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From the Dead Pt. 2

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

Abraham Lincoln

From the Dead Pt. 1

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.


George Washington
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

First Letter Predicted; Second Off by Preceding - Pt. 2 - Bloomsday

6pm - midnight 16 June 2007
Stout didn't work; so made way north ten blocks to Dubliner. There read and finished Penelope and [not accidentally] the novel; third time. Let us recall each the individual parts each.

With similar brusqueness, spent most of the morning spitting without much ceremony. Earliest I collect is an annoyance in my left nostril; seems that more than the other produces bother. Direct connection between this judgment and memories, store of experience; observations of many women that their left breast often outgrows, outshows the right.

I spend most of the day anticipating and entertaining children; trains, pirates, balloons, and the popular sounds of flatulence are anticipated. Rain begins at 6:25. Begin perambulation 7:05 in dark Dallas; D can stand for lots of things. Before long, I'm soaked and steaming; I recall the bath. Cigar: purchased upon arrival; street aptly named Green.

What are the contents of his carrying sack?
Ulysses. Joyce, James. Random House, NYC. 1961; composition journal; one (1) Stafford collared shirt, cappuccino, size 15; one (1) Merona wool sweater, green, M; one (1) stick of deodorizer; one (1) toothbrush, medium bristle; one (1) brown scapular; copy of "New Colour Pieta"; copy of New Testament; one (1) moleskine.

Houses along Belmont vary from new additions over old sites and the very distinct design of 1960s suburban Dallas homes; my preference is the older. Patios to stone. Rain quits sometime between 745 and 830. This is fortuitous, resuming travel 10 blocks north to Dubliner. Cordially, I am declined interior enjoyment of Romeo y Julieta Medallias de Oro 1875 and, politely, amicably, charitably asked to enjoy exteriorly.

Spent most of journey without corrective lenses [ Restrictions: A with corrective lenses]; travel through Henderson[eastnortheast]to Belmont[due east]to Greenville[due north] viewed at 20:100.

"Are you reading Harry Potter?" am asked. Cordially, amicably, charitably explain affectations[cigar, Macallan 12 year, 768pp novel, loneliness]; excused.

Must arrange transport. Granted no later than 12 30am June 17th. Must. Know the future.
This brings to mind prior observations of the imprecision of the word; I myself am able to be moved by myself. I am a self-mover. Appropriately, there were women seen[plural] and was a woman[singular] in thought repetitiously; repetitiously, this was most appropriate. I missed a wedding; distant acquaintance betroth'd, more proximate familial ties.
No funeral made schedule.
Today was Bloomsday.

A Languid Floating Flower - Pt. I - Bloomsday

12:45am 16/6/2007
I am small and hidden despite the heat, but this is insignificant and goes unnoticed. Having finished my glass, I set the book aside. Ceremoniously I tip the stemless drinkware and dab my finger into the leftover portion of wine, retracting and with a small shake, bless the bathwater. The dark red liquid marbles, disappearing and I continue to sweat. Contemplating the monument of this motion, I affirm and dip under the surface of the water. The deluge is in my ears; too long under.
As I myself emerge from water so water emerges from me. Brusquely I scrape my throat and give rise to semisolid saltiness. I unstop the natural downward tendency and let flow water into aqueducts near, then far, and with similar ritual, force downward from my lips at sharp angles red semisolid. I am no sommelier; gather your accoutrements and get into bed. Today is Bloomsday.

Epiphatic Exhaustion

If you happen to stumble upon this blog, it looks as though I've begun blogging again.

After this post, I will be retiring from the "blogosphere" for an indefinite period of time. Where this leaves ITU will be up to the other contributors.

In the spirit of ITU...

Top-Ten Reasons Why I'm Leaving (in reverse order)

10. Summer has left me with little to write about.
9. What I do have to write about, I don't want to write about.
8. There are many other things on my mind.
7. I'm unsatisfied with my writing so far.
6. There may or may not be a 6th reason.
5. There is no 5th reason.
4. It's essentially my blog, which I never wanted.
3. It has a tendency to turn into an inside joke.
2. It's not consistently interesting.
1. It never became what I intended it to be.

As for the last (#1), the blog has no purpose or direction other than each of the 12 contributors' whims. The problem is, only about three or four of us have whims that involve posting, and those whims are not very much connected throughout.

If I can develop an idea (see the linked-to posts at right for a hint), then I shall return, perhaps to ITU, perhaps elsewhere.

I was sitting on my back porch tonight, enjoying a cool breeze and smoking a cigarette as evening fell. All of a sudden the deepening shadows in my backyard were full of fireflies--bunches and bunches of fireflies. I never see fireflies in California.

A bird just crashed full-speed into the large window I happened to be looking out.