The title of this blog comes from the Howard Nemerov poem “The Dependencies”:
Change is continuous on the seamless web,
Yet moments come like this one, when you feel
Upon your heart a signal to attend
The definite announcement of an end
Where one thing ceases and another starts…
Nemerov uses a spider’s web to meditate on times we awake to the world and recognize, at least momentarily, “intricate dependencies / spreading in secret through the vast fabric / of heaven and earth.” The essays on this blog arise from similar incidental discoveries, anything that lights synapses between one mystery and another and remakes the world.
I am an English teacher, visual artist, and writer in Chicago and, as in my other blog, hope to use this venue to practice writing and explore whatever thoughts arise from the process.
A book of revised blog posts and new material–The Lost Work of Wasps: An Essay in 243 Parts–is available on Amazon and Create Space.
Signals to Attend 
Welcome back, friend!
I’m so happy you found me again!
David. I thought you once asked us to stop you if you started blogging again. The problem? I didn’t want you to stop in the first place. So glad you’re back.
Best wishes for 2009. And I, too, have a new address: http://www.mischiefmaricookies.com/blog.
Yes, I am insane. This time around, I’m trying to pace myself a little better–separating my daily haiku and my other blogs, one or two posts a week, a regular visiting day for blogs I love, and other rules to keep me from exhausting myself. I haven’t had the time to create a blogroll, but, when I do–with your permission–I’ll put your address there.
I’m mostly back because I missed blogging. For me, writing is like exercise—if you don’t do it regularly, you quickly get out of shape.
Thanks for visiting!
I don’t know you. But some wonderful compelling stuff. As Berryman might suggest–you’re not allowed to know this–so keep going. –Peter
Thank you, and please don’t be a stranger. I hope you’ll come back.
a friend sent me a link to your blog, and up popped the entry for Feb 28, 2010 [‘the Little Way’]. A wonderful essay. i would only add what i always told my children “Comparisons are odious.”
I don’t know where the phrase originated but prases.org.uk says:
Origin
The earliest recorded use of this phrase appears to be by John Lydgate in his Debate between the horse, goose, and sheep, circa 1440:
“Odyous of olde been comparisonis, And of comparisonis engendyrd is haterede.”
It was used by several authors later, notably Cervantes, Christopher Marlowe and John Donne.
In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare gave Dogberry the line ‘comparisons are odorous’. It seems that he was using this ironically, knowing it to be a misuse of what would have been a well known phrase by 1599 when the play was written.
Whatever the origin, I’m glad your essay delved into comparisons, and found them as distasteful now as they were centuries ago.
thanks for the jottings.
Thank you for visiting. Odious as comparison is, I fall into comparisons too often and wish I didn’t…
There I was, rotting my mind, not only by reading an entire post on lovemesomebooks, but by actually reading the comments! At 8 a.m. no less, when I should have been doing my best work. But there you were, that kind face to go with a name too common for the memorable man it labels, and a characteristically pithy observation. Just as Carr’s book warns, I clicked to this blog, then to your previous one. It’s heartening to read your work again and good to see you’re well. Chicago? Weren’t you in Maryland?
I was in Delaware, a suburb of Maryland (and New Jersey and Pennsylvania), but we moved here six years ago. Since Bennington, I’ve been lurking on the internet, writing stuff a select few read and keeping my hand in at writing.
It’s great to hear from you, and I’ll be visiting your WordPress page soon.
Nemerov’s “signals to attend” sound to me like Woolf’s “moments of being.” Both have wonderful writing on those times our perception of the world shifts focus. In To the Lighthouse, Mrs. Dalloway moved a salt shaker, and then her life made a different sense to her.
I love To the Lighthouse… I wish my moment-to-moment perception could be so rich. Thank you for being such a loyal reader. I enjoy your blog too. I’m just shy about commenting.
Hey David, I’ve nominated you for a blogging award: http://wp.me/p1dHNL-1SPRHh
You can pay forward the love by following the 3 rules listed on my blog, or not — either way I just wanted to give you props. Hope it brings you a few new readers!
After almost two months of this unacknowledged comment staring at me like one good eye, I finally responded on your site. I never know what to do about these invitations. I’m so flattered, but I just feel awkward about the process and will have to decline passing it on. But I have added your blog to my list of favorite blogs… because I enjoy it thoroughly. Thanks again, David
No worries David — in fact I’m currently late on responding to a couple of these awards myself! I appreciate you taking the time to acknowledge it and best of luck in your future writing!
David, the book is fantastic. Here’s my post about it:
http://slowmuse.wordpress.com/2012/10/14/thanks-for-the-resonance/
Wow. Thanks so much for your support, not just with this but always. I know not what to say, except thank you. –D
Just bought your book. Looking forward to reading it.
I’m looking forward to hearing what you think. I haven’t really sold that many–it IS a strange book, really. I’m happy (and fearful) when another writer I admire picks it up, but I hope you enjoy it. And thank you. –D
I’m even more intrigued now that you’ve said it’s strange! I’ll let you know as soon as I read it!
–and you’re welcome, of course. Can’t wait.
I’ve nominated you for the Family of Bloggers award, my way of showing appreciation for the blogs I enjoy reading. You can learn more about it at http://deborahbrasket.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/a-family-of-bloggers-award/
I’ve read your comments about WCW’s poem “Nantucket” and have some information you might be interested in. Please contact me by email.
I’d love to hear… I’m certainly curious and will send you an e-mail. Thanks. –D
Hello from Maun, Botswana! Best wishes, Lynn
Oh, I realized I never thanked you for this! My collection of countries is more complete…
City or Burbs?
City. You must know how sensitive Chicagoans are about people saying they’re from Chicago when they mean “Chicagoland,” so when people ask me “What part?” I say “Old Town.” And that’s the city to me. It seems there are lots of cities in Chicago, though.
I know Old Town well…I didn’t know what school though…so many people think much of “Chicagoland” is Chicago…uggg….ignorance!
Half the time, people probably say “Chicago” because it’s convenient and much easier than explaining where exactly they are really from, but that strategy seldom seems to work out well. The city folk are always ready to catch them.
If you know Old Town, you may be able to guess my school. I make it a point never to name it on my blog, as I don’t want my working and creative lives more entangled than they already are. But clues are everywhere here.
I haven’t dug deep, I will but I’ll never say…I’m not from the City but I know the city well…worked and lived in many places in the City…now I’m not close but everyone says they’re from the City and I ask what part…the answer is usually a very far west, south or north something suburb that isn’t even the 1st one in any direction…the 1st one is almost like being a city person…hint I’ve also lived in 2 of those 😉
david, thanks for your generous comment – I’m working through some of your incredible essays and posts – truly stunning! I’ll certainly not be a stranger… ’til not too long, my friend