h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sweet Amelia T, who could not love thee! such sublte femenine hand! You depict a vivid picture and I get into it smiling and slowly, without noticing. I sit by yourself, you ask me to hush, pour a glass of red wine for me and then I also feel the quietness of the warm evening. The sound of the countryside, the freshness of the moment, the wrapping light. And then, I look at the creatures on the wall. and... oh! serendipitous end. I smile again.
But, when I look back at you I only find the screen of my computer. The magic session has finished, but it has left in my mind and heart an everlasting feeling of joy, warm and affection for you. Sweet Amelia, who could not love you.

Flatteria

I have to reply on behalf of Amelia who is quite overcome by your kind words. She would have me say that she is so pleased you were captivated by the poem. I happen to know that these verses were based on experiences enjoyed in Mindanao in the Philippines in the early part of 2008. The house was a beautiful timber building, airy and spacious with a large veranda, surrounded by banana plantations. Both the gecko and the butterfly were present and the atmosphere was much as recreated in Amelia's words.


Les

"Are you sure it was a link of mine that led you to Globethics? "

Yes, I clicked on World Church council, at the right bottom.


I´m afraid I can´t cope with the essays for the Religion subject, too many things to do, and time wasted, not me to be blamed for all,just a bit. I´ll leave it for september. It would be easier and I hope to have cleared my mind by then about what is the role of religion in society, or if it is a mirage to build a universal ethic that theists and nontheists could agree with, etc.

Now, I have to visit the doctor regularly,( a problem with my achilles tendon) in a few weeks I´ll have another surgical operation... well, I´m darkening this conversation... what I mean is that sometimes I feel a bit down because of my leg problem. It is lasting too much. Im patient, but ... this afternoon, I feel again a bit tense. Despite the beautiful poem of this morning. But It has kept me happy for a good while. Thanks for that.

Mar, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling down. If you have an on-going medical problem I know it can make you feel that way. I do hope the surgery will bring the solution you need and you can start to build strength and confidence again. Be assured I shall be thinking of you.

I'm sure you are right to pace yourself over the academic work. You know best what's right for you and if it can realistically wait until later in the year then maybe that is the best course of action. You may find that your thinking has evolved on the subject and you are better equiped to deal with the issues. From what you say it's an area of study that gives you cause for concern right now and time may give an opportunity to explore the area with others. Don't forget I'm here too.

Now, pour yourself a glass of wine, put on some soothing music, put your feet up and lie back, close your eyes - and relax...

Les

Thanks,
I love your words. You really know how to give joy.

I have to get up early. Tomorrow the last sessions before the exams take place. I have to leave my daughter first in a neighbour´s house.

It will be a hard day, it has snowed, causing a lot of problems in roads. Now is snowing, silently... I won´t have wine ( I´m taking medicine) but I´ll watch the snowing throuht the window before going to bed. And will try to cheer me up. There are always a lot of good reasons to be cheerful. Being Cheerful should be a religion!

Ea, ea... I´m a fortunate woman. I love and I´m loved. That´s great. and now, I also have a very good friend, a convivial fellow, one who know how to heal sorrows, a Playful Poet... ain´t I lucky, man??!


Good night my friend

You're very welcome.

Good luck tomorrow and do take care in the snow!

Buenos noches, amiga mia.
Sleep well

Correction:

Buenas Noches

What was I thinking?!


Les

Hi Mar,
Just a brief visit on Saturday night to say that I hope your day went well today. My thoughts are with you.

Les

Hi, Les,
thanks

It turned out quite good, and I even thought of staying at home!! Then, at uni:
I was given a mark about a work I did for Artistic Education, I´ve got 2.75 out of 3 marks!!! Hey! that´s excellent, I was lost before doing it, but then I " standed up against adversity" (I love that, it´s from Moby Dick, I think) and did my job.

the teacher of Music Education, couldn´t come because of the snow, he is absolutely charming, but the sustitute was brilliant. She taught us a kind of magistral lesson on voice and singing. I was fascinated by her, at the end of the lesson I asked her for some information about traditional Spanish songs she has mentioned. Then we went on talking and she sat at the piano and I was given my first music lesson! short but really tasty, the first in my life. I love music, dance and sing, but my musical education is none. I didn´t have teachers at school to do so. No one at home neither... And now, my old wish is becoming reality. I´ve got a keyboard at home, I will learn to enjoy it.

I´m relaxing since yesterday. I need it. Next week I´ll prepare four essays for my Artistic E. subject. The exams are soon. One of the ideas I want to write about is the therapeutical use of art, also another about social art, and... etc.

Hasta pronto, Les

Hi Mar
I'm so glad your day went well. Goodness, what a lot to take in. No wonder you need to rest today. Plenty of good encouraging stuff there though - you are not going to have time to get bored, that's for sure!

I take it you're somewhere in central Spain, or maybe further north, given that you have snow to contend with. A couple of winters back we took our motorhome down through France, over the Pyrenees on the Med side and on down to Alcossebre on the Costa del Azahar. It was lovely and sunny and quite warm most of the time but then we had this crazy idea to spend a day or two in Teruel. We should have known by the way the road climbed up and up into the mountains and the increasing amount of snow we encountered but by the time we arrived in Teruel it was so cold!! I have never been so cold! Needless to say we only stayed one night and then hot-footed it back to the coast! Which was a pity because it's a lovely town and I'd like to go back there sometime when it's nice and hot.

Enjoy your rest and talk again soon.

Les

Hi Les,

¿ Qué tal estás?

I keep on fighting with my studies, my leg and myself

I live in a village/town in the northwest area of the Guadarrama Range of mountains, near Madrid capital. Nature here has been generous. In the south of the province of Madrid, you find dry areas with little vegetation, a lot of blocks of flats, industrial areas...

