if a day is
a container for us
to be happy in
why this light that
imbues the leaden fields...?
Image: Warrawong Plaza on a bright morning recently. After Philip Larkin’s poem Days
And for music today, here’s some laid back jazz with vibe guy Bobby Hutcherson from the 1994 remaster of the 1966 album Components (Youtube).
what to write? what to write? dawn, and in rushes poem enunciates ocean eucalypt bird factory traffic and so on...
Image: The muses, Emmy Towsey (Taussig) and Evelyn Ippen, Bodenwieser, Ballet in Centennial Park, Sydney, c.1939, photo Max Dupain c/- State Library of NSW on Flickr. I know, not a strict tanka today.
And for music today here’s The Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic with Masquerade. The whole album is a lush delicious bath. Released in 2018, the album features The Carpenters’ original vocal and instrumental tracks accompanied by new orchestral arrangements by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Richard Carpenter produced, arranged and conducted. (Youtubers: Masquerade, Album)
for Megan & Guy
i found you luminous on a shelf over rows of unseasoned woks 100-year-old eggs, cellophane pungency and coriander still wet from the fields wrapped in the Chinese Daily.Continue reading
the expressway snarls over Sydney’s grand icon another train clatters below a grey heron stalks the shore silent and serious
Image: David Moore, Sydney Harbour after sunrise, looking east c. 1963 c/- David Moore Photography
Today’s musical offering is some deep listening by Stockholm sound artist Ellen Arkbro For Organ and Brass (it’s only three tracks but Mountain of Air is a good place to start).
squall is closing in and i’ve barely begun today's cardio peonies nod, spilling rain abundantly as i pass
Image: Yes, that’s an early bee in there – sheltering from La Niña
Today’s musical offering is the Australian jazz duo Ben Marston (trumpet) and Hugh Barrett (keyboards) with their 2018 album Unfound Places
i’m seeing lots of blue
blue bays, fantastic tans & white-
washed cliff top churches
come pilgrim, come traveller
— weekend magazine
Image: Morning over the Mediterranean, Turkey, years ago.
For music this morning, jazz from 1960 with pianist Bill Evans and guitarist Jim Hall in Undercurrent. And here’s the dream-like cover photo from American photographer Toni Frissell, “Weeki Wachee Spring, Florida”.
grasses in profusion
beautify the freeway
unmown, the median strip
hides oncoming traffic
— all I see is wildflowers
Image: Local traffic this morning.
And this morning’s musical offering from Canadian gamelan orchestra – Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan – with their album – Solo. Start anywhere – perhaps – Gamelan Solo 1 – Wood – perfect for writing a well balanced tanka or two.
sunrise, how many i’ve seen already this year each says change your life — today began so well then rain on my roof 'til dusk
Image: Clouds, Sun and Sea’ 1952 – Max Ernst (1891 – 1976)
Today’s musical offering – (more hammering I’m afraid) – Australian composer Ross Edwards with marimba-iste and percussion black belt Michael Askill with Marimba Dances
In the room the air has sides cornered, delimited floor to ceiling a dragonfly (call it thought) clatters against the glass
Image: Waiting room, Wollongong Hospital.
And today’s musical offering, in keeping with the mallet theme of yesterday’s pick, here’s jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson from 1968 (tho not released until 1980…what were they thinking?) with his album Patterns (pick any track you like – it’s all gold – a favourite: Nocturnal – just the ticket for writing tanka…)
the coleus
cuttings have flourished
seven clones now
jungle my bookshelves
mauve drape my dictionary
Image: Never let anyone give you one of these things, they’ll take over…
Today’s musical choice: Japanese ambient artist Masayoshi Fujita with his latest: Led by a Blue Bird into the Mountains (some lovely mallet work by that birdy)
Peter Frankis writes 