I love the shots he captured of our exploits with fireworks.
Dazzling! It was the first year in a while that we’d had some
rain, so the burn ban was lifted. How delightful to make our
own hanabi fireflowers – the green goblins were the best!

There were fears of a sparkler shortage, but in the end we prevailed,
and many fizzing wands were lit. You can’t have New Year’s without
sparklers! I don’t know who this tripled ghost is, perhaps it’s me?
I especially love the twilight trees along the horizon. So spectral!

One unhappy side effect of shooting off so many fireworks,
is that a few members of the canine party were terrified.
Our dear blind Thelonius wandered off into the thorny
wilderness in fright, and was missing for hours. The
land is riddled with cacti, rocky ridges, barb wire and
freaks with guns. A desperate search turned up not
hide nor hair, but much later in the night he found his
way back to camp from wherever he’d been hiding.
Oh, we were so relieved! Losing your dog in the
country is pretty scary, especially when he’s totally blind.

My Grampy Grover was a mechanic, and many of his project
cars decorate the field. I’m always envisioning alternate futures
for them – what if they could be transformed into sleeping bunks?
Or mini-parlours? Or I suppose we could try and get them running
again. They are so wonderful, these rusted hulks – mostly Morris
Minors and old Datsuns, and then of course there’s my sweet ride
Miss Gertie. One day we must get her up and running again!

Flip and Wolfie walking into a winter wonderland of tanglewoods.

Miss Amelia brought mint-scented bubbles!
Tonka not only tries to eat bubbles, but also
seems to have a taste for lit fireworks, sparklers
and any whizzing, flying thing. I’ve never seen
a dog try to eat colored fire like that- no fear at all!

Related posts:

✶ Corazones quebrados y perros ciegos

✶ Emergence

✶ Take a walk with me..

(Photograph by @nt!x)
I can’t wait to re-inhabit our tipi-yurt-lavvu-thing!
I’m still hankering for a proper one,
but they’re quite pricey – oh, one day…

(Photograph by Oregon State University Archives)

Okay, just a heads up – this eclipse is pretty gnarly!

(Photograph by Richocam)

“The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on December 31st, 2009
occurs at 10°15′ Cancer, in conjunction with the Fixed Star Alhena,
a star which is reputed to be favourable for hunting, besieging towns,
and the revenge of princes! It would be wise to avoid travel at this time,
if you can. Known as “the wound in the tendon of Achilles”
it destroys fruits and harvests. Cancer is an emotional sign,
ruled by the Moon, so since neither the Sun nor the Moon
form any promising aspects on this day, expect quite an emotional,
even teary New Year’s Eve. Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn,
and Mars is also retrograde in Leo, so issues and attractions
from the past will demand to be dealt with under this eclipse.
Breakdowns in communication will spark the issue.
Since at the moment of the eclipse, Warrior Mars
(action; passion; violence; accidents) is rising exactly
on the degree and minute of the ascendant,
tightly opposing the Part of Fortune (within 4 minutes of arc),
the chances of a blood-stained celebration are high.”
- Rob Tillett
Um, whoa. Yikes much?
For further reading, I suggest you
check out what Heather Burdette
has to say – it’s a little more calming!

(Photograph by Carlos Lisboa)

Regardless of celestial influence, I truly hope that
everyone has a marvelous turning of the year!
There are so many things I want to accomplish
this year, so much ground I want to cover -
it’s a little overwhelming to contemplate!
I’m starting slowly and quietly, cleaning
and sweeping my house to make it ready for
the approval of the Blanchette, and lighting
candles and making wishes that this year
I can achieve my goals – no more Procrastination
Station, please!

“You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings!”

I read this somewhere recently, and it made a big impression on me.
(So much so, that I can’t recall where I read it? Eesh.)
I think that this will be my motto for the year,
in hopes that I will be reminded to take the reins
for myself and stop waiting around for divine
intervention to crown me empress of my life.
Drive your own chariot to the moon.
Now or never!

(Photographer unknown to me!)

“Begin doing what you want to do now.
We are not living in eternity.
We have only this moment,
sparkling like a star in our hand -
and melting like a snowflake…”
- Francis Bacon, Sr.

Here’s a little happy/sad number called Days With You
from fine fellows Jason Webley with Sxip Shirey.
Watch out – it is extremely catchy!
Hopefully you can remember the words
and sing it tipsily with your best friends, eh?

