Clyde what a gift! Your personal history so lovingly told --feeling along from way deep inside the experiences and with the signature Clyde wit and flavor. It’s incredible. I love it so. I treasure newly knowing these experiences of yours and your family’s. It brings that older rural sweet Putney back to life for me too. I look forward to reading along every step of the way! When I got to your poem, Earth, my emotions spilled over. You have absolutely captured those memories and brought them forward through time-- intact and potent!!
yes. I like what Gove says about the Hindu way of seeing old age. Makes such sense to me. And your tree/leaf/soil image is a perfect illustration. One of my favorite paintings by Dad is the one hanging in our kitchen, the forest floor with a fallen maple, its stump, a sawed-off stump, and in the foreground, a little maple seedling.
This is so fantastic! I definitely could keep reading as well! I can't believe your parents had a divorce, I'm so sad about it way after the fact!!! How could such idealism and love ever end?
I write this on the day after the presidential debate. Your poem not only invokes things durable, it reminds me that the moment of each of us is passing and will pass.
It’s a little like what it must feel like to be blind - not knowing the impact you are having. Son Gove tells me Hindu culture sees old age as the 4th stage of life, in which you step back but remain available to the generations following you.
Simply delicious writing! It is as though I sit in the center of your minds eye, whether awake or dreaming, witnessing and feeling your life experiences. I will enjoy this journey with you, as you zoom in and out on the expanse of a life built brick by brick. Thank you.
It brings a tear to my eye! I had a similar childhood of free time and chores and I couldn’t be more grateful. This little piece covers a lot of ground.
I too look to the right for a sign of those chimneys when driving South on 91. I remember my one visit there with such warmth, clearly left quite an impression on me.
Love what you wrote. I want to see the brick you had fired at Densmore brick!
Thank you, Carolyn. It seemed as magical at the time, and as beautiful, as my grandmother! I see you're starting a Substack site -- let me know when it's up!
Astonishingly vivid. I LOVE this excerpt. I want to read on and on !!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
Clydie -- it is truly amazing to read this and know that this really is the way we grew up. What a gift our parents gave us.
Yes, Louise -- what times we had there...with us always.
Clyde what a gift! Your personal history so lovingly told --feeling along from way deep inside the experiences and with the signature Clyde wit and flavor. It’s incredible. I love it so. I treasure newly knowing these experiences of yours and your family’s. It brings that older rural sweet Putney back to life for me too. I look forward to reading along every step of the way! When I got to your poem, Earth, my emotions spilled over. You have absolutely captured those memories and brought them forward through time-- intact and potent!!
I love you so.
thanks Michele, for accompanying me on this journey -- and for your words.
Like a forest floor full of fallen trees rotting into new soil
yes. I like what Gove says about the Hindu way of seeing old age. Makes such sense to me. And your tree/leaf/soil image is a perfect illustration. One of my favorite paintings by Dad is the one hanging in our kitchen, the forest floor with a fallen maple, its stump, a sawed-off stump, and in the foreground, a little maple seedling.
Lovely, Clyde! So glad you’re sharing these pieces!
This is such skilled, beautiful writing. It evokes bounty and warmth and the promise of sorrow and loss. Thank you for sharing it, Clyde….
Thank you, Patricia--our childhood homes hold so much of our roots in them, don't they. So much comes flooding back, even in just picturing it!
This is so fantastic! I definitely could keep reading as well! I can't believe your parents had a divorce, I'm so sad about it way after the fact!!! How could such idealism and love ever end?
Yes, indeed there was sadness at the time -- but now the gift of love, freedom, & idealism instilled way back then remains.
But why did they separate?? Will that be covered in the memoir? I imagine so!
I write this on the day after the presidential debate. Your poem not only invokes things durable, it reminds me that the moment of each of us is passing and will pass.
...yet our imprint may contribute to new moments, moments that we won't ever see--it's odd, isn't it ...
It’s a little like what it must feel like to be blind - not knowing the impact you are having. Son Gove tells me Hindu culture sees old age as the 4th stage of life, in which you step back but remain available to the generations following you.
Just beautiful.
Simply delicious writing! It is as though I sit in the center of your minds eye, whether awake or dreaming, witnessing and feeling your life experiences. I will enjoy this journey with you, as you zoom in and out on the expanse of a life built brick by brick. Thank you.
Thanks Pam -- I love how you put it!
Just beautiful. The yearning and love for that home, along with such vivid details -- you captured everything.
It's so visceral, that yearning & love...as you well know...
Thank you Clyde. A perfect beginning, I will share with my siblings.
I feel blessed to receive such offerings.
Thank you Doug--so glad to have you as a reader.
It brings a tear to my eye! I had a similar childhood of free time and chores and I couldn’t be more grateful. This little piece covers a lot of ground.
Thank you for commenting, Holly! Those memories form the bedrock of our psyches.
I too look to the right for a sign of those chimneys when driving South on 91. I remember my one visit there with such warmth, clearly left quite an impression on me.
Love what you wrote. I want to see the brick you had fired at Densmore brick!
Thank you Abby-- I wish I could find that brick! I am sure I took it with me that last day but it has never turned up. If you go to the link now I added a photo so you can at least see the house & environs from above: https://open.substack.com/pub/clydewatson/p/bricks?r=oiks5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Clyde, I love this, and especially the brick. And the iridescent bowl.
Thank you, Carolyn. It seemed as magical at the time, and as beautiful, as my grandmother! I see you're starting a Substack site -- let me know when it's up!