“It was a stramineous night, filled with scratchy un-poeticisms and badly timed jokes…”
It was an extraordinarily beautiful day.
Which was now filling with her narration, as they had been driving together in silence for a while.
She also started thinking that half-sized capital letters should exist, for the beginning of sentences that aren’t really beginnings … He coughed.
Mostly silently. It was because of the terrible mood he had been in. But admittedly, she had put him in the bad mood. Her blood sugar was low, which greatly compromised her communication skills, and there was no cake! Plus, she had forgotten her flask of Russian Caravan. (He had whimsically ordered it at a cafe a couple of years before, after the, what they liked to call, mishap, with their caravan. And just because his grandmother was Russian. She was also a terrible driver, not that those two things were related, but they found that they unexpectedly LOVED the tea. It made her break out in some newly learned, passionate, French words … mostly, in half capitals).
Two nights before, she had made a list for him. But it was the forgotten letter that flashed before her eyes. It had been inspired by this genius collaboration, which she decided she would put on the car stereo, until she had something to eat.
‘This Bitter Earth’/’On the Nature of Daylight’
Dinah Washington/Max Richter
Lyrics: (Clyde Otis)
This – bitter earth
Well, What a fruit it bears
Oooh
This – bitter earth
And if my life
is like the dust
Oooh
That hides the glow of a rose
What good am I?
Heaven only knows
No, this bitter Earth
Yes, can be so cold
Today you’re young
Too soon you’re old
But while a voice
Within me cries
I’m sure someone
may answer my call
And this bitter earth ooooooh
May not be ohhhh, so bitter after all
This bitter earth
Ah this bitter earth
What good is love
Mmmm that no one shares?
And if my life
is like the dust
That hides the glow of a rose
What good am I?
Prologue B (their second beginning) is here
I found your ‘Prologue 1’ , intriguing, and typical of couples communication during a long trip, and one is a bit moody…..
As for the song… thank you… this is truly a superb piece, and lyrically exquisite…
“No, this bitter Earth
Yes, can be so cold
Today you’re young
Too soon you’re old”…… I loved this piece……..xx… yep It’s in my ‘Vanessa playlist’
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Hi Ivor.
Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked the music, I stumbled on it the other day, and I am addicted to it. I agree, it is superb, both pieces, and how perfectly they fit together!
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I’m going to search a few more of her songs, I’ve already played it 4 times…… !!
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Okay wow a superb piece of writing, Venessa. You are very good .. you know. I am happy to be reading this , this evening became more interesting 💖💝
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Always so generous! 🙏
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Well deserved , you deserve accolades 💖❣️💕
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Thank you dear Yassy. You have made my day.
🤗❤🥂
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Cheers to you , to your health and happiness .. ❤️🤗 you are so very welcome , V.
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Thank you Lovely person. And to you too.
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This was such an incredible portrait. So silently full of life is your capture. I think she has a great personality, and they have a interesting racetrack of a life. Amazing!
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Hi Watt. I really appreciate your description, thank you.
I really ummmmed and aaahhed about the style of it, wasn’t sure, but the more i worked on it, i always just came back to these details, in this way.
So thank you so much.
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I think it worked out perfectly.
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Thank you! Cake for you 🍰
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Favorite
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That means so much. Thank you lovely friend.
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Excellent.
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Thank you! That is very kind.
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Beautiful weirdness, Vanessa, with your characteristic entanglement of the medium with the message. I’m a Max Richter fan when I’m in the right mood–a magical piece I didn’t know.
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“Beautiful weirdness”, thank you so much, Steve! haha one of the nicest compliments. I think it sums up what I think of this world, mostly.
I’m glad you liked the music…I stumbled onto it, like most wonderful finds, and I adore it. I truly admire people who can fit such things together, I can’t imagine either musical piece without the other now.
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