It begins with a few favorite objects, a brass leaf that one holds and twiddles in avoidance of nicotinic meditation, a smooth stone from the French Riviera and a little wooden plug that popped out of the furniture. One sets them side by side. One gets out the watercolors and pencil and it begins.
"Geo.?"
"Yes?"
"What's this thing on my nose?"
I could say it's nothing --hardly noticeable-- but one look at her eyes and one understands the danger of casual falsehood. I can't lie to Poppy, not because she won't believe me but because she WILL, utterly and profoundly. Lying to Poppy and having her believe it is not something one wants on one's conscience.
"It is a doodle, a doodle of a very smooth pebble from the French Riviera."
"It's not very big, is it?"
"Each stone is a study of the world done in little, Poppy."
"Well, I have a question."
"Okeydoke, what?"
"It's about a report you sent in a while back, called 'Pumpkin Pants, Evolution Or Creation?' Was that entirely factual?"
"Well Poppy, I'm a bit surprised. You know the present is only marginally dependent upon the relative past, but past and present both are predicated on another temporal area."
"You're saying the past..."
"Falls out of the future, Poppy, as does the present."
"Wait a second, you know I'm writing this down, don't you?"
"This is my evaluation, isn't it?"
"Yep, and you passed, Geo."
"Thanks, kid."
"Oh boy, now I get to say it: My pleasure, and my privilege."
"Everybody knows you're a girl now too, Poppy."
"Oh yeah? Well...well...same to them!"
You draw as well? Drat you Geo., where do your talents stop. I was brought up to believe that everyone has a special talent, but it seems to me that you might have acquired someone else's as well...
ReplyDeleteDraw? Most kind. I doodle --but hope someday to draw.
DeleteI'm glad that Poppy's gender has finally, firmly been established. I am the owner of numerous wooden plugs that popped out of furniture but I've never been clever enough to include them in artistic endeavors.
ReplyDeleteYou're much more than a doodler, Geo. You're a genuine artist.
Or "arteest", as we say in Texas.
Kind Jon, I like "arteest" and will get my paint-set out oftener.
DeleteYou made me laugh this morning thanks for that. I like the doodle. B
ReplyDeleteGood Buttons, since retirement I miss being laughed at in the morning. Thanks!
Delete"Each stone is a study of the world done in little." You do come up with some good ones don't you? I find it fascinating each stone there on the ground is a little piece of the planet broken off.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that earth spins us round at 900 mph too. It's a wonder we can pick up pebbles without flying off into space.
DeleteThis is the kind of conversation I like best.
ReplyDeleteA little questioning, some thought, some gentle give and take, and there you are: of great benefit to all concerned.
You and me both, Friko. But sometimes people get so busy, that simple truth becomes a rarity.
DeleteYou are delightful.
ReplyDeletePearl
Strange, I was just thinking that about you. Incidentally, my swiping one of your trademark lines in this post cannot have escaped you. Hommage (that's even French for homage!).
DeleteDear Geo.,
ReplyDeletelooking at your text above, then at your short biography I could pick up in the posts, your professions, love of plants and outer space, philosophy and language, not to forget your humour and a very curious mind - and again at your writings, your poems, AND your excellent drawings, I come to a question which interests me even more (yes, that is possible) than 'Who is Poppy' - it is: "Who are you?"
Dear most kind Brigitta, I work, socialize, garden on Earth. I only live in outer space. My "who" is, and has always been, still under construction.
DeleteGeo - what a fun first visit to my blogs tonight! I'm Poppingly cheery now ! And what a doodler!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Helena, Poppy is a composite that I suspect includes you. Doodling is an important part of having a "who" too.
DeleteVonnegut would be pleased.
ReplyDeletePoppy seems a good friend.
Indeed, one meets the nicest people in a chronosynclastic infundibulum!
DeleteQuirky and fun post Geo!:) Mulifaceted Geo, who can doodle as well as tell a story that keeps one guessing! I don't answer comments on my posts any more, but the answer to your question is the Turtle dove 's nest is twiggy, made of large and small twigs, that look haphazzardly placed, but I'm sure are not.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards.
Thanks! Thanks also for answering my dove question.
DeleteCongratulations, Geo. I love your sketches. I thought there were two leaves and two stones.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun way to doodle. Get the shadows sort of right and that effect appears in a photo.
DeleteYour talent knows no bounds, dude. Love your doodle! (Although I think it does beyond that status, especially those eyes!)
ReplyDeleteTell Poppy being a girl isn't a bad thing. There are quite a few perks.
Dude doodles.
Delete