The Lovers’ Chronicle 12 November – embrace – birth of Juana Inés de la Cruz – art by Auguste Rodin

Dear Zazie, Here is today’s Lovers’ Chronicle from Mac Tag dedicated to his muse. Who do you embrace and who returns to embrace you? Rhett

The Lovers’ Chronicle

Dear Muse,

obvious choice from the Gershwin boys
“My sweet embraceable you”
and see how that fits with Rodin’s art,
The Embrace and The Kiss especially
“Very nice”
quite the change in perspective on this day
“How do you mean”
it started with imaginary ones
and ended with real ones
“Now is all that matters”
here embracin’ each other

starts with Rodin and those exquisite lines, then imagined scenes and ends with you, no way that arc could have been foreseen, not even sure what to call it; luck, fate, magic, whichever, classification does not matter, just bein’ in the amber of the moment, enough to keep goin’ and holdin’ on

from the first on the square in Decatur
to the one last night or this mornin’
the reason, a purpose to live, to keep
writin’ these tributes, little messages
to hurdle any obstacles, to make sense
of this grand ball we had no choice
in attendin’, an altar we built for this
embrace each other and our moments

Pale Love, Pale Rider

against the backdrop
of all that has come
and gone
other places and times

the totem topples

to be found
amidst such passion
of mind, spirit and flesh

the affect of these feelin’s
with you, fervent
whispers and caress

the purpose
comes into focus

to be in this embrace

against the backdrop
of another place and time
amidst whisperin’s, embrace
tenderness, adored bodies
swellin’ and tremblin’

the totem spins…

pleasure bursts in the flesh
the purpose grows bright,
shimmerin’ and desperate
in the shadows, ’round the vision

choose and chop off
whatever is not needed

the only thing
is to be moved
to tremble, to live
to be an artist

create a spark,
make a fire,
be willin’
to be consumed

the gift is nothin’
without the will
to make it worthwhile

you revealed me to myself
revealed to me, in your embrace

trapped in the amber
of any moment with you,
suits me just fine

against the backdrop
of another place and time
amidst whisperin’s
of passion and tenderness
bodies embrace
the totem spins…
the purpose grows bright

on this i cannot help but throw myself
in reveries revisited again and again

***

Zazie Lee: “I am using up your favorite cologne. Yeah! The rare one that you will never be able to duplicate or find again!”

He had somethin’ rare
And it was not
The damn cologne

“How much do you know
about fear?”
all there is

“Room service.”
i did not order anything
not even you

La forza del destino

i know, i know
you think i do not know that
never said i was not willin'
to pay the price

“Think on your sins.”
every dang day

“Do you think
you’ll be able to sleep now?”
i do not think the dead care

“I wish I could set you free.”
me too

quantum of solace
i suppose
in the verse
in you

for Julie

Dearest J,
Outta sight
Outta touch
But never
ever think
that it means
outta mind
Always, M

Near about nothin’ ’round here but
Hard times, near rhymes
All choked up again, here we go
Hard times, near rhymes

Been a very
frustratin’ week
So, tomorrow
mornin’, I am
gonna take it
out on the weights
Just stand clear and
nobody gits hurt

Spent too much time waitin’
for what; third or fourth chance
Easier now to just
believe in solitude

Open range, miles
From the nearest
Comfort. Campfire,
Moonlit night. My
Journals, my sketch
Book. My thoughts, my
Visions of you.

To all lovers:
The happy ones, and sad ones;
The sober and silent ones;
the boisterous and reserved ones
May y’all find that which you crave

And now, a vignette, a poem and a song. All for you.

Embrace
She tried to turn away from him, but he would not let her. He took her arm and turned her to face him. She started to speak but he put his finger to her lips. They stood there lookin’ into each other’s eyes for a moment. A moment that lengthened and lingered. A moment that became somethin’. Somethin’ they both needed. He knew it. She knew it. Then he took her in his arms and he held her. He held her firmly and she allowed herself to flow into the strength of his embrace, their embrace, an embrace that from then on would always be there. He slowly released her and took her hand and led her down the sidewalk to a bench. They sat on the bench as one. As they leaned back they leaned into each other and his arms once again went around her and they gave themselves to the embrace. All there was, all that mattered was the embrace and their thoughts. His were there with her and hers took her where she had to go. They stayed there as if askin’ the world to wait. They were sustained by each other, by two hearts findin’ unison, by the embrace.

Bein’ Embraced

Against the backdrop of fall; another place and time
Amidst whisperin’s of passion and tenderness
Adored bodies embrace, swellin’ and tremblin’
The totem spins…
Pleasure bursts in the gleamin’ flesh
The purpose of life grows bright,
Shimmerin’ and desperate
In the shadows, around the Vision

Shiverin’s mutter and rise
The furious affect of these feelin’s smolder
With fervent whisperin’ and tender caress
No matter that reality, hurls at this embrace
The totem keeps spinnin’…
Bodies cling, flesh joins

To see your face

To kiss your lips

To be in your embrace

On this I cannot help but throw myself
In reveries revisited again and again

The Song of the Day is “Embrace” by Dazzled Kid.

Today is the birthday of Auguste Rodin (François Auguste René Rodin; Paris 12 November 1840 – 17 November 1917 Meudon, France); sculptor.

From the unexpected realism of his first major figure – inspired by an 1875 trip to Italy – to the unconventional memorials whose commissions he later sought, Rodin’s reputation grew, and he became the preeminent French sculptor of his time. By 1900, he was a world-renowned artist. Private clients sought Rodin’s work after his World’s Fair exhibit, and he kept company with a variety of high-profile intellectuals and artists. His students included Antoine Bourdelle, Camille Claudel, Constantin Brâncuși, and Charles Despiau. He married his lifelong companion, Rose Beuret, in the last year of both their lives.

In 1883, Rodin agreed to supervise a course for sculptor Alfred Boucher in his absence, where he met the 18-year-old Claudel. The two formed a passionate but stormy relationship and influenced each other artistically. Claudel inspired Rodin as a model for many of his figures, and she was a talented sculptor, assisting him on commissions.

Claudel and Rodin parted in 1898. Claudel suffered an alleged nervous breakdown several years later and was confined to an institution for 30 years by her family, until her death in 1943, despite numerous attempts by doctors to explain to her mother and brother that she was sane.

Fifty-three years into their relationship, Rodin married Beuret. The wedding was 29 January 1917, and Beuret died two weeks later, on 16 February. Rodin was ill that year; in January, he suffered weakness from influenza, and on 16 November his physician announced that “congestion of the lungs has caused great weakness. The patient’s condition is grave.” Rodin died the next day, age 77, at his villa, on the outskirts of Paris.

A cast of The Thinker was placed next to his tomb in Meudon; it was Rodin’s wish that the figure served as his headstone and epitaph.

Gallery