I am a cage, in search of a bird

More accurate than a Buzzfeed quiz; less accurate than your therapist’s raised eyebrow.🤨

 

🦤 Mindplay Friday: Which Summer Bird Are You? 🦜 

 

The trees are green, the feeders are busy, and the morning air is full of song. 

Answer these five questions to discover which familiar Midwestern summer bird 

matches your personality!

---

1. How do you prefer to spend time with other people?

A. In a close-knit group of friends
B. Entertaining everyone with stories and conversation
C. One-on-one or in small gatherings
D. Floating between groups as the mood strikes

2. Which quality do you admire most?

A. Loyalty
B. Creativity
C. Grace
D. Adaptability

3. Your ideal summer afternoon involves:

A. A backyard barbecue
B. Exploring somewhere new
C. A peaceful walk in nature
D. A little bit of everything

4. Which description sounds most like you?

A. Friendly and dependable
B. Expressive and clever
C. Calm and observant
D. Curious and energetic

5. Choose a place to perch:

A. A sturdy fence post
B. A hidden branch where I can watch everything
C. The top of a flowering tree
D. Anywhere with a good view and something interesting happening

    Results in the comments!

 

[quiz generated by chatGPT; the title quotation is by Franz Kafka, from The Diaries]

marriage...is a disconcerting mystery

Average rating: 7.5 (6.6 if the outlier is included)

Mustang Country (1976) - "An aging rancher and a young runaway set out to capture a legendary wild mustang, beginning a quiet adventure through the American West that becomes as much about family, responsibility, and growing up as it is about the horse itself. Along the way, both discover that courage is often found in patience, kindness, and respect for the natural world. A gentle, old-fashioned family western that values character over spectacle." 

length: 1h, 19m  |  source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection  |  directed by John C Champion  |  why I watched: I love Joel McCrea, and will take any opportunity to watch his movies

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: N/A  |  my IMDb: 6/10  |  MPAA: G

tone & texture: warm, textured/earthy

notable quote: "All there is, is good luck and bad. Both of them are part of livin'."

my notes: McCrea is marvelously comfortable in his own skin. This is one of his last films, and it's a wonderful counterpoint to his earlier work. He's calm, and seems more prone to listening than to waiting to speak. His relationships with people and animals are realistic and expressive. It's not the most complex plot ever, but what there is is entertaining and sensible. 

themes: found family, hope, identity

overall: mildly recommended

 

3 Days to Kill (2014) - "Terminally ill CIA operative Ethan Renner sets out to repair the family life he sacrificed for decades of dangerous work, but one final assignment forces him to balance international espionage with the far more daunting challenge of becoming a real father to his teenage daughter. Blending action, comedy, and genuine family drama, the film explores whether a man defined by violence can still learn to be present for the people who matter most before time runs out." 

length: 1h, 57m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by McG  |  why I watched: I've seen it before (previously reviewed here) and was interested in a re-view

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 27% / NA Audience  |  my IMDb: 7/10  |  MPAA: PG-13

written & co-produced by Luc Besson, of The Professional and La Femme Nikita fame 

tone & texture: gritty, crisp & modern

notable quote: "I'm gonna need a new suit."

my notes: this is an unsettlingly stupid movie that somehow manages to be entertaining and compelling. I f'ing HATE Amber Heard's acting, particularly in this thankless role that Meryl Streep couldn't have made comprehensible. The rest of the cast is really good, though, and manages to seem like they've got it going on. (OK, all except the CIA Director, played through a haze of cheese so thick you could stand a chip in it by Raymond J Barry.) 

