, dill, spring onions, sorrel, garlic, tarragon, catnip.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

it follows

Letter received from Austria,
Composed via computer-translation,
German to English


It follows my first letter in English. I hope, which translates the computer the language so half-way clearly. It does me grief, which I have written so long not. Thank you for your last letter. Have pleased me very. At us there is not so far much new to report. Our son has in June it Driver's license made and bought itself immediately a car. As one says so beautifully: small children, small cares; large children, large cares. Meanwhile I am quieted however already very, for he/it drives very carefully. He/it loves his car over everything. He/it also still a nice friend, with who he/it understands itself very well. So we become slowly however surely always "ripe". On the whole we are however very proudly of our young. K. is already in that 3. year of apprenticeship of the education to the insurance merchant and comes in that February to the Militaer. W. graduates from still a school year and wants in the next year also one Profession learn. The work does not goes out us also, since we have to make still very much at the house. To it During is expanded over the winter the second floor and the loft. In that We want to begin spring with the facade. We are pleased already, if the dirt once an end will have. Beside small routine complaints is at us really everything healthy and lively. I hope it also from you. I report again with greetings and wish you by then.
love and assets,

Friday, April 30, 2010

pronounced oh mee mee


Information
Omemee, Ont.


Pronounced oh mee mee, that's right; Neil Young lived at 33 King, liked to fish with a hook on the end of a string, got a farm in Cavan now; Lady Eaton did something here too, grew up? spent the summers?, yeah, her family's house is a coffee shop; Legion's the only place to get a drink, and only when they do a supper, gotta buy a supper ticket, five bucks or seven bucks, then you can buy a beer for extra, no place else to get a drink except the LCBO, ha!, that's the truth; had a rock concert here last night, Coronation Hall, remember Mainline?, that guy; you gotta see the Rock and Roll Museum, everybody says it's great what's it doing in Omemee everybody says, lotta Neil Young stuff and other stuff; yeah, we moved from the 'burbs, terrible neighours, got fifteen acres now; excuse me a minute, hello? I don't know, ask your dad, I don't know, I'm busy, ask your dad, sorry about that; Ruby's got the best cheesecake, won't sell the recipe, some guy came in from the city, some company, she didn't care, said no way is she gonna sell it no matter the money, gotta call ahead, goes fast; daughter engaged last night, guy came in all nervous and said I'd like to marry Ashley, oh and I forgot to tell you, my son had his baby today, so whaddya think, when's that rain's supposed to come?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

fifty one

Fifteen minutes,
Path through ravine,
Whitby, Ont.


Fifty one altogether: nineteen bits of general debris; 6 cans; eight coffee cups; five lids; 3 glass bottles; nine plastic ones, and one giant piece of styrofoam.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

you're thinking

Stuart Ross Workshop, March 27, 2010
Above Furby House Books, Port Hope
Excerpt from a Project (Don't Call it An Exercise)


You're thinking of this guy who tore up the lawn in front of his house and how he pulled out the fat white grubs and drowned them in a white bucket and how when you walked by his house he said: wanna see a grub? You're thinking how he replaced the lawn with spruce trees and lily-of-the-valley and how eventually a forest grew in front of his living room window and the neighbours said: how odd. Then he pulled up the backyard too and planted lilacs and raspberry bushes and he didn't have a car or a wife or children and was always taking the bus and coming home with bags of things and giving you heart-shaped boxes on Valentines Day. You're thinking how he died one May and how they found his house filled with fine china and chocolate and about the jam on your toast as you drank tea from a thin blue cup he gave you and how the neighbours said: that's probably worth something.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

weed man

On Foot
The Neighbourhood
April 13th, 6pm


Weed man sign, nutri lawn sign, weed man, weed man, buds on magnolia tree, weed man, eco something lawn care, robin, smiling woman with hose watering air, weed man, weed man, weed man, boy age 5 maybe, hockey sticking tennis ball along street, tap, tap, WHACK, doesn't look up, I move just in the nick of time, mother says nothing as they pass, smiles; I think: poor allowed-to-be-completely-self-involved kid who people will seriously dislike one day; weed man, tiny girl of maybe 8 in helmet and bedazzled jacket, tiny denim shorts over tight black leggings, tiny bedazzled sandals, painted toenails, ankle bracelet, riding a two wheeler with attitude; I think: she'll be 24 any day now; weed man, weed man, grandmotherly woman small in pink sweatpants and beige Henry Fonda hat, hunched over, pulling child on miniature tricycle; weed man, two women different ages exact same height walking, dusty black cat in red collar, child says hi Simon, cat rolls over for belly rub then stands waiting for same height women walkers then me to do same, street basketball, weed man, weed man, weed man, skateboard ramps, BBQ at side of road with taped on sign: FREE; stony four of spades playing card, weed man, robin.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

