12 Comments
Mar 22Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

I would say that my favorite spot of time memory would be Richard Wilbur’s Love Calls Us to the Things of This World. When the eyes open to the cry of pulleys, and the body is between dream and waking, that’s the magical moment when angels appear and despite the dread of the day, the soul resolves to accept the body and go on about its business.

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Mar 22Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

Ah, to have been that young, to be that alive, and in Paris, what grand fun.

Having the first croissant that I enjoyed, on the isle of Morea, and coffee in the morning, with wonderful greenery and sea views. Ah yes, I remember it well.

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Mar 22Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

Hi Jody. That was from me -- Claudia's sister Stephanie. I didn't even realize as I was writing it that "café au lait" rhymes with "beignet!"

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I'm glad you subscribed, Stephanie, after your email! Those French rhymes in the poem are such a clever way to say "Paris" without saying "Paris."

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Mar 22Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

A lover of Paris, how could I help loving this?

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Mar 22Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

This is so vivid that it has me in tears. I just had a similar moment at the Café du Monde in New Orleans -- no greenery like scenery but café au lait and beignets!

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A gift—of timelessness in time.

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Mar 22Liked by Sally Thomas, Joseph Bottum

Moments of grace?

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I think many of the poets writing these poems might not have used that particular language, but yes, I would certainly understand this restorative action of memory as part of the work of grace.

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Mar 22·edited Mar 22Author

A special grace, then, Sally, since the memory of receiving that grace is itself another grace.

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Yes, right, I think that's what I was thinking. That basic action of restoration and renewal is what grace is and does, always and everywhere, but it multiplies itself as it returns via memory.

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