    There's a moment toward the end of the film (1:44:19, if you want to look it up) where Costner's Renner is looking down over a balcony, at a party. He's lit from below with a neon green light. His face is creased and weathered, but his eyes are piercing. He's got a couple days' stubble and a more distinct mustache that hasn't been trimmed, so it's probably making his nose itch. He looks smart, capable, and like he needs a week-long nap. And this movie star's comfort in his own skin is why I like this movie. It's not the best action, comedy, or family film ever made, but it's hella entertaining and way more thinky than it seems. 

themes: redemption, love

overall:  recommended

Four Faces West (1948) - "Desperate to save his family's ranch, honorable cowboy Ross McEwen commits the one crime he believes he can still live with, leaving behind an IOU and hoping someday to repay what he has taken. As he flees westward, pursued by Sheriff Pat Garrett and aided by unexpected acts of kindness, McEwen discovers that his greatest challenge isn't outrunning the law but remaining true to himself in a world where trust, decency, and compassion are constantly being tested. More gentle character drama than traditional shoot-'em-up, Four Faces West is a quietly moving Western about conscience, honor, and the surprising generosity of strangers." 

length: 1h, 29m  |  source: I borrowed the DVD from my parents' collection  |  directed by Alfred E Green  |  why I watched: it's my favorite Western (previously reviewed here and here) and I like to watch it every year or so

IMDb: 7.0/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: NA% / 71% Audience  |  my IMDb: 9/10  |  MPAA: Approved

tone & texture: straightforward, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "Everybody gets law-abiding when there's a reward at stake."

my notes: it's a rare movie where there is no "bad guy", people treat others decently, there is zero cursing - and it is still engrossing and fun to watch. Joel McCrea is my vote for the best listener in cinema, and he can do it seamlessly and organically. He seems like a guy I'd like to sit on a porch with, drinking iced tea and not talking at all, just being. His McEwen character is a regular guy (who also happens to be brilliant on a horse).

themes: justice, love, courage

overall: highly recommended

Parker (2013) - "After a double-cross leaves him for dead, professional thief Parker sets out to recover both his share of the money and the principles he refuses to abandon, tracking the crew that betrayed him to an affluent Florida community preparing for a spectacular heist. Forced into an uneasy alliance with a struggling real estate agent who longs for a more exciting life, Parker must balance meticulous planning, brutal efficiency, and his own uncompromising moral code. Equal parts crime thriller, caper, and character study, Parker explores the curious honor that can exist among thieves—and what happens when that honor is broken." 

length: 1h, 58m  |  source: I owned the DVD  |  directed by Taylor Hackford  |  why I watched: Statham, of course

IMDb: 6.2/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 42% / 48% Audience  |  my IMDb: DNF  |  MPAA: R

tone & texture: straightforward, crisp & modern

notable quote: "If you don't tell me what I need to know, I'm gonna press down on this chair until it crushes your trachea. Trust me, it's agonizing. Plus, there's the posthumous humiliation of having been killed with a chair."

my notes: I watched a third of it before giving up. It never made me care at all for the characters or the storyline. Statham is at his best, in my estimation, in films where he's either part of a big ensemble working for a common mission (Lock, Stock, for instance, or The Expendables), or where he's a weary loner with great competence and an exhausting backstory (Redemption, Safe, Wrath of Man...). Movies where he's an incomprehensible hardass or a romantic hero (Death Race, In the Name of the King) are hard to like. 

themes: identity

overall: not  recommended

 

La Ronde {The Circle Dance} (1950) - "Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, a succession of chance meetings, flirtations, affairs, and fleeting romances links people from every level of society into an elegant chain of desire. As each encounter gives way to the next, the boundaries between comedy and melancholy begin to blur, revealing the fragile hopes, vanities, and longings that unite people regardless of class or circumstance. Graceful, witty, and quietly bittersweet, La Ronde is less interested in judging its lovers than in observing the endlessly repeating patterns of human connection." 

length: 1h, 33m  |  source: my DVD  |  directed by Max Ophüls  |  why I watched: I'm fascinated with the films of Anton Walbrook, who plays the Master of Ceremonies, and also with this director's films

IMDb: 7.4/10  |  Rotten Tomatoes: 94% / 83% Audience  |  my IMDb: 8/10  |  MPAA: Not rated

tone & texture: playful, classic Hollywood polish

notable quote: "I'm the personification of your desire."