my friend serge

From 'ART' by Yasmina Reza
The Canadian Stage Company
April 3rd, Matinee


My friend Serge, a canvas, white, diagonal lines, oldest friend, lusting after white lines, 200,000 francs, collection, you’re not in the right place, look at it from this angle, you paid 200,000 francs? new style, intellectuals, nostalgia merchants; would like to know what you mean by shit, how can you assert that any given object that doesn’t conform is shit; couldn’t begin to understand how my friend Serge spent 200,000 on white; looking for top to my pen, infuriating, objects, there are degrees of white, if it makes him happy, he can afford it; I’m disturbed, very fond of Serge, groping my way into world; the resonance you get from something monochromatic; crazy or what, with him I’m a block of ice, why can’t you admit, atrophying, you laughed, then he laughed, who laughed first? what made him laugh? laughing to ingratiate you; you can’t hate what’s invisible, poetic impulse, too thin skinned, I lack judgment; read Seneca; to me he’s a god, wouldn’t fork out for a mere mortal; read Seneca; white flowers on a white background; you are an amoeba, obsequious, something I abhor, piss on, you find these colours touching? there are no colours!—who are you to— I’m leaving; if you go you’re giving in to him; a man of his time, plays his part in fundamental dynamic of evolution, motel painting, deep anxiety, cry for help, perpetual display of mistrust, can’t love the person who bought this painting; opinion, the way she waves away cigarette smoke, wearily malicious, life-denying woman; I didn’t replace you with Paula, when you judged things by my standards, I loved how you saw me, flattered, desperate to find, end of fifteen year friendship, close to tears, apocalypse because of—it’s not white—white shit—I’m starving, let’s go eat—absurdly virtuous, complicated, under the white clouds, the snow is falling, can’t see, my friend serge.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

open the door

Judy Collins
Hugh's Room, Toronto
April 1st, 2010


Open the door, glad to see you; clouds, another show, don’t let them know, give and take; a million poppies laid, grateful prayers prayed; pockets full of sand, no place to go; Southern Colorado, when he comes to call; take that away; won the heart of the lady; hurry home; in the merry month of May, a young man, my true love you’re dying, mother, mother, I’ll die for him tomorrow; stole him from the misty mountains, thirteen shelves of drugs won’t heal him; the colours of my father’s dreams, boating on the Seine I’d learn to dance; homeless men in the cold, big city blue where dreams can’t go wrong, mountain girl; Marrika; children like your own; eyes bluer in the Midwest, cufflinks, diamonds, a legend, vagabond vague, loved you already; with a voice as soft as thunder, I dream; young girls, will they ever learn; go to war, my ribbon in a box, doin’ fine, brave and free; just when you mean to tell her, lonely wooden tower, sailors, his mind; never sang to one man before a million times, lilies and lakes; you in mid-air, next year; rainbow highway, skies dare to dream, lemon drops find me.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

not a lot

wine tasting, 6:45 p.m.
wednesday, march 24th
toronto, ontario


Not a lot of new oak, recommend ’06 to start, 100% natural yeast, think library wine, even better, think ’07 in a year or two, much warmer, 41 days over 35 degrees Celsius, good to finally meet you, biodynamically farmed, top of hill, 30 cases left in winery, barrel tasting, one time thing actually, rusty shiraz, shoulda started that 30 years ago, baby duck, no no, just joking around with ya, I have two kids, I like them better at different times, some days better, Europeans, limestone expresses itself in different ways, the answer is perfume and complexity, I like your name, Toma, what a great name, a year younger, different wine different year, exuberant, my wife, Wilma, you were there for that, first time I tried it, smelled it, very clear, England, we can still make price point, over there $40 chards, sauv blanc, has no mallo, no mallolactic, ’08 was hot, a good vintage, limestone, pretty fresh, finishing off, not so mallo, acidity, harsh tannin, times five, anyway, nice to see you, $55, only $30 overpriced, keep on making it, it’s a lousy pinot noir, Burgundians, they’re beautiful.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

looking at you makes me think

Phyllis' apartment
pre dinner comments
March 23, 5:20 - 5:25 p.m.

Looking at you makes me think: how old am I if this is my daughter?? Where are my cigarettes? It's not nice outside today, grey. Too bad dad's not sitting here, I'd like to look at him. I hope he's got somebody else, he must have or he'd come get me; he doesn't like to be alone. Why am I still here? Why am I so down, so tired? I used to be somebody, I used to tell people what to do; just ask Phyllis they'd say, she knows everything; now I don't know what day it is, I don't know anything. Is it 5:30 yet? When is supper? Did I eat already? Dad shouldn't have died. I'm nobody now. Don't comb my hair so rough, it's like you're peeling potatoes. How would you like it?

