Kate Genet's Blog

One Morning of Many.

We are tucked together in the warm envelope of our bed,
lying in the soft pearl light of a dawn that came soaked with rain and the calls of chaffinches singing their hearts out for a flash of pretty feathers,
and the plaintive, melodic warble
of a lovesick magpie reciting poetry from the top limits of the Douglas Fir tree at our boundary.
We are playing a game, guessing how long we’ve loved each other – we know the starting point, you see, down to the day.
Now then, we are decided. Thousands and hundreds of minutes;
or more simply, because does time really count in love? (We’re not sure)
One long dazzling, dizzying moment that breathes in and out, alive,
fitting us neatly and firmly together into each and every day.

Painting by Australian artist Agnes Noyes Goodsir.
Poem by me.

Painting by Sir John Lavery

Artist is LaShun Beal.

Current writing music – and this song, this song, everyone. Listen to it.

Reading relaxes me. Even when the story is exciting and emotional, reading is still a way to wind down, be still, relax into the space I’m in. It’s a very serene pastime, and maybe this is one of the reasons why there are thousands of paintings of women reading. That look of serene, contemplative, satisfied absorption is beautiful.

Remember that when you next open a book to read – not only will the story transport you, but the act of reading itself is one of grounding and beautiful calmness.

And we all need that in our lives, right?

Today’s painting is by Stefan Kuhn.

This is from the one I wasn’t happy with earlier. As you can see, I pretty much only kept one line from it. Revision often means re-envision. Ah, the joy in playing!

So, there’s one thing that goes hand in hand with reading, that we haven’t mentioned yet…
The indisputable fact that reading goes best with a small furry animal snuggled beside you. Or a large furry animal. Actually, it doesn’t have to be that furry, really.
But the snuggling is essential. Am I right, or am I right?

Ah, now I like it much better. Only kept one of the original lines, but that’s revision – sometimes it means re-envision.