Back in the World of Lightness and Brightness

There is a collection of light images, elegant works of man and nature, scattered like treasures along the course of civilization, brightening our lives like lampposts along the way.

They string along in our consciousness, a collection of delicate forms, having subliminal influence on our lives, a string of light colored motifs, like a pearl necklace, stringing through time.

One can skip from stone to stone along their path, along the high notes of a piano register, light and sharp and crisp, like ice cubes on crystal, or crystal itself.

It is 21 ballerinas in white, pizzicato notes on a violin, Ravel’s airy flute.

It is the beauty of Greek columns and sculpture, of Bernini’s ivory and Cellini’s silver, of Monet’s dresses, and Louis XV chairs, and Women in White, and glass skyscrapers

There is an elegant journey in our minds, a Wagon Lits ride from Minoan Greece through the Renaissance, Hapsburg Austria, Impressionist France, and Art Nouveau.

It is about art making us feel lighter: Sisley’s light yellow impressions, Overcamp and Brueghel’s snowy landscapes, Chenenceau on the Loire, Swan Lake and white tutus, and Van Eyck’s delicate veiled ladies in white.

There is nature’s list: birch and aspen, white amber, and opal.  There are flute solos, soprano arias, and Mozart.  St. Exupery, T.S. Eliot, and Beloit’s monoplane, and DiMaggio in his home uniform.  It is sails and clouds, and birds singing.

 

 

 

Childhood

Our Oldsmobile has side vents.
Which block the wind when the windows are down.
Or point the air in when you need it.
We follow cars with purple tail lights way ahead.
One car has a broken light that is white.
Our steering wheel is ivory.
The gear shift has a glass knob you can see though.
I sit in front in the middle and sometimes get to shift.
Our Olds is two-toned, white and turquoise.
It has a silver hood ornament, a jet with swept wings.
All the cars on our block are streamlined.
I know all the cars. Dad tests me as we drive.
Pontiacs have four chrome stripes running down the hood
Buicks are round and have holes punched into the side
Mercurys are low and have a toothy grill.
Our Olds Super can outrun the Wilson’s car.
We circle the drive in to get hamburgers and shakes.
A Vespa scooter and Studebaker are in front of us.
They are talking to each other. The Vespa wobbles to stay up.
Dad likes root beer floats at the “A and W” best of all.
Mom likes Dairy Queen hot fudge sundaes.
Some days, we make popcorn and go to the drive-in theater
We park on a bump looking up at the screen. Dad pulls the speakers in.
Kris gets to turn the round button.
It is sunset. The stars are coming out before it is dark.
We kids play on swings under the screen until the cars honk for us.
The “Vista Vision” logo is on the screen. John Wayne’s name appears.
We are just in time.
We have to be quiet. Mom and Dad sit together in front.
We fall asleep during the movie and wake as we pull into our drive
We are carried into the house to bed.

Calling for Katya

Driving in first gear with windows down. Calling out. It is 35 degrees, going to 29.

Looking with high beams for illuminated eyes, a glimpse of white fur under a parked car.

“Kate,” you call repeatedly, but not too loud. You’ve already walked around the block.

“Katya,” “Kate Ann,” … “Kate.”

Of course, she’s okay, you say, just “galvanting” out there, hopefully.

A black cat in a front yard runs around to the back of its house.

Do you go left or right? The cul de sac? Let intuition decide.

Which way would she normally go? You expand the net, working back.

Hopefully, she wouldn’t try to cross busy Osuna Avenue.

You head back: If’ she’s not there, you’ll try walking again, or expanding the grid.

You walk in the house. Sheri says quickly, “Katya’s home.”