my notes: such a unique premise for a movie! My favorite vignette was 'the Count and the Prostitute', with 'the Young Man and the Married Woman' a close second. Walbrook was adorable, charming and disarming as the Master of Ceremonies. My favorite film aspects were the lighting and the framing (including various shots of female characters through their ornate head- and foot-boards). I was entertained and left to think about it all.

themes: tradition vs. change, love, hope, disillusionment, loyalty

overall: strongly recommended

 

[the title quotation is from La Ronde]

a spark in the bright flare Of the possible

Remember, every lover is a corsair seeking glory, 

An x-marks-the-spot, a longing for invisible treasure, 

 

Every lover is an end-point and a start-point 

In the history of the world, a spark in the bright flare 

 

Of the possible. Our swashbuckling lovers remind us: 

Once we were lazing children, 

 

Housebound and shoreless, 

With no concept of the sea 

 

But now there’s the ocean’s blue spool, 

Fleet-winged gulls, windblown caravels, 

 

Even spouting whales, 

Crow’s nests, and clouds like a white armada— 

 

And so, when we relinquish the body’s treasure map, our lovers 

Discover us the way the sailcloth in the rigging 

 

Fills with the trade winds, from the last of the night’s stars 

Through the lavish tangerine of dawn, our ships 

 

Gliding over sheets of light-glazed silver. 

 

[Cyrus Cassells {1957- } and Brian Turner {1967- } 'Corsair'; originally published in Poem-a-Day on November 29, 2023]

every strike brings me closer to the next home run

More accurate than a Buzzfeed quiz; less accurate than your therapist’s raised eyebrow.🤨

 

☀️ Mindplay Friday: Which Summer Olympic Sport Are You? 🏅 

 

Some people are built for speed. 

Others thrive on precision, endurance, strategy, or teamwork. 

And some of us are happiest cheering from the couch with snacks. 

Answer these five questions to discover your Olympic destiny!

---

1. Which quality best describes you?

A. Determined
B. Precise
C. Adaptable
D. Enthusiastic

2. You are given a difficult challenge. What is your approach?

A. Push through and outlast it
B. Study it carefully before acting
C. Adjust as circumstances change
D. Find the fun in the process

3. Which environment appeals most?

A. Open roads and long distances
B. Quiet concentration
C. Fast-moving action
D. A comfortable chair with a good view

4. Which accomplishment sounds most satisfying?

A. Finishing something extremely difficult
B. Executing something flawlessly
C. Succeeding under pressure
D. Experiencing something memorable

5. Pick a motto:

A. "Keep going."
B. "Aim carefully."
C. "Stay flexible."
D. "Life is meant to be enjoyed."

    Results in the comments!

 

[quiz generated by chatGPT; the title quotation is attributed to Babe Ruth]

so many hungry years after

Why not a meadow? 

Why not a little clearing and a stream 

to wade in? Why not take our pants off, 

a little respite from our partners 

who couldn’t see us, who’d never see us 

no matter what we did? What we did was wrong, 

the way we did it. It was miraculous, 

it took hold long after 

we trudged back to our spouses. 

So many years harboring a secret. 

Thank you for telling me 

about growing up in Queens, daddy’s 

milk truck skittering about Northern Boulevard 

looking for your favorite ice cream. 

And the darkness: how shades were drawn, 

how your mother would never recover 

from your father. How many of us 

have been stymied by those early dramas 

until we married them? So many years, 

so many hungry years after. 

Thank you for the apricots in the mail, 

thank you more for appearing at my door 

with so little time left: no going back 

to field our regrets. Old 

as we are, you are here and now, 

why not a meadow and a clearing? 

 

[Ira Sadoff {1945- } 'Thank you', originally published in Poem-a-Day on December 1, 2023]

a good night sleep, or a ten minute bawl, or a pint of chocolate ice cream, or all three together, is good medicine

More accurate than a Buzzfeed quiz; less accurate than your therapist’s raised eyebrow.🤨

 

🍨 Mindplay Friday: Which Ice Cream Topping Are You? 🍦 

 

Some people are classic hot fudge. Others are rainbow sprinkles chaos. 

