Live Virtual Group Session: 6PM EDT September 11th 2023

23 Comments

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this session!

For this session we read an excerpt “Knoxville: Summer 1915 ” from A Death in the Family by James Agee, posted below.

Our prompt was: “Write about what enchants your ears.”

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Please join us for our next session Friday September 15th at 12pm EDT, with more times listed on our Live Virtual Group Sessions.

“Knoxville: Summer 1915 ” from A Death in the Family by James Agee

Now is the night one blue dew, my father has drained, he has coiled the hose. 

Low on the length of lawns, a frailing of fire who breathes. 

Content, silver, like peeps of light, each cricket makes his comment 

  over and over in the drowned grass. 

A cold toad thumpily flounders. 

Within the edges of damp shadows of side yards are hovering children 

  nearly sick with joy of fear, who watch the unguarding of a telephone pole. 

Around white carbon corner lamps bugs of all sizes are lifted elliptic, 

  solar systems. Big hardshells bruise themselves, assailant: he is fallen on his back, legs squiggling. 

Parents on porches: rock and rock: From damp strings morning glories: 

  hang their ancient faces. 

The dry and exalted noise of the locusts from all the air at once enchants my eardrums.

23 thoughts on “Live Virtual Group Session: 6PM EDT September 11th 2023”

  1. Michele348's avatar Michele348

    About what enchants my ears~~~

    I awake to the Carolina wren belting out his melodious tunes right outside my bedroom window…no chance of falling back to sleep now!
    I hear the humming of the neighbor’s lawn mower trying to get in some mowing before it gets too hot. Reminds me that I should get myself in motion, too.
    I hear the neighbor’s children playing in their backyard pool…splashing and laughing in these last few days of Summer. Oh, to be that young again!
    I hear the bubbling of the stream as I walk alongside and hear the crunching of leaves that have fallen and litter the path.

    With all these sounds that I have witnessed, I know that I have been blessed by all that surrounds me.
    What a day to be alive! More to come!

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    • JP's avatar toodawgs

      Michele, so enjoyable this snippet of day you have created. I can relate to the sounds- splashing, laughing, wren… can relate to the blessings and self-reflection. So many birds in all of our prompts this evening! Thank you for your imagery.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

      Michele— I like that you hear something and then have a response to it. It’s a comforting pattern to read (as opposed to the poem).I love your positivity and gratitude at the end.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Andre F. Lijoi, MD's avatar Andre F. Lijoi, MD

    Write about what enchants your ears.

    The hillside rises up right behind the cabin
    giving rise to poplars and maples and oaks.
    A few leaves are starting to turn,
    orange, red, yellow.
    It’s been dry so the metamorphosis is a bit early.

    The flicker lets fly with its string of cackles,
    not calling its name this time of day,
    and the wood thrush breathes its flautist art away from the ear.

    The sun peeks through the cracks in the blinds
    shedding contrasts of gray, black and white
    on the countenance of my beloved in peaceful sleep
    as she lies close
    undisturbed by the morning’s first sounds and early light.

    I move my arms behind my head
    breath slow and deep,
    and gently stretch.

    Like

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    • JP's avatar toodawgs

      Andre, ‘flicker’ and ‘wood thrush’- just two details of details in your aural enchantment piece. Enjoyed hearing it aloud, enjoyed a slower reading– on the page. You have created a circular feeling in this writing, small to large, outside to inside, self to other. Thank you.

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    • Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

      André … You have painted a beautiful picture for us. It sounds to me like you were able to take it all in with appreciation and savor it (noted after I read your last lines).

      Like

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  3. Jennifer Petruccelli's avatar Jennifer Petruccelli

    “Crispy…crunchy…music-birds
    Song of happiness” (title)
    -Jennifer Petruccelli

    Nacho-chip turns enchanted, simply through its textured self.
    Crunchy-toast too, takes on enchantment just by being itself.

    Morning-birds signal it’s a brand new shiny day.
    Giving many clues about the day to come.

    How different these birds sound on a green spring morning.
    So different than birds from a thick summer morning.

    Oh! This reminds me of summer enchantment to come…
    Summer crickets, heavy moths, zipping flies…

    Summer birds – they signal the season’s change.
    Above all telling me, I am in this world, of this world.
    I am alive.

    Like

    Reply
    • Andre F. Lijoi, MD's avatar Andre F. Lijoi, MD

      Jennifer, your speaker attends to the nuances of the voices of nature as they evolve over the seasons – requiring a well trained attentive ear. The voice of the poem’s narrator was augmented by your reading that elevated this spirit, ready for the start of another day tomorrow. Thank you
      Andre

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      Reply
    • Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

      Jennifer, I love the sounds in your title. I can almost hear them. You have brought nature to us through your writing.
      You offer so much vitality in your conclusion.

      Like

      Reply
  5. rehavia6's avatar rehavia6

    Write about what enchants your ears

    A deep throated belly laugh
    The phone ring of someone I love
    Birds chirping in spring
    A child’s squeals of joy
    Summer’s rain falling when I am safely indoors.

    Like

    Reply
      • Andre F. Lijoi, MD's avatar Andre F. Lijoi, MD

        Your speaker covers such a spectrum of enchanting sounds. It is interesting how many of the postings include the sounds and songs of birds. The child’s squeal of joy speaks to the sounds of the children’s joy of fear in Agee’s poem. But “the phone ring of someone I love” is the construction that moves me most. Thank you. Andre

        Like

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