Friday, March 12, 2010

lost tribes

cafe, whitby, ontario
conversation at next table
12:15 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.


Lost tribes of Israel, brilliant, keep it simple, watched Jimmy Swaggart, in the fridge, never regained back, Jimmy preaching ya know? preaching and telling you, these hired guys, that's the whole thing, large salad, murderer, exactly, I never thought of it that way, my computer, my cell phone, all those people, three hours, I need my peace in the morning, I need my tea, foosball table downstairs, she's gonna get it next week, all this stuff, yeah, my dad, her dad, most men, they're doing something with her, I did enjoy that but I said ya know what, so I'm not going to seniors' days, Saturday night, before you guys come, some men do, I went through daycare, I didn't even know at that point, forty-one, if I'm pregnant, I'll scream, menopause, my mum, fifty-two, was pregnant, needles, epidural, my daughter in labour twenty-four hours, baby, intensive care unit, caesarean, my son so scared, suction, four big grown men, trying to get out of birth canal, nobody cares, need to look at hospital, put them aside, eighty-one year old lady, no hope for her, how much she hurts people, I just want to ask a question, painful now, I can listen to her, healing process, supposed to be you, later, wanted to ask you about something that happened at court today and what you thought about it, so anyway, such a responsibiltiy, this person, you're going to fall down, he lied to her, said his wife left him and had adultery, god spoke to her, said she'd done something bad so she left him with friends looking at her like she's nuts, wow they keep saying, he's trying, he's living with the lord now, just ignore it.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

wake

Posada Robles de Besares
Chacras de Coria, Argentina
February 27, 3:30ish a.m.


Wake to room rocking, silent and dark, building shakes like angry giant in next room rearranging furniture, or maybe just Peter; groggy with sleep but who can sleep with room moving, then he appears out of darkness, says did you feel that, the earthquake, points to wildly swinging chandelier, and I wake, completely, and say Earthquake? I thought it was you.

thirty something minutes

Santiago to Mendoza
LAN Airlines
February 25, 2010


Thirty something minutes across, meet tall stranger with sign, Fernando, silver car, tinted windows, drives to posada past empty broken factories, faded crayon shops; in our room---in landscaped garden behind cement walls topped with barbed wire, remote control gate, security cameras and two well fed Rottweilers---all is peaceful; other dogs (also Rottweilers behind also gates?) bark in not so distant distance, everything seems close here, even mountains; outside fence, cars, usually small, dented and old, no hubcaps (what's the point?), race past; graffiti everywhere the way it is in places people have no voice, no other way of being heard above the sound of dogs; silenced until all they can think to say is fuck off, and even that in artistic shapes and bright colours.

open window, no screen

2nd Floor, Hotel,
Santiago, Chile
February 24, 2010


Open window, no screen, sheers tied back with yellow plastic bag (once held goat cheese, fruit, homemade bread); makeshift patio, chairs pulled up, wine (Chilean sauv blanc) poured; A/C unit nests in window box, thick wires bound with duct tape, horns honk, cabs hailed, u-turns made, people pass, pass each other, cars too, noise noise; large trees, leaves like maple, line street, green grass embankment next to always brown river, bikes, cellphones next to ears, cars cars, tires, horns, noise, laptops slung heavy over shoulders, man, ragged, steps into bushes, turns hunched back to street, pulls wallet from pocket, counts pesos, coins only, no bills.

los elefantes

Patio behind Hotel Casa de Campo
Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, Chile
February 23, 2010


Half moon, media luna, over hills that look like several elephants who've eaten a boa constrictor; Peter's hiking boot props open back door to our room, large pots scattered on lawn around two-wheel-buggy meant for horse power; sun gone down, los Andes invisible, elephant hills still showing trees, valleys, soon to be sihouettes; air cools, earth smell, family lighting bbq, half moon bright, high high high at 8:30 p.m., one star above closest elephant, another below moon; murmers of bbq-ers, birds caw from dark fields between rows of recently planted vines, Carmenere or Malbec, Peter thinks; music from distant farm, no, from bbq-ers, sound travels strangely, plays tricks (bounces off elephants?).

truck with melons

From Car Window
Enroute to Errazuriz, Chile
February 20, 2010


Truck with melons, desert, valleys, occasional cow, goat, horse, grazing, scattered homes, people in folding chairs at side of highway, rocks, cactus, dust, hills, more people, middle of nowhere selling (water?) to people who don't stop to buy, men in distance do abstract work, stare at ground, poke at pavement with stick, burn debris, clusters of shack villages, factory, horses grazing, black smoke behind shack farm, shack greenhouses, huge field, small red flowers, horse, plough, gas station, men with hoes, hot hot sun, thin shade tucked into plump orchard.