More reading material from days of yore:
✶ Lone Grove New Year – 2009
✶ Pink Moons
✶ The New Year – 2008
✶ Lucky Stars and Garters – 2007
✶ La Nouvelle Année – 2006

Oh, I’ve been so ill! Again, a nasty bug has knocked me down-
an unfortunate casualty of my poor candle, burnt at both ends.
I’ve been flattened like a pancake under the steamroller of a
particularly pernicious strain of influenza. Bother!
I won’t go into the gory details, only that the only places
I’ve spent any time recently have been the bed and the
lavatory. So sad. Luckily, I do like saltines and applesauce,
which my diet has consisted mainly of. Also bananas.

Many good things happened before I went under the weather,
however. Including, but not restricted to the following:

★ We saw Where the Wild Things Are, hooray!
It was so wonderful. I loved the attention to detail.
Of course, I bawled. Brimming heart, broken twigs.

★ Taking the pups for lazy afternoon walks after checking out
some garage sales. Strolled by our sweet neighbors abode,
and got in some sweet sunset porch perchin’ with one of the
prettiest families ever. They plied us with treats: banyan tree
seeds, fancy beer, my favorite incense and homemade vegan
chocolate cheesecake! A good reminder to be more sociable, eh?

★ Enjoying a break from disko preparations to attend
darling Mme. Labry’s birthday party, where we sipped
the most amazing drink ever: bison grass vodka and
apple juice daiquiris! Apparently, it is the national drink
of Poland. If so, let’s go! Especially nice in slushie form.
Unfortunately, I had to depart before the stripper we hired
had arrived. It was my special request that he wear a cop uniform!

(I took this photo of Chad and Tracy of St. Mary’s on my back porch)

★ I had a lovely visit with my darling Chad (aka. Mon Petit Fantome)
who was in town to see Hope Sandoval play. What a luminously
gorgeous show. I never had the opportunity to see Mazzy Star
perform, alas – but this more than made up for it. Hope’s voice
is even better in person, and she’s ace on the xylophone.
The projected images overlaying the stage were completely
hypnotizing – lava and sparkles and silent film snippets.

Witchery in the house of sticks!

(photograph by Nick Heywood)

★ This pile of German periodicals makes me have a funny feeling in my heart.
Wait until you see the details from the spines- they are glorious indeed!
I’ve been laying around reading, reading: nothing too serious.
I devoured Stieg Larsson’s Swedish hacker/journalism/sex/noir
sequel The Girl Who Played With Fire, and plenty of magazines
(Interview, Cabinet, The Believer). I require more subscriptions, please.
Also, your latest book and magazine recommendations, please!

(via petitdejeuner)

★ I actually have a bit more time now, and am looking forward to
catching up on my reading soon. Not that I don’t have stacks piling up,
but oh – there’s always room for more, hmm? I’d like to get The Wild Things
soon, speaking of… The cover is fantastic, no? Wants.

★ Oh yes, and – I started one of these… Angeliska Parade!
This is what happens when I’m confined to indoors.
A good repository for scraps of glory and oddments.

★ Solitude, such quiet. Peaceful for the first time in awhile.
Silly that I must be so ill in order to achieve it. It feels like
my body’s getting the rest it didn’t the last time I was sickly,
rushing about in New York. Well, okay. Rest, then.

(Stinky Herman the hedgehog hangs out near a Galliano Diptyque
candle, hoping his musty death-smell will not offend passersby)
As soon as I rolled into town, I started going out every night-
dancing until dawn at the Rubulad Boat Party, and the next
evening at Disko Nouveaux, which no doubt contributed to
my run down system. Combine that with allergies, climate change
and general neglect, and it’s no wonder I’m sick as a damn dog.
I’m trying not to be despondent, and just hope to kick it soonly,
but my sinuses are just built wrong or something- and this sort
of thing tends to linger. Acupuncture appointment in Chinatown
is set for tomorrow, plus a visit to Congee Village! The horror
of not being able to smell or really enjoy food, (not to mention
feeling snot-ridden and unglamourous) is a bit of a problem.
How am I going to haunt the hallowed halls of Aedes de Venusta
and I Hate Perfume with a blocked-up nose faucet? Really, now.

(Dana and Mark have more Victorian taxidermy than anyone I know.
Quite an impressive collection, amassed on their various travels.)

