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The Muses Companion – April 23, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 23rd, the 113th day of the year 2024, with 253 days remaining. “Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life.” Fernando Pessoa Today in Literary History: On this day in 1616, William Shakespeare, the bard of Avon, died in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s profound influence on English literature and drama is celebrated worldwide, with his plays and poetry becoming timeless treasures that explore the depth and complexity of human emotion and experience. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Macbeth by William Shakespeare: “Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is…
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The Muses Companion – April 22, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 22nd, Earth Day, the 112th day of the year 2024, with 254 days remaining. “The earth has music for those who listen.” George Santayana Today in Literary History: On this day in 1724, Immanuel Kant, a central figure in modern philosophy, was born. His works, such as Critique of Pure Reason, profoundly shaped Western thought, particularly through his explorations of morality, aesthetics, and human perception. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant: “Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above me…
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The Muses Companion – April 21, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 21st, the 111th day of the year 2024, with 255 days remaining. “The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” Bertrand Russell Today in Literary History: On this day in 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, was shot down and killed during World War I. The legendary German fighter pilot has been the subject of numerous books and films that explore his prowess in the sky and the mythos surrounding his persona. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am…
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The Muses Companion – April 20, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 20th, the 110th day of the year 2024, with 256 days remaining. “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” Anaïs Nin Today in Literary History: On this day in 1912, Bram Stoker, the Irish author best known for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula, passed away. Stoker’s creation has become one of the most universally iconic figures in horror literature, spawning countless adaptations and reimaginings across various media. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Dracula by Bram Stoker: “There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.” Literary Fact…
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The Muses Companion – April 19, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 19th, the 109th day of the year 2024, with 257 days remaining. “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” Boris Pasternak Today in Literary History: On this day in 1824, Lord Byron, the British Romantic poet and a leading figure of the Romantic movement, died in Missolonghi, Greece. His works and persona epitomized the Romantic ideal of the artist as a brooding genius, influencing countless writers and artists who came after him. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Don Juan by Lord Byron: “Between two worlds life hovers like a star, ‘Twixt night and…
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The Muses Companion – April 18, 2024
Good day, readers. Today is April 18th, the 108th day of the year 2024, with 258 days remaining. “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” Stephen King Today in Literary History: On this day in 1930, the BBC famously announced, “There is no news,” in their evening radio report and instead played piano music. This unique occurrence highlights the unpredictability of news cycles and has since been referenced in various discussions and writings on media and communication. Notable Birthdays: Today’s Readings: From Clarence Darrow’s address to the court in the Scopes Trial: “I do not believe in God because I do not believe in Mother Goose.” Literary Fact of the Day:…
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CSX 6245 & CSX 6223
Amelia and I embarked on a delightful day trip to Palmer, Massachusetts, with the singular purpose of indulging our shared passion for trains. As the afternoon sun cast its golden light across the tracks, our excitement was rewarded when we spotted two imposing CSX locomotives. The vibrant blue and yellow color scheme of CSX, a personal favorite of mine, adorned the sides of locomotives CSX 6245 and CSX 6223. These magnificent machines, symbols of power and perpetual motion, glided past us, their presence marking a highlight in our day as we stood in awe of the spectacle. April 17, 2024
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The ’90s Were A Decade I’d Rather Forget
As the soft glow of nostalgia continues to illuminate the 1990s, painting them as the quintessential era of simpler times and cultural milestones, I find myself at odds with the mainstream sentiment. It’s peculiar, standing on the outside of a collective memory that cherishes what I recall as my darkest days. While others revel in the revival of flannel shirts, grunge rock, and the dawning of the internet age, for me, the ’90s were a series of personal trials and tribulations—a decade I’d much rather forget. I was born into the warmth of the late ’70s, a time of tumultuous change but also of hope and expansion. The ’70s and…
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We Witnessed A Partial Eclipse
As the twilight sun gave way to an eerie midday darkness, Amelia and I stood in the fields of our Vermont farm, our eyes turned skyward. The day had been marked on our calendar with anticipation: an astronomical event promised a full eclipse, a rare alignment that would shroud our world in an otherworldly twilight. But nature, in her unpredictable artistry, scripted a different spectacle. Instead of the complete darkness we expected, we witnessed a partial eclipse. The moon nibbled at the sun’s edge, crafting a crescent of light that seemed too mystical to belong to our everyday sky. The light that filtered through this celestial interplay was unlike any…
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An Errant Heat To The Star
I sometimes find myself feeling akin to a stray wisp of heat from a distant star—present, yet seemingly inconsequential, lost amidst the grandeur of the universe. This feeling envelops me silently, a whisper of isolation that echoes through the vast chambers of my existence. I have danced through the rhythms of life, weaving my essence into the fabric of my community, my family, and my friendships. Yet, despite these connections, moments arrive unannounced, bringing with them a profound sense of being left out, of being forgotten. These are the moments when laughter and conversation swirl around me, not quite touching me, when I feel like an observer in my own…
