Love Like Steel

Reconnaissance

Love Like Steel

Out scouting a location for Love Like Steel today…

Besides finding a lively new bookstore, I found some books. Shocker, I know. 😉

Booked by Richard Kreitner

travel + literature so it made me think of Love Like Steel and an unfinished work on my desk, The Poet’s Guide to Belfast

The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin

An eye-catching title & cover, a bright warm heart Yes, every single page is black. Words are in white and braille. Illustrations are by touch.

Stop Looking at Your Phone: A Helpful Guide

Much needed humor.

The entire book is like this. Snarky treatment of a scary reality.

If I Was the Sunshine by Julie Fogliano & Loren Long

(Bought it! It was on my list.)

One of the most poetic children’s books I’ve read; a brilliant use of words.

if you were the winter

and i was the spring

i’d call you whisper

and you’d call me sing

-Julie Fogliano

Happy reading!

Truer Than Time

Love Like Steel, Poetry

Time floats on evanescent wings.
Minutes make hours,
And winters make springs.
Bronze becomes silver,
And silver gets dusty.
The things that endure
Are the things that are trusty.
“Trust me.”
How does one know when to—
“Trust me.”
Time and time, when you say—
“Trust me.”
Everything works out, but —
“Trust me.”
Words are easy.
“My words are True.”
I know. ‘Til my time burns out, I will—
“Trust me?”
…Trust you.
‘Til I watch you roll away the night. And then…
“With me there is no ‘then’.”
All will be “now.”
All will be well.
“All will be perfect.”
Amen.

A Morning Star

Literature, Love Like Steel

For the last five years, that is to say, as far back as her memory ran, the poor child had shivered and trembled. She had always been exposed completely naked to the sharp wind of adversity; now it seemed to her she was clothed. Formerly her soul had seemed cold, now it was warm. Cosette was no longer afraid of the Thénardier. She was no longer alone; she had somebody to look to.

Victor Hugo (Les Miserables)

Want more? Click here and keep reading until you find “that star which was blazing at the bottom of her pocket.”

I know, I didn’t write today’s story. But this journal is about sharing as much as it is about writing. And I thought this was worth sharing.

Sparks from a Big Red Sun

Love Like Steel, Outdoors, Poetry

An ember-glow sun sinks through the trees,
Dips down, disappears,
And up comes a shower of sparks
Dancing over the spirited water
Where the roots run deep,
Blinking, saying it’s time to go home.
Pack up the teacup and a banquet of words.
Wrap up a few more stories for the road,
And watch the creatures of the evening, not shy.
Heron passes by, fishing,
And the lantern heralds of the night
Rise up like stars from the ground
To spatter the night sky.
We’ll follow the bright one home.
Steady north.
Eyes lifted up.
Time to go.

—

Speaking of “time to go,” they can sing this when they lay my body in the dust.

Exploring Blue Country

Love Like Steel, Travel

Love likes people who seek because Love likes to hide precious things for the curious.

(from Love Like Steel)

Blue Bell, bluebonnets, blue that sparkles on the water. A happy kind of blue. Blue sky on the inside. The blue of kindness spilling over brimful eyes.

I set out on a mission, but open to adventure.

I found things I wasn’t looking for, I looked for things I didn’t find. I drank it all in, that glorious spring day, but I didn’t taste the Blue Bell.* Call me crazy, here’s my favorite ice cream recipe: yogurt + frozen mango + frozen strawberry + blender. It gets worse. Or, better? One time I made this and called it sorbet.

I didn’t need Blue Bell to make it a good day, a sweet day, exploring blue country. Besides, I was on a mission. A mission of words and books, questions and discovery.

I wrote a few words, took a few pictures. Here’s a look through the lens.

Yes, that building has no roof. No, I wasn’t intending to take photos on this excursion. Guess what happened? Lots of marveling and lots of pictures.

Buying used books was part of the plan. I did. No surprise there. 🙂

Shakespeare.

Lately, good words have been known to make me cry.

Claudio knows the feeling.

Your overkindness doth wring tears from me.

(from Much Ado About Nothing)

On the way home I passed a Dairy Queen where some friends and I once held a strange and wonderful meeting. Ice cream was consumed. Laughter was shared. Plans were made. Bonds were forged. A game was afoot.

Maybe it inspired something in me. Maybe tag isn’t just for kids. Maybe adults like hide and seek. Maybe everyone likes a good treasure hunt. Maybe it’s the child in the soul. Maybe we should wonder more.

Speaking of hiding and seeking…Elizabeth Barrett Browning penned some words for the curious.

Here’s to exploring,

Lia

*They might revoke my Texan card for the Blue Bell transgression, but I’m not sure I’ve even earned one yet. 🙂