Answer these five questions to discover which ice cream topping best matches your personality!

---

1. You have a free Saturday afternoon. What sounds best?

A. Visiting a favorite place you've loved for years
B. Trying something adventurous and unexpected
C. Spending time with friends and family
D. Curling up with a book, movie, or hobby

2. Which quality do people most appreciate about you?

A. Reliability
B. Creativity
C. Warmth
D. Thoughtfulness

3. Your ideal vacation involves:

A. A well-planned itinerary
B. Exploring somewhere new
C. Sharing experiences with others
D. Quiet beauty and reflection

4. Which animal appeals to you most?

A. Horse
B. Parrot
C. Dog
D. Owl

5. Pick a color:

A. Rich brown
B. Rainbow mix
C. Bright red
D. Deep blue

Results in the comments!

 

[quiz generated by chatGPT; the title quotation is by Ray Bradbury, from Dandelion Wine]

you can always start over, saddle a fresh horse and take another trail

More accurate than a Buzzfeed quiz; less accurate than your therapist’s raised eyebrow.🤨

🤠 Mindplay Friday: Which Western Hero Are You? 🤠 

The frontier can be a lonely place. Some heroes rely on grit, some on wisdom, some on courage, and some on sheer stubbornness. Answer these five questions to discover which Western hero rides closest to your trail.

---

1. A stranger arrives in town with trouble following behind. What do you do?

A. Hear them out before deciding anything
B. Keep an eye on them and gather information
C. Offer help immediately
D. Tell them trouble follows people for a reason

2. Which quality matters most?

A. Integrity
B. Competence
C. Courage
D. Independence

3. Your ideal horse would be:

A. Dependable and steady
B. Smart and responsive
C. Fast and fearless
D. Tough enough to survive anything

4. How do you handle conflict?

A. Try to prevent it if possible
B. Study the situation before acting
C. Face it directly
D. Let others underestimate you

5. Which landscape appeals most?

A. Open grasslands
B. Rolling hills and hidden valleys
C. Rugged mountains
D. Desert country stretching to the horizon

Results in the comments! 

 

[the title quotation is by Louis L'Amour, from The Proving Trail]

living in reverse

It’s autumn, and we’re getting rid 

of books, getting ready to retire, 

to move some place smaller, more 

manageable. We’re living in reverse, 

age-proofing the new house, nothing 

on the floors to trip over, no hindrances 

to the slowed mechanisms of our bodies, 

a small table for two. Our world is 

shrinking, our closets mostly empty, 

gone the tight skirts and dancing shoes, 

the bells and whistles. Now, when 

someone comes to visit and admires 

our complete works of Shakespeare, 

the hawk feather in the open dictionary, 

the iron angel on a shelf, we say 

take them. This is the most important 

time of all, the age of divestment, 

knowing what we leave behind is 

like the fragrance of blossoming trees 

that grows stronger after 

you’ve passed them, breathing 

them in for a moment before 

breathing them out. An ordinary 

Tuesday when one of you says 

I dare you, and the other one just laughs. 

 

[Dorianne Laux {1952- } 'I Dare You'; originally published in Poem-a-Day on April 4, 2023]

as close as we're ever likely to get

        Somewhere between what it feels like, to be at 

one with the sea, and to understand the sea as 

mere context for the boat whose engine refuses 

finally to turn over: yeah, I know the place—

stumbled into it myself, once; twice, almost. All 

around and in between the two trees that 

grow there, tree of compassion and—much taller—

tree of pity, its bark more bronze, the snow 

        settled as if an openness of any kind meant, as well, 

a woundedness that, by filling it, the snow 

might heal.... You know what I think? I think if we're 

lost, you should know exactly where, by now; I've 

watched you stare long and hard enough at the map 

already... I'm beginning to think I may never 

not be undecided, about all sorts of things: whether 

snow really does resemble the broken laughter 

        of the long abandoned when what left comes back 

big-time; whether gratitude's just a haunted 

space like any other. This place sounds daily 

more like a theater of war, each time I listen to it—

loss, surprise, victory, being only three of the countless 

fates, if you want to call them that, that we don't 

so much live with, it seems, as live for now among. If as 

close as we're ever likely to get, you and I, is this—this close—  

 