Other highlights so far have included an immense steak dinner
at Peter Luger’s, walking home from the train at dawn, hearing
the multitude of birds singing in the eaves of a grand theatre
turned church. Getting very lost with the Tibetan lady who
was my cabdriver- the ineffable experience of connecting
on a deep level with total strangers in this huge/tiny city.
She gave me a yellow rose. The same night, I happened
to sit down next to the lovely Miss A., and offered her a
Choward’s Violet Pastille. Hours later, our wonderful
conversation unabated, I remembered the mantra I set
for myself as I was preparing for this trip: BE OPEN
– to experiences, to people, to the energy of the city.
So far, it’s served me very well indeed, as I’ve met some
wonderful people I never would’ve encountered by being
shut off. It’s so easy to pull down the shade here, to not
interact, not make eye contact. You’re never alone here,
even when you want to be, so people make that privacy
for themselves — so as not to go completely mad!
Too often, however, that solitude becomes complete –
a black impenetrable wall of protection, and we find
ourselves too alone, too isolated. I’ve been reminding
myself all the time to smile, instead of just staring,
and it’s been rewarded every time with warmth
and recognition. Try it and see what happens.

(Dana’s gorgeous wax orange blossom bridal wreath and hair collection.)

Oh yes, I also went to go see Nick Cave do an interview and reading from
his new book, The Death of Bunny Munro. His boy Jethro Lazenby Cave
was there, striding gloriously in my direction at one point, ooh-la!
I must say, the proximity to the Cave père et fils gave me quite a frisson!

More precious treasures, bisque babies, hair flowers.
Did I mention it’s Fashion Week here? Could’ve fooled me.
I’ve been completely oblivious, not gone to a single couture show,
fool that I am. Crikey. I hope I won’t miss it all! Living vicariously
instead through Yvan Rodic’s wonderful photographs, and
feeling The Gawker’s pain. Stupid sinus infection!

Dana and Mark tiny kitchen is quite inspiring. It’s like being inside a pastry
shell stuffed with antique lace and snails. They have the most elegant
refrigerator interior ever, lots of crocheted doilies and rush baskets.

I spent all of yesterday languishing in bed. Luckily, the bed is very luxurious-
I have the honor of staying in Miss Jolie Holland’s room while she’s out on
tour (go see her if she comes to your town! You’ll be so glad you did!)

Stefan Jecusco playing his magical banjo (goat-headed, handmade from ancient wood)
and Jolie on her Strohviol at a wonderful potluck here. My dear friend Jana
is taking really good care of me. I’m so glad I’m staying here with her!

I’m laying around, feeling awful, listening to city sounds, the neighbor’s laundry
waving at from from out on the line. The tinkling of brass coins, car alarms,
children playing, a man screaming. Slowing it all down, and resting.

Sunlight on the chandelier, reflected over the courtyard from a windowpane.
A whole day passes, and I’m still here. Make a wish that I get better soon?

I can’t wait to go to my favorite Indian restaurants:
Milan I and Milan II – otherwise known as:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY INDIAN FOOD! If you know, you know.
So magical. It’s like being on the inside of a piñata.

I get to see my beloved Dana Kitten! My ravishing sister with the most
incredible stormy blue violet eyes. It will be so lovely to see her and
her dashing beau, Mr. Mark Dion- I haven’t seen them in ages and ages!

She is an amazing artist, and creator of confectionery oddities.

Wild Irish Rose, gone feral in the bogs! Beware her thorny parasol!

The incomparable Lord Whimsy led us on a fantastic tour
of his favorite stomping grounds, the eerily beautiful Pine Barrens.
We spent a lovely day there, hunting for carnivorous plants,
fungi, and the ever-elusive Jersey Devil! I’d love to camp there someday.

Sadly, I cannot recall the name of this very rare bloom! Whims, refresh me?
We parted ways at dusk, after an afternoon of tromping in the woods,
and junk hunting! We bought an enormous (4 or 5 feet tall!) glass bell jar
that had originally housed a waxen saint doll, who tragically melted
years before. Oh, how I wish I could’ve seen her! I ought to mention
that in a fit of folly, we um- attempted to have this incredible thing
shipped. How foolish we were- of course it shattered en route.

We rushed back for a dinner party, and what a soiree it was-
always attended by the most fashionable zombies, of course.

Dana and Mark’s elegant apartment is filled with all manner of exciting
taxidermy, and their collection has grown exponentially since my last
visit here. More pictures to follow! I’m in a paradise of artful living here.

It’s enough to make you swoon- especially if your waist
has been narrowed to 18 inches by silk and whalebone!
Too tight? Of corset is!

Sadly, my sweetheart wasn’t able to accompany me on this trip..
I took this picture of him when we were last at Coney Island,
and it remains one of my favorites. Isn’t he dreamy?

