Good thought. Stephen, in the recording, could you hear the two tiny sounds of the glass being tapped? Also, did you ever read "The Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner?
Sending love to you and your family, Wes, on the loss of Wylie. Uncles have such a way of helping us feel loved in a simpler more playful way than we get to have with our parents. We feel their delight, more like a young, fun grandparent, I think.
Thank you Ann. Wylie was such a lovely, funny, intelligent, kind, clever man. He always treated me with such decency. He was the first adult who thought I could have a life as a carpenter. When he said, "Well, give it a whirl, you'll find out quickly if it's not for you cause it's a hard life." Forty years later, as a joke he said to me while I was helping him put in a tricky door, "So I guess carpentry worked out okay for you?" He was the best storyteller I ever heard, a comic genius. A state champion wrestler, a veterinarian, commodities broker, bush pilot.
Hi Jonathan. I think it's when we lose these deeply beloved people that I glance up at it and maybe curse it a little. Did you ever read "The Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner?
It's beautifully written, big setting across the US in the 1800's woven into the protagonist's current life as he writes about his grandparents. The angle of repose is the angle at which soil or debris stops shifting and comes to rest.
Jonathan, while we are chatting. Can I put this quote of yours in my upcoming poetry book? I took three of your comments and melded them.
"Such familiarity, like an old friend just popped round. Another beauty from his fine whittled pencil and his clear eye for capturing complexity and feeling in a few words." Jonathan Foster
This is a beautiful way to memorialize and share your uncle with the world. Thank you for helping me appreciate what we have, and the heartfelt loss that comes with deep love.
Sorry for your loss. The idea of a grain from an hourglass not just falling, but joining other grains that have previously fallen in rolling down a slope and resting against a "wall," is an odd and striking one. You've vivified what was for me previously a static, mechanical thing, the hourglass. I think I heard you thump the hourglass during your reading? For some reason--I'm not sure why--those little thumps, in conjunction with the idea of the rolling sand, had me thinking of the hourglass as an enclosed world, a kind of terrarium, with maybe a poisonous spider inside, a thing that can be provoked.
So sorry about losing your uncle, Wes! Anybody called "Wylie" must be a great guy! And Happy Birthday, Springchicken -- I'll soon be 80. It's just a number. Best ignored.
Hi Jessica, that’s good advice and I will heed it by ignoring the numbers. I haven’t been reading the substack stuff, taking a break from all that while Laurie and I make good progress on this next book. Meanwhile, from Mexico, bon dia.
RIP Uncle Wylie. BTW, don’t tap the hour glass Wes! Let the last grain stick.
Good thought. Stephen, in the recording, could you hear the two tiny sounds of the glass being tapped? Also, did you ever read "The Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner?
On second listen I did indeed. I will have to check Stegner out!
Thanks
Hey Stephen, Can I use one of your comments on the cover of this next book of poetry?
This is what I want to use;
"I find your poems very moving. Thanks for helping me think and feel. That is what good poetry should do!" Stephen Chohany
I would be honored! My attorney will be in touch regarding royalties.
Sending love to you and your family, Wes, on the loss of Wylie. Uncles have such a way of helping us feel loved in a simpler more playful way than we get to have with our parents. We feel their delight, more like a young, fun grandparent, I think.
Thank you Ann. Wylie was such a lovely, funny, intelligent, kind, clever man. He always treated me with such decency. He was the first adult who thought I could have a life as a carpenter. When he said, "Well, give it a whirl, you'll find out quickly if it's not for you cause it's a hard life." Forty years later, as a joke he said to me while I was helping him put in a tricky door, "So I guess carpentry worked out okay for you?" He was the best storyteller I ever heard, a comic genius. A state champion wrestler, a veterinarian, commodities broker, bush pilot.
What beautiful way you’re able to keep him with you.💛
We should all be so lucky to have these models in our life and I had a dozen. Very fortunate.
Well, you know what that means. Now you have a lot more poems to write. 💛
Condolences for your Uncle Wylie, Wes. Guess that sand has always been running, it just seems to take a lifetime to notice :)
Beautiful poem.
Hi Jonathan. I think it's when we lose these deeply beloved people that I glance up at it and maybe curse it a little. Did you ever read "The Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner?
Haven’t read that one, but if you’re recommending it I’ll check it out :)
It's beautifully written, big setting across the US in the 1800's woven into the protagonist's current life as he writes about his grandparents. The angle of repose is the angle at which soil or debris stops shifting and comes to rest.
Thanks pal, that sounds great!
Jonathan, while we are chatting. Can I put this quote of yours in my upcoming poetry book? I took three of your comments and melded them.
"Such familiarity, like an old friend just popped round. Another beauty from his fine whittled pencil and his clear eye for capturing complexity and feeling in a few words." Jonathan Foster
Absolutely, it’d be my pleasure Wes, feel free. I’ll be on the list of people buying that one too!
Nah, you just need a bigger hourglass! None of us can predict when time will run out, so enjoy every day!
Hi Carole, I agree with you 100%.
This is a beautiful way to memorialize and share your uncle with the world. Thank you for helping me appreciate what we have, and the heartfelt loss that comes with deep love.
Thank you Jenna.
Sorry for your loss. The idea of a grain from an hourglass not just falling, but joining other grains that have previously fallen in rolling down a slope and resting against a "wall," is an odd and striking one. You've vivified what was for me previously a static, mechanical thing, the hourglass. I think I heard you thump the hourglass during your reading? For some reason--I'm not sure why--those little thumps, in conjunction with the idea of the rolling sand, had me thinking of the hourglass as an enclosed world, a kind of terrarium, with maybe a poisonous spider inside, a thing that can be provoked.
I did tap my beer glass with a wooden stick I use to peel oranges with. Uncle Wylie was probably ready to go, if I know him. He had a hell of a life.
I can see the terrarium idea too with maybe a scorpion, a sand viper. Here's a snow globe poem. Similar to me.
https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/when-the-snow-settles
So sorry about losing your uncle, Wes! Anybody called "Wylie" must be a great guy! And Happy Birthday, Springchicken -- I'll soon be 80. It's just a number. Best ignored.
Hi Jessica, that’s good advice and I will heed it by ignoring the numbers. I haven’t been reading the substack stuff, taking a break from all that while Laurie and I make good progress on this next book. Meanwhile, from Mexico, bon dia.
Uncle Wylie sounds like a treasure-a lovely tribute to him.
Hi Debi, he was exactly that.
As soon as I saw hourglass I started thinking about a comment using the angle of repose. Beat me to it you old axe grinder.
and, of course, great minds think alike…
Both 67 year old minds. Half your memories are my memories too.
Ha! I hope we both have a lot of sand in the upper chamber.