[Carl Phillips {1959- } 'The Way One Animal Trusts Another', from Wild is the Wind]

a foraging wild creature, intent above all upon survival, is as strong as the grass

More accurate than a Buzzfeed quiz; less accurate than your therapist’s raised eyebrow.🤨

 

🐾 Which Wild Creature Calls to You? 🐾

 

Some animals embody quiet depth, others fierce independence, others playful curiosity or soaring freedom. The natural world reflects many ways of being. Which wild creature resonates most with your spirit? Take this quiz to find out which call you hear most clearly.  

---

1. The landscape that feels most like home is: 

    A. Vast open ocean under a wide sky. 

    B. Dense jungle where every movement matters. 

    C. Rocky cliffs where the wind carries you forward. 

    D. Wide grasslands full of motion and life. 

 

2. Your natural approach to challenges is: 

    A. Move with patience and deep awareness. 

    B. Focus intensely and strike decisively. 

    C. Rise above the situation and see the whole picture. 

    D. Adapt quickly and keep moving. 

 

3. Others tend to see you as: 

    A. Calm, deep, and quietly powerful. 

    B. Intense and fiercely independent. 

    C. Observant and free-spirited. 

    D. Curious and energetic. 

 

4. Your energy in the world feels most like: 

    A. A deep current moving beneath the surface. 

    B. A focused presence that commands respect. 

    C. A soaring sense of perspective. 

    D. A lively spark that keeps things in motion. 

 

5. The feeling that resonates most with you is: 

    A. The vast mystery of the deep. 

    B. The thrill of quiet strength. 

    C. The freedom of open skies. 

    D. The joy of movement and discovery. 

 

Results in the comments! 

 

[the title quotation is by Richard Adams, from Watership Down]

excuse me

I go down to the shore in the morning

and depending on the hour the waves

are rolling in or moving out,

and I say, oh, I am miserable,

what shall—

what should I do? And the sea says

in its lovely voice:

Excuse me, I have work to do. 

 

[Mary Oliver {1935-2019}, 'I Go Down to the Shore', from A Thousand Mornings]

go beyond the restrictions of your era, forget about purpose or meaning, separate yourself from historical limitations

More accurate than a Buzzfeed quiz; less accurate than your therapist’s raised eyebrow.🤨

 

⏳ Which Historical Era Are You From? ⏳

 

Every era of history carries its own spirit—times of exploration, invention, elegance, and dramatic change. Some people feel drawn to quiet intellectual ages, others to bold periods of discovery or creativity. If your personality belonged to another century, when might you feel most at home? Take this quiz to discover your historical era.  

---

1. Your ideal way to spend an afternoon would be: 

    A. Debating ideas with thoughtful people. 

    B. Exploring somewhere new and unfamiliar. 

    C. Creating art, music, or literature. 

    D. Enjoying a refined social gathering. 

 

2. The kind of story you enjoy most is: 

    A. Philosophical or intellectual journeys. 

    B. Adventures across unknown lands. 

    C. Dramatic artistic movements. 

    D. Intricate social relationships. 

 

3. The atmosphere you’re most drawn to is: 

    A. Libraries, academies, and lively debate. 

    B. Ships, maps, and distant horizons. 

    C. Studios, cafés, and creative circles. 

    D. Ballrooms, gardens, and elegant conversation. 

 

4. Your friends might say you are: 

    A. Thoughtful and intellectually curious. 

    B. Bold and adventurous. 

    C. Creative and expressive. 

    D. Graceful and socially perceptive. 

 

5. If you could witness one historical scene, it would be: 

    A. Philosophers exchanging ideas. 

    B. Explorers setting sail into the unknown. 

    C. Artists unveiling bold new works. 

    D. A refined gathering full of wit and conversation. 

 

Results in the comments! 