Little lost goat, wandering through the blue dioramic mountains-
don’t you wish you had a guide to the big city? Luckily, I have
a long list of favorite places to re-visit, and new things to explore..

Rachael Gibson’s (Fur Coat, No Knickers) Super-Big New York Guide
is proving to be extremely helpful, however! Anything else
on your personal New York list I absolutely mustn’t miss?
I’ve fully entered the whirlwind, and am running literally
from dusk ’til dawn- more current updates as soon as I
can catch my breath! Until then, back into the fray!

So, remember when I went to Chicago?
I’m just now finding a minute to write about all that,
so forgive the vast rewind- as per usual, I create my own
time-space continuum and all that.
I find myself in a hulking city packed with bodies
and marvel as I let myself be buffeted like a bit o’ flotsam
down the human river. So many facets of life’s vicissitudes
moving all around me. I love to get lost in that thick
stream, to wonder about lives and languages and stories.
It’s what I love most about big cities, and what would no doubt
drive me mad if I lived in one for a long time.
If you’re even a little bit empathic, it can be quite overwhelming
to be constantly surrounded by minds on all sides-
though in smaller doses, it’s a sublime delight.

This Egyptian Temple had been converted into a climate-controlled storage unit facility.
Guaranteed to keep the contents of your canopic jars fresh, and your mummified cats
perfectly preserved for all eternity. The night-watchman’s a Setian Priest, no doubt.

We had the pleasure of staying in the marvelous sprawling apartments of Elena Brocade,
though she was on honeymoon in Cairo until the very end of our visit. Romantical!
It was wonderful to explore her world- it is truly a wonderland of exotic plants, ostrich
feathers, intriguing books, mannequins, puppets and fancy hats. In other words, paradise.

Elena is a very talented and inspiring creature- she’s an aerial artist, amazing all with her
feats on the static trapeze, silks, and Spanish web. Strength, grace and incredible fashion sense-
all wrapped up into one sassy package of sinew, satin and sequins. We totally raided her closet,
which has a whole section devoted to nothing but jumpsuits! Her costumes are the best, ever.

Check her out! Also, if you saw Public Enemies recently, that was her looking all dusty and consumptive
and clutching at Johnny Depp’s arm after making him egg-salad sandwiches. She’s a movie star!

An amazing shop window downtown- little did I know, it was done by a
good friend of Lady Lavona’s. Infinitesimally small world we wander through.

This was glued to the wall in Elena’s kitchen. Sexy!
Appetite-stimulating! I wish I could read the whole comic.

Grandmother Wolf.

Al and Raven, (very tipsy and adorable) were our trusty guides to Chicago’s nightlife.
It was so good to hang out with these dear ones- I had missed them both enormously.
We went new-wave dancing at Neo, and it was hilarious.
Chartreuse + soda and Bauhaus. Almost like being 15 in New Orleans again!
Hunger in our bellies led us to a glowing bastion in the night, the only thing open-
(aside from that hot-dog stand where all the drunk asshats harass the hot-dog ladies.)
The Golden Nugget! It was filled with faux-art-nouveau stained glass,
southwestern themed frosted glass and grumpy waitresses!
Also, greasy blinis! Perfection. Latkes at 3am, so happy-making.

Obligatory 4am post-nightclub late-night diner bathroom photo.

Back at Elena’s the next morning we discovered some grisly evidence.

Curtains, for you

Magic doorways.

Have you ever tasted durian? Do you adopt ancestors?

I want this iridescent peachy wallpaper, please.

Elena’s sad soldier sculpture. He looks like a peat bog man to me.

This is Diana. She works at The Red Apple Polish Buffet.
She became our friend, first because of her amazing outfit and hot accent-
but then because she played good music just for us in our private room,
and was totally amenable to being kidnapped and taken to the beach.
Diana, we love you! Run away with us, and then take us to Poland with you!

The Polish toy shop, where I had to get dragged out of here, and was thus prevented
from buying heaps of faded birthday cards with kittens and indecipherable greetings.

Lukewarm Dude Puma. Need I say more?

I sat by this window, and read this book about Michael Jackson. It was strange.

Okay, next time I go to Chicago it’s going to be for more than just a couple
of days- so I need lots of suggestions for wondrous and interesting things
I need to experience there. Pony up! I love wandering around aimlessly,
but please make me a magic map of destinations. It’s such a fantastic city-
tell me your stories about it, won’t you? What must I simply not miss?