Near my village is el Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial, built by Felipe II. It was royal residence in Autumn, in Summer they went to another village, also close from where I live, called El Palacio de la Granja de San Francisco, it is like Versalles.

Teruel, I´d love to go there, better in summertime.

I´m from Granada, you know, YOu got there all climates from alpine to subtropical. I love the last one. Plants get so exhuberant! I go every year to the tropical coast of Granada, and also to Málaga, two of my brothers live there.

A motorhome! hey, you know what are the good things, man! A friend of mine lent us his motorhome to our honeymoon trip. We travelled around La Rioja, you must know the area for the wine, and Asturias. I recommend you Asturias. It´s green, rainy, beaches to walk,more than to have baths, and excellent food and cider, natural cider, delicious.

Actually, any area of Spain is worthwhile. Tourism is our main industry, you can guess why.

Granada, Córdoba, Toledo are also emblematic towns of the convivence of Jews, Muslims and Christians, time ago.

I almost write an Entry!! If you needed any information, don´t doubt, ask me.

:::

I wonder if you have ever written in verses your self-portrait or a kind of autobiography. Many poets and painters do... so...

what about you?

Difficult task I know. I wouldn´t dare even in Spanish, at least by now.

Where is Amelia? I miss her. Isn´t she charming?
Send her my regards and tell her to drop in here to have a chat and a tea. Then, we can have a walk, dressed like two ladies of Jane Austen´s novels. Rosy cheeks, laughing lips...

I'm going to reply properly tomorrow (I hope) but I just wanted to say a few words now. Amelia is delighted by your invitation to tea and chat; she says there is nothing she would enjoy more and she looks forward to being able to do just that.

As always, it's lovely to hear from you and I'll take more time to answer thoughtfully tomorrow. For now though, good night and sleep well.


Les and Amelia T

Hi Mar!
Well today turned out to be rather full so I have ended up writing again after midnight!

I really enjoyed your writing about Spain. It's good to be able to visualise the sort of area you live in and it sounds lovely. I'll see if I can find some pictures too on the internet. Spain is a beautiful country and we particularly like the villages that seem not to have changed very much for centuries. And the wines of course! I think Spanish reds are so good. We usually have a bottle or two of Tempranillo or Rioja or something equally as enjoyable in the house.

Verse in the autobiographical mode? No I haven't attempted any and the thought of it at first seems quite scary but maybe one day? I'll give it some thought anyway. Many poets include a great deal of their own experience in their work so I guess it's not too much of a leap. Actually both Amelia and I need to get down to work and start writing again. I'm not sure about her but I've had a few busy days and not much time to think about writing. That's a pity and I have to say that I do miss it. I'll try to put that right very soon. I can only assume that it's the same for Amelia as she hasn't suggested we write anything for a few days either. I shall try to encourage her.

Now I think I must getsome sleep or I shall be good for nothing tomorrow - well today actually.

Hasta pronto amiga mia,
Les

Hola amigo,

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer(1836-1870) is a very importan figure of the Spanish poetry. He refreshed contents and forms.

Here is one of my favourites. I like it because of the rhythm, mainly.

It belongs to a set of poems about Poetry, about the creative process. So you should replace "poetry" by "you", tú.
But, in many ocassions he identifies poetry with woman.

Cendal* flotante de leve bruma,
rizada cinta de blanca espuma,
rumor sonoro
de arpa de oro,
beso del aura, onda de luz, eso eres tú.

¡Tú, sombra aérea, que cuantas veces
voy a tocarte te desvaneces.
Como la llama, como el sonido,
como la niebla, como el gemido
del lago azul!

En mar sin playas onda sonante,
en el vacío cometa errante,
largo lamento
del ronco viento,
ansia perpetua de algo mejor,
eso soy yo.

¡Yo, que a tus ojos en mi agonía
los ojos vuelvo de noche y día;
yo, que incansable corro y demente
tras una sombra, tras la hija ardiente de una visión!


*Cendal: fine cloth of silk.


Hasta pronto, amigo mío

Hi Mar. Thanks for that. I enjoyed it although I have to say that I didn't find it so easy. I shall have a try at paraphrasing it perhaps and see if I can understand the imagery.

I hope you're ok and not having too much trouble with your leg. How is the work going? From what you said recently I think you are doing very well. Well done!

Hasta pronto amiga mia

Hi Mar, When Amelia wrote "Gecko" she wanted you to have it first. I think now it can go on the poetry thread - I hope that's ok with you.

Les

Hi Les,
of course! Beauty must be shared.

It helped me to smile just when I needed it.
Here it´s "safe". It won´t "sink" in the BP thread. I´ll search that of the "laughter", I loved it. It also gave me joy when I needed it.

I´ll be very very busy this week: 3 exams, pre-surgery tests and my always wandering mind must be dealt with. Wish me strengh my friend.


Mar

So pleased to be of help Mar.

I know that you don't relate to any particular spiritual path but you have my assurance that I shall "hold you in the light" as we Quakers say. Some time when you're not up to your ears in other things I'll tell you a little more about it if you like. Don't worry, strictly NO sermons and NO pressure sales! I wholly respect your position.

I hope your week goes well my dear friend!

Les

Mi querido amigo,
thanks for your kind words.
I find cariño verdadero in them. I´ll answer you properly as soon as I can.
Now,all my best wishes for you

Mar

Mi querida amiga
Don't feel you have to reply, I know you are having a very busy week.

I just wanted to wish you well in everything you have to do this week and remind you that I'm thinking of you day by day. Don't forget that it's just as important to take some time "for yourself". We have a saying:
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

I don't think you could ever be dull but maybe you should still be gentle with yourself.

Les