Last post I told you I’ve been slowed down again . . .and a few days later I opened Raynor Winn’s latest book, Landlines, in which she quoted the Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue (1956-2008).
So because I’m a bit slow putting together the May book post (almost done, but I need another day or two)
. . . and because O’Donohue’s gentle, wise, and beautiful poem suits my current state (and perhaps yours, or perhaps you’ll want to tuck it away for when you need to slow down again some day). . .
This is the time to be slow, Lie low to the wall Until the bitter weather passes. Try, as best you can, not to let The wire brush of doubt Scrape from your heart All sense of yourself And your hesitant light. If you remain generous, Time will come good; And you will find your feet Again on fresh pastures of promise, Where the air will be kind And blushed with beginning. From John O’Donohue’s book To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings You can learn more about John O'Donohue here where you'll find the transcript of an interview with him by Krista Tippett.
. . . and because I have a new pair of Summer Sandals I sketched into my journal and painted with shimmery gold metallic paint (I mean I painted the sketch, not the sandals — they already glimmered gold on their own!
I sketched them quickly, but I’m breaking them in S-L-O-W-L-Y, not wanting to invite any blisters. . . .
For all those “becauses,” here’s a quick post for you, from a slowed-down blogger who hopes you’ll leave a comment. Your choice: slowly or quickly. . . 😉
Chat soon,
xo,
f
Lovely! Poem,sandals and the sketch
Dottoressa
Author
Grazie mille!
Shiny sandals and a poem – a treat!
Author
Pleased you enjoyed 😉
Oh my goodness Frances – I LOVE those sandals and so beautifully drawn. Like you, I would be taking it easy so as to not get any blisters, which would then render the much loved footwear to the evil pile 😉
Yesterday, my younger daughter shared a picture of golden glittery sandals she had just bought for her trip to Portugal and so now I have sandal FOMO ( is that a thing ? )
Thanks also for sharing that perfect poem, which strikes a chord with me at the moment, is very good to be reminded to not let the wire brush of doubt seep in.
Sitting writing this in a very warm and sunny Edinburgh at 8 .30 ( almost too warm ).
I look forward to seeing you out and about in softened sandals soon on IG
Margaret x
Author
I do think that sandal FOMO might be very much a thing and apologies for inciting it. . .I wore them to meet a friend for apéro yesterday — only half a kilometre away, so a good tryout and I’m still blister-free. Might take them a bit further soon.
It’s good, that poem, isn’t it. That wire brush can scrape very roughly if we’re not careful. . .
How interesting. I had not heard of John O’Donohue until he was mentioned in my study group featuring Christian mystics yesterday. Now I have another reference to explore. Thank you!
Author
I’d never heard of him either but have been poking around to find out more — and of course we’ll both notice his name more now that our attention as been drawn to it. . .
“the wire brush of doubt” – very evocative.
And wonderful sandals, may they take you many intriguing
places.
Ceci
Author
It’s a sticky phrase, isn’t it (although the “seeps” afterward, hmmm?)
Ooh, I like that wish for these sandals! Thank you!
Really needed that poem today! Thanks also for the paint reference, for when the bitter weather passes!
Author
Aw, I’m glad it was there for you . . . and the bitter weather does pass. Take care.
‘…the air will be kind and blushed with beginning…’
I like your new sandals. The gleam of the gold in your sketch really comes through on my monitor. I bought new sandals today but they are brown, now I have a brown pair and a black pair.
I’ve had a slow week so far, in the middle of a hectic month. A pause for regularly scheduled maintenance and then yesterday a massage at a new-to-me studio. AND! I had my wits about me enough to ask him to please not talk (so I could pay attention to my body) and he did not. It was wonderful. I wanted to make another appointment for today but I stopped myself. 🙂
Author
I couldn’t resist the gold, but I also bought a (less expensive, also fisherman) black pair because I can be practical as well 😉
That massage — it’s what I’ve been thinking of, and I know exactly whereof you speak: a massage always convinces me that I would be a better person if I had them daily, weekly at least. . . . #thingsitwouldbeworthwinningthelotteryfor
I have some sandals similar to those but they are a nut brown colour . Yours are very snazzy & make mine seem rather boring . I’m liking colourful shoes these days . I’ve some orangey suede walking shoes that really brighten a dull day when I look down at them . I may be becoming more eccentric.
Author
See my response to Georgia re practical sandals. But I do think shoes can brighten a dull day and I also think if ever there were a time to become (more) eccentric, this is probably it! Orangey suede shoes for the win! 😉
What fabulous sandals and a very fine sketch of them! I love a bit of shine in footwear and my favourite summer shoes are black patent leather Birkenstocks (dearly missed at the moment because it’s definitely closed shoes and warm socks weather here).
What a beautiful poem, so incisive and comforting. Perhaps I related to it because I’ve been pretty slow since my very busy 4 days in Melbourne last week? However, I did have two events in my calendar yesterday (Friday). A morning book group meeting where we discussed Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age. I’d read it a couple of years ago and enjoyed it for its insights into black culture and the lives of young people finding their way after college, but other members thought it unsatisfying, not fully realised, with unlikeable characters.
This was followed by lunch with two women I’d worked with 25 years ago. It was our first post-Covid catch up and there was a great deal to say – all very enjoyable and satisfying!
Author
Thanks Maria! It was fun to sketch the sandals — and even more fun to wear them! Black patent Birks would suit me as well!
I’m surprised your book group found Such a Fun Age unsatisfying. I read it a few years ago as well, and like you, found it insightful, nuanced, and entertaining, if sometimes uncomfortable (I included the photo of my Reading Journal notes back in this post but didn’t transcribe them — you’d have to decipher my handwriting if you want to see what I wrote. May I admit that I sometimes get impatient with reader insistence on “likeable characters”?
A lovely poem, new sandals, time to sketch. Really is more needed. I increasingly think that sewing down is a good thing. I find myself more able to find moments of peace and joy, less inclined to feel overcome, to burst into tears. Why then is it I need to be physically forced into slowing down. Perhaps I should post those letters — S. L. O. W. around the house to remind myself that no one is taking an accounting by me, myself and I.
I just love the way those sandals catch the light. That light gold, not too smooth, in some way embodies slow to me. There’s room for many observations in that shine.
Author
Reflective meditations in/on a sandal 😉
Somehow I missed this post when it went live. The sketch caught my eye in the preview photos. That is a great poem, with good advice.
Love the sandals. Did they break in well? What is the brand? The soles look sturdy. I’ve been on the hunt for fisherman sandals, but the ones I’ve found so far look like they might hurt my feet. I’m a wimp about that. My plan is to find a brown pair, but that gold pair is very appealing.
Author
Isn’t that a lovely poem.
The sandals are by an Italian company, MOMA. The soles are leather, so can be resoled which is important to me. The leather does need to be broken in, but doesn’t take too long to do so.