We were the Cupcake Brigade!
Of course confectionary won over in our circle, and ingenious cupcake lanterns
were constructed from umbrellas, chiffon and buckram! It was so magical
to see them illuminating the procession through the streets- I wish I could storm
the alleys of the Vieux Carre with my gang of sugar-crazed cupcakes every night!

I was a minty bonbon cupcake- with pink cake inside, my favorite!
(I really did ask for a strawberry birthday cake with mint icing one year!
Pandora made it for me, and it was bizarrely delicious- if a little toothpasty..)
I made my costume that day- the glue on the bonbon fascinator and epaulette
was still not dry even as we were rushing out the door! I was terrified I was
going to lose all my candy in the shuffle- but a Mardi Gras miracle occurred!
I think I lost maybe one? After a night of dancing in the streets? Amazing.

My teeth are black because I ate too much candy! That’s what happens, kids!
Isn’t Miss Angie’s wedding cake costume mindblowing? I wanted to eat her up.

Lester was the cutest damn cake- if only you could have seen this incredibly
tall man bouncing through the parade- he was happiest cake in the whole world!

Miss Raven was a whipped cream cupcake- too delicious, ooh la la!

Sansa Asylum was the Pineapple Princess! She plays accordion
and sings songs with The Yard Dogs Road Show, and has super-human powers.
Seriously. I licked her eyeball when we first met and it was salty. Naturally.

Renee Angelica (aka. Stella Lithe)
her maquillage was truly hypnotic.

I wish I had gotten better pictures of all the fantastic floats and things-
alas, they were moving to fast- and I was dancing! The crazy hungry mouth
above was a receptacle for hundreds of tiny golden goblets that were filled
with homebrewed apple cider. The cider spewed from a spigot on the side
of an enormous gilded apple! There was also a dinner table and chairs
set for a fancy meal of.. poop! Well, chocolate and dates and things that
looked like poop, anyhow. All served on fine silver with white lace tablecloths.
Two ghostly ladies with blackened teeth (Megan + Claire)
were joyfully handing out coprophage-friendly snacks!
It was beautiful and gross all at the same time. I love my friends.

Nina, Lester and Betsy frolicking- footloose and oh so fancy!
The Krewe of Eris was named for the Goddess of Chaos-
She who flung the golden apple. Harbinger of change,
androgynous troublemaker, the all wise mischievous girl-child,
perpetually defiant, protector of insurgents, patron of miscreants,
spinsters, seers, tipplers, dandies, tomboys, vagrants, vandals, and spies.

Pandora was a Devil’s Food Cupcake- is this making you hungry yet?

Pea + Alix, in a moment of hysterical laughter- which there was much of,
despite a few frustrating encounters with the police- Eris prevailed! Hail, Eris!

This is the first picture I took when I got New Orleans.
I was light-headed with hunger and flashing lights from
shopping carts loaded with one thousand LED swords
and medallions and wands and gewgaws- but I hate eating
while standing or walking, especially when I really need to
concentrate on it. I like to focus on my meal, very slowly.

In the end the lure of the corn dog won out. I’m not ashamed.
It was magical. How could I forget how delicious?
My six-year-old self was totally gratified, and begrimed with mustard.

Louie let me take his picture. He and his sister May have been running
this stand for 50 years. Every parade is etched into their faces, which
were impossible to capture. They were my favorite part of the night.

Have you ever been to a big parade during carnival season?
This video is from 1941- I suppose not all that much has changed,
except everyone really dressed so much better of course.
Even the people not in costume look pretty fabulous.

They are beyond surreal. I love the crazy floats and the marching bands.

I know a lot of people who make their living building and painting
these floats all year- I love how old fashioned they are, still shining
with painstakingly applied gold and silver leaf. Some are satirical,
but most are just beautiful- you have to drink it all in quick as it goes by..

In the morning I wandered over to my dear friend Miss Raven’s house,
where we broke our fast on poached eggies and fruit salad and
caramel tea. Afterwards I experimented with my new camera,
peering at all of her treasures. The doll above is named Elspet,
and she suffers from acute elephantiasis of the lower extremities.

This dress used to belong to Mae West!

Masks and horns and mourning maidens..

Monsters loom overhead- beware!

Raven’s kitchen is one of my favorites- I ought to have tried to capture it,
and all the shades of green, but my breakfast distracted me.
I loved watching this arrangement of flowers and feathers on
the kitchen table be plucked at over the course of the holiday
and transformed into various headdresses and other adornments..

Isn’t this setting crazy? Lily magic! Cloud-cuckoo land!
I really had to figure out the camera quickly,
and I have to say- I am falling in love with it.
More evidence of this to be revealed very soon indeed!

