apparently tree paine’s birth name is trina snyder and it’s like learning santa claus isn’t real
Hello— it is really spring. The sun doesn’t set here until nearly 8pm and the weather is perfect, just mild enough. I went and saw the tulip fields on Friday, something I really missed while I lived in New York, and I indulged myself by reading in the bath and watching one of my favorite spring movies, Emma (2020). (Will I be able to see Challengers with a straight face, given Josh O’Connor’s role? Time will tell.)
Things feel very soft right now— maybe it’s because it’s Taurus season? Or maybe I’m just sleepy, since it’s been go, go, go for days now and I’m almost anxious to slow down. There’s a lot of cognitive dissonance going on, frankly, considering how un-soft the world is. But then again, you know that I’m always, not so far beneath the surface, angry as hell!
Still, I can always appreciate the small, soft things. I’ve heard a few renditions of one of my favorite SZA songs, “Good Days”, on the harp and they never fail to make me feel like I could just float away.
And I’m sure there are some of us who are beyond over Etta James’ “At Last”, bringing to mind its use as many people’s wedding songs (no shame in that game, but it is common). Still, I recently heard what I’ve decided is my favorite rendition: a performance from Cynthia Erivo. If I could bottle up how I feel when I hear it, I would always be content.
Perhaps you’ve already seen this video, especially at the height of Pedro Pascal fever, so forgive me for linking this video of Pedro reciting one of Romeo’s monologues from Romeo and Juliet in his native Spanish, translated by Pablo Neruda, made in conjunction with the Public theater, during the early days of COVID lockdown. Problematic as Neruda may be, both he and Pedro are Chilean, which makes this recitation all the more special. And, boy, is it dreamy.
This week’s recipe is Roasted Chicken Provençal. I’m going to attempt it tonight for dinner, so we’ll see how it goes! I think, after eating out for multiple days, I was really craving something that screamed “homemade”.
This week’s astrology is, I hate to say, still a bit heavy. There will be a Full Moon in Scorpio. We Scorpios love to unearth all sorts of things, so be prepared for that. A loss of some sort of control wouldn’t be surprising here. But rejoice! Mercury finall moves direct on Thursday. Breathe a sigh of relief. You did it.
And for the poem. I love picking out poems for the newsletter, and during National Poetry Month, I love sharing a different poem every day on my Instagram stories (a now six-year tradition!). Thank you for indulging me and telling me when a poem has particularly touched you; I love hearing it!
“Out of the Wind” by Audre Lorde
For the days when the coffee grounds refuse to settle and the last toothpick rolls into a crack on the floor and all the telephone messages are from enemies or for other people only and the good old days lie between pages of books we have already written for the acorn of fear in each April will this be the year earth refuses to forgive us with a blush of green for the weary assumptions of next winter’s chill and for silent days in-between your face mingled in tulips after brief rain.
That’s all from me. Stay safe, take care, and see you next time.