November 28, 2009
Amphibi-can
![[IMAGE] Pacific Tree frog](/blog/blogpix/frogoncan.jpg)
…about the musicRain croak.
The embossed lettering atop my trash can instructs, “para que no entren los animales… lock the darn lid.” (my translation). Sure, the clever handles prevent raccoons and deer from enjoying the leftovers, but there is no stopping the renegade Pacific Tree frogs, who don’t read Spanish.
My studio window is wide open on this quiet, mild, grey Sunday, and I’m surrounded by the delightful and insistent commentary of many little frogs as I type this. They love this weather. Or maybe they despise it, and are whining. I can’t tell because I haven’t signed up for the Berlitz course in Amphibianese. Against a hazy, shifting ceiling, the grass and the trees are green, and remain so throughout the winter. Even in winter, it rarely looks bleak here because of two things: the perpetual verdant landscape, and the fact that ninety percent of the time, even our grey weather offers fluffy, three-dimensional clouds in varying hues, giving visual depth and movement to the sky. It really is quite poetic. The frogs provide the text. I keep my window open, to steal the music.
Glenn Buttkus said,
November 30, 2009 @ 6:24 am
Loved your musical clip, RAIN WALK @ 2:17, some fine jazz once again to start my week, to bathe Monday in steamy wetness to wash out the hues of blue. This piece seems new to the mp3 stash; perhaps not, just new to me with my much admired short-term memory deficit. Well, you are here but already gathering yourself for another jaunty journey into the hinterlands. What did you have for Turkey Day?
Seems a bit odd that I have been the sole kelphisto to respond to your last couple comments, but hey, the holidays and all. Melva and I had family and guests over and are still wolfing down the turkey sandwiches.
Here is the Shapiro poem of the week:
Rain Croak
My studio window is wide open
on this quiet, mild, grey Sunday,
and I’m surrounded by the delightful
and insistent commentary of many little frogs
as I type this.
They love this weather.
Or maybe they despise it, and are whining.
I can’t tell because I haven’t signed up
for the Berlitz course in Amphibianese.
Against a hazy, shifting ceiling,
the grass and the trees are green,
and remain so throughout the winter.
Even in winter, it rarely looks bleak here
because of two things:
the perpetual verdant landscape,
and the fact that ninety percent of the time,
even our grey weather offers fluffy,
three-dimensional clouds in varying hues,
giving visual depth and movement to the sky.
It really is quite poetic.
The frogs provide the text.
I keep my window open,
to steal the music.
Alex Shapiro November 2009
Alex Shapiro said,
November 30, 2009 @ 11:24 am
Thanks for the poem, Head Kelphisto #1. As for the comments: perhaps you are the sole person left on the planet who actually reads these silly little ditties. In which case, it’s an honor to entertain you. Should anyone else out there wish to admit that they, too, read these pixels, I will be charmed to know. Regardless, I enjoy offering these pages so much that, if only for my own sanity and amusement, I suspect I shall persist.
Steve Griffin said,
December 1, 2009 @ 10:41 am
I will happily attest that I read all of your entries and look forward to each one. For example, my wife and I had discussions yesterday and this morning wondering if we had made the right choice in buying a house on the island (for our retirement in a couple of years), due to the weather difference between here (Orlando) and there.
In particular, my biggest concern has been the amount of light and sun. Your entry is thus timely and reassuring. Thank you!
Lane Savant said,
December 1, 2009 @ 11:23 am
Sorry to be just a lurker.
I check your posts every day.
Do keep up the good work.
notes from the kelp » Winging it said,
November 18, 2010 @ 8:02 pm
[…] Amphibi-can […]