Thursday, June 17, 2010

Tin

Granted: I am an inmate of a mental hospital; my keeper is watching me, he never lets me out of his sight; there's a peephole in the door, and my keeper's eye is the shade of brown that can never see through a blue-eyed type like me.
--Günter Grass, "The Tin Drum"

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Gigantic

There was once a Giant who was too big to be seen. --Eleanor Farjeon, "The Giant and the Mite" (a tale from "The Little Bookroom")

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Before the snow

We started dying before the snow, and like the snow, we continued to fall. --Louise Erdrich, "Tracks"

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Good night, Veronica

A hundred thousand good-nights, dearly loved daughter Veronica. --Johannes Junius, the opening of a letter written in 1628 on the eve of Junius' execution by burning

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Brillig

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe; all mimsy were the borogoves,and the mome raths outgrabe.
-- Lewis Carrol, "Jabberwocky"

Sunday, April 11, 2010

To begin

To begin at the beginning: It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black...
--Dylan Thomas, "Under Milk Wood"

Monday, April 5, 2010

Slavishly

124 was spiteful.
--Toni Morrison, "Beloved"