Blog

Poem: The Lent Lily by A. E. Houseman

The Lent Lily

‘Tis spring; come out to ramble  
The hilly brakes around,
For under thorn and bramble  
About the hollow ground  
The primroses are found.

And there’s the windflower chilly  
With all the winds at play,
And there’s the Lenten lily  
That has not long to stay  
And dies on Easter day.

And since till girls go maying  
You find the primrose still,
And find the windflower playing  
With every wind at will,  
But not the daffodil.

Bring baskets now, and sally  
Upon the spring’s array,
And bear from hill and valley  
The daffodil away  
That dies on Easter day.

A. E. Houseman

At the Cerritos Sculpture Garden

This place is an underrated gem.

I’ve always liked this one for some reason.

The duck is unimpressed.

That looks uncomfortable.

This is supposedly a model of the statue at the top of the U. S. Capitol.

I’m a fan of the curves.

Will no one stop that marauding horrible spiky red alien. Will no one thing of the children?

At the Cerritos Millennium Library…

The reading room. A little touch of Downton Abbey…

The entry to the First Ladies exhibit…

The Craftsman-style periodical room…

Art deco teen reading room…

I like some of Dale Chiluly’s glass installations, but this just looks like a collection of dirty hair nets stuck to the wall…

Entrance to the library, with lovely splash pad and dolphin fountain…

If you haven’t been, I highly recommend it.

2024 Movie Diary, Part 3

7. NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955)

A genuinely great and genuinely weird film. There’s absolutely nothing like it. Robert Mitchum’s unforgettable performance is justly lauded (see above), but I also loved Lillian Gish’s avenging angel to his roaring lion of a devil.
Verdict: It’s a damn shame Charles Laughton never directed another film.

8. BECKET (1964)

When Peter O’ Toole goes full Peter O’ Toole, no one stands a chance. Not even Richard Burton, who is very good and nuanced and interesting. But he’s no Peter O’ Toole. No one was, is, or likely ever will be again.
Verdict: Good stuff, although it does lose some steam when Burton gets religion.

9. GALAXY INVADER (1985)

Alien makes the mistake of landing in redneck country. Trashy, low-budget shenanigans ensue. That’s really all there is to say here.
Verdict: The Rifftrax version above is hilarious. If you’re going to spend time watching an alien-redneck movie, this is the way to do it.