Friday, July 31, 2009

The Poem Peddler: Conclusion

"What are my dreams?" he asked.
I nodded.
He stood up from his typewriter.
He moved like someone entirely comfortable in his own skin.
"To play my clarinet," he said.
And then he did.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Poem Peddler: Paragraph Two with a tip of the hat to Julie

"I've got friends in town," he said.
"I like it here, swimming in the river, hiking the mountain."
"Will you write me a poem?" I asked.
"Sure," he said. "What about?"
"Anything you'd like," I said.
"Oh, that will cost you more, $5," he said.
I nodded and he wrote me a poem about the sidewalk, the parking lot, the people, and the mountain. It was a good poem.
"Are you managing okay?" I asked.
"I make enough to pay my rent," he said.
"What are your dreams?" I asked.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Poem Peddler: Paragraph One

"I'm from Portland, Maine," he said.

"I worked on a farm the last two years.
Thought I might try something different."
"Why Brattleboro?" I asked.



Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Poem Peddler: Introduction

He had several people hovering around him when I caught sight of him yesterday.
I waited until he was alone.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Wedding procession down Main Street

Yesterday, through my open window I heard
the exuberant sound of a Dixie Land Band
and discovered a wild and wonderful wedding procession
strolling down Main Street.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

the view from the riverview cafe

the sun was slipping down in the west
casting her long summer gaze across the connecticut river
lighting up the foot of the bridge
giving a celestial weight to this pronouncement

Friday, July 24, 2009

skywatch friday: sky journal

Ken Leslie painted his piece of Vermont sky over and over.
This is a section of the installation of the resulting "Sky Journal" at the Bennington Museum.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

the poet peddler

I saw him last week for the first time
sitting on the cement, leaning against a wall near the co-op.
At Farmer's Market yesterday
he had moved to a bench.
People stop and spend time with him.
Sometimes he types away on that manual typewriter.
I haven't spoken with him yet. 

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

like a bird blown off course

last winter he was waist deep in snow.
perhaps he's a tad overdressed for summer in Vermont
but he seems a rather 'good-natured' gent,
wouldn't you say?

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

curiosity calicoed the cat

or perhaps mother nature did

Monday, July 20, 2009

Monochrome Monday: garden view at the B&B

the garden holds secrets
that the birds reveal
occasionally, in their unguarded moments.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

constant gardeners

nearly every residence
is blessed by at least one
avid gardener
our season may be short
but our passion for playing in the dirt
is immeasurable

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Future CDPB participants

photography camp 101:
lessons in lighting.

Friday, July 17, 2009

skywatch friday: night sky

taken a couple of weeks ago
when the moon was nearly full.
apologies for the quality (or lack thereof) of this shot
i know squat about night photography
but then you've already figured that out, haven't you

Thursday, July 16, 2009

This Old House Thursday: A nice place to have a wedding

Yesterday's red door 
led to the carriage house
belonging to this stunning bed and breakfast
on Putney Road.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

number five

so much depends upon a red door
under a gray sky
beside a riot of clematis

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

retaining wall

A year ago this wall modestly did the work for which it was intended.
Now it has been draped in native robes by a local artist and celebrated for its color.
But beneath the adornment it is still a gray retaining wall,
quietly going about its business.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Under Construction

The church on Main Street
shivers in her bare wood
chemise

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Obsession 2

Here's another view of the smoke tree.
Have you ever found yourself returning over and over to the same object?
What object was it?
And why, do you think, did you keep going back to it?

Saturday, July 11, 2009

obsession

half way down the block
a smoke tree, cloaked in magic,
draws me back repeatedly

Friday, July 10, 2009

sky with crane

What a clever group you are.
I was, indeed, in the beautiful city of Chicago.

Now we're back to blissful little Brattleboro
where even the cranes feel compelled to make art out of their surroundings.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Where in the USA was brattcat?




It was a business trip,
but it was packed with pleasure.
Can anyone guess which city stole my heart these past few days?

Monday, July 6, 2009

Tapirgal's search

When Tapirgal realized her ancestors once lived in my neck of the woods,
she spoke about trying to find the old homestead.
I accepted the challenge and went prowling up the West River Valley to Townshend.
Above is the site where I believe Tapirgal's family once endured the long Vermont winters.

This garage/shed sits, I believe, where once there was a farmhouse
belonging to W. Joy (Tapirgal's ancestor)
It's possible this house might have been the one in Tapirgal's family
but using her directions and a map of our own
our best guess is that her family worked and played
in a house that once stood at the site of that red garage on the left.

I'll be out of town for a couple of days.
See you all soon.


Sunday, July 5, 2009

house for sale, 96 Western Avenue

Built: 1890
Square Feet: 1,235
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1
Price: $139,900

One of the best deals in Brattleboro if you ask me.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

House for sale, 96 Western Avenue

the front of the house faces a busy avenue
the back looks over the crowns of trees.
in the autumn these trees will turn gold and red and orange.
in the winter the dear little whetstone brook trips along far below.
Happy Fourth to all who are observing the holiday.
Tomorrow I'll reveal the house's exterior and the price.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Thursday, July 2, 2009

House for sale, 96 Western Avenue

roses
climb the traffic-dense air
outside the kitchen window

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

House for sale, 96 Western Avenue

looking across the empty rooms.
(standing on the glassed-in back porch,
gazing through to the back and front parlors)