All this woolgathering is thankfully intertupted
by a visit from two of my favorite people,
both very talented musicians and sweet-talkers..

This is Jack Martin, (aka Black Jack Shellac, the Devil’s Grimy Brother)

and this is Miss Courtney “Dainty” Lain (aka Pocketmouse Princess)
serenading us with her rendition of Lullaby of the Leaves,
one of my very favorite songs! She’s on her way to the city
by the bay, so look out for Herringbone Orchestra and hear it live!

Cradle me where southern skies
can watch me with a million eyes,
Oh sing me to sleep,
Lullaby of the leaves
Cover me with heavens blue
and let me dream a dream or two,
Oh sing me to sleep,
Lullaby of the leaves.
Im breezing along,
along with the breeze,
Im hearing a song,
a song through the trees,
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh.
That pine melody
caressing the shore
familiar to me,
I’ve heard it before
ooh ooh ooh ooh.
don’t I feel it in my soul,
And don’t I know I’ve reached my goal,
Oh sing me to sleep,
Lullaby of the Leaves.

We saw these rock-doves huddling
in the crape myrtles at Cafe Mundi
(where, incidentally, the chai is the most wonderful in town!)
I love the chubby one sitting on top of his pals!
They were so adorable- I’m glad I was able to
get a halfway decent picture, as it was gloaming..

I love this photograph by Anke Merzbach,
an amazing photographer I discovered through
the illustrious and inimitable COILHOUSE.

I need this hat, badly.
Check out her photostream,
it is enlightening and addicting.

I’ve been reading about
Cepes & Tuberose, a perfume by Aftelier
(by the way- I am obsessed with perfume,
but I read about it way more than I buy it-
or even wear it, for that matter)
The perfume is described as
“wild mushrooms with animal undertones
and one of the world’s most voluptuous florals”
Interesting..

I want to open it and go inside, please.
Who lives there, and can I come to tea?

I’ve begged and begged for some goats,
but we can’t have them because they will
eat up the garden. I must be satisfied with
bees and chickens, at least for the moment.
Goaties!

A Russian hunter traipsing through
Russia’s remote Arctic Yamalo-Nenetsk
region in May noticed what he thought
was a reindeer carcass sticking out of the damp snow.
On closer inspection, the “reindeer”
turned out to be a 40,000-year-old baby mammoth,
perfectly encased in ice.
- from National Geographic

Oh yes, and finally-
I just watched Mike Leigh’s
Secrets and Lies, for the first time..
It is such an incredible film-
if you haven’t seen it yet, you must!
Some interesting things I didn’t realize:
much of the dialogue was improvised
by the stellar cast- and a few days
before their mass suicide,
the Heaven’s Gate religious cult
watched Secrets & Lies at a cinema
(but really, don’t let that dissuade you!)

In case you didn’t know, Muncie is the real City of Gold.

Jewels line the sidewalk.

Desperately bored teenagers set fire to abandoned houses
in Francesca’s neighborhood- this one is right next door
to her house. It burned one night last October.

These flame vermillion poppies grow in the front yard,
growing fat on ashes and broken glass.

Laughing candy.

We took a tour of the Ball Mansions at Minnetrista, along the White River.
My favorite, Oakhurst, was the home of Elisabeth Ball,
poet, bookbinder, spinster and fairy-enthusiast.
This photograph is from one of her childhood
fairy tea-parties- as my friend Mlle. Bobisuthi
commented, it’s pleasing how disgruntled they look.
Elisabeth’s garden was a wild sprawl of mostly
blue and violet flowers, bleeding hearts
and many unusual plants I had never seen before..

A riot of pink blossoms entrances me!

This is my house, if I lived in Muncie.
It’s a grand Jacobean behemoth, crumbling into splinters-
it is my dreamy-dream We Have Always Lived in the Castle house.
“My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood.
I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance.
I have often thought that with any luck at all
I could have been born a werewolf, because
the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length,
but I have had to be content with what I had.
I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet,
and Amanita phalloides, the death cap mushroom.
Everyone else in my family is dead.”

The garden is an exquisite tangle of weeping cherry trees,
redbud in bloom, and crimson japanese maples.
Boxes of books line the wraparound porch,
apparently abandoned. Peering inside,
we could see a terrible wreck-
trash and boxes and antique radios
looming in the dim.
Oh, how I wish I could live there.

I would sit at this desk in the garden,
swatting mosquitoes the size of dragonflies
and write you a letter.