 

[the title quotation is from Santoka Taneda, in Mountain Tasting: Haiku and Journals of Santoka Taneda]

the world won't last. What are You? What am I?

    This is the newest in a recurring series called The Interview Game, the first of which was conducted by Michael and posted here, and the most recent of which was conducted by The Onion and posted here. These questions were posed by my mysterious friend Elliott.     

    Questions are always welcome, to appear in future posts. Add in the comments or send them directly to me by private message.

---

1. You inherit a perfectly ordinary house from a mysterious relative. In the attic, you discover one locked trunk. Inside can be anything except money. What do you hope is in it, and why? 

    a novel, handwritten, never published. Preferably hand-illustrated as well. To be able to read something that is essentially secret until that moment would be amazing. Even if it's not the best work ever written, it would be an honor and a gift. 

 

2. You've written before about films, books, objects, places, and even rooms that seem to gather emotional weight over time. What's something you own that has become far more important to you than it had any right to be when you first acquired it? 

    putting aside the obvious things like letters from friends who've died... the first thing that comes to mind is my wedding ring. I've long since traded away the engagement ring (for the diamond earrings I'm wearing right this moment, in fact). The wedding band, I had made smaller so it fits my pinkie, and also had the inscription buffed out. I wear it on a chain with some other charms. The ring seems to stand for affection and loyalty, and the idea that I was once the kind of person who could be so loving, and so loved. 

 

3. You have one free day, no obligations, no errands, no guilt, and a modest amount of spending money. What does the day actually look like from waking up to going to bed? 

    sleep, eat, read, sleep, eat, movies, sleep. My desires are simple.

    If it had to involve going out, I'd wander the downtown bookstore near the financial company where I used to work, then get red beans & rice from the BBQ place. I'd come home, eat spicy food, and read - probably poetry. 

 

4. What's a belief or assumption you held at twenty that you now find charming, misguided, incomplete, or surprisingly correct?

    charming: love wins in the end

    misguided: "I deserve it" is sufficient reason for whatever indulgence appeals at the moment

    incomplete: any phrase starting education is..., education will..., or education justifies...

    surprisingly correct: living away, at least for a while, is the right thing for me to do 

 
5. Suppose a friend who knows you very well is asked to describe you in one paragraph. What's the thing you hope they mention, and what's the thing you suspect they'd mention instead?

    I would hope they would mention sometimes-surprising thoughtfulness, e.g. well-chosen cards. I would suspect they would mention organization or detail (which I consider a thing that I do, but not necessarily a thing that I am).

 

6. What's the most beautiful thing you've ever bought for a completely impractical reason?

    this photo print ("Couples, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh (1966)") by Robert Blomfield, upon which I splurged—big time—and that I never, ever regretted. It hangs in my bedroom (now with a tiny watering can and an even tinier glass cat perched on the frame) and always, always brings me peace and joy to see. (Read this post for more on the subject.) Owning something purely for the feelings it gives to look at it is highly impractical, but by no means irrational. 

 

7. What subject could someone accidentally get you talking about for three hours?

    houseplant care

8. What's something you've become better at letting go of?

   tangible evidence of affection. Sometimes it's better to appreciate a memory as a memory and not by way of a thing.

 

9. Which movie scene would you most like to step into and inhabit for one hour?

    the ending scene of This is Not What I Expected (2017). Quiet sunset,
congenial company. Possibility. 

10. If future historians were reconstructing your life from the contents of your home, what conclusion would they get spectacularly wrong?

    it seems like my eBay inventory might give the idea that I'm a scholar, a tech geek, and maybe a machinist. And that I wear an extremely strange array of clothing and shoes.

[the title quotation is by Yunus Emre, from The Drop That Became the Sea: Lyric Poems]