Althouse: At the Moonrise Café...

November 17, 2010

At the Moonrise Café...

(Enlarge.)

... you can talk all night.

42 comments:

Bob said...: Lovely photo.; 11/17/10, 10:07 PM
Ricardo said...: Aliens.; 11/17/10, 10:11 PM
traditionalguy said...: The full moon cometh on November 21, 2010.; 11/17/10, 10:13 PM
pm317 said...: Here is my 'moonrise' picture.. at Lake Tahoe last week.; 11/17/10, 10:14 PM
pm317 said...: Here is another from last week -- Clear Lake on the way to Sacramento along Rt. 20.; 11/17/10, 10:18 PM
Irene said...: . . . Bambi is running out of time.; 11/17/10, 10:25 PM
Titus said...: This weekend is the opening of dear hunting in Wisconsin.

Very exciting.; 11/17/10, 10:25 PM
Triangle Man said...: What is the old deer hunting saying Titus? "If it's brown, it goes down."; 11/17/10, 10:37 PM
Cabbage said...: I lurk. I don't often comment. I've never joined or read one of Althouse's cafes.

For whatever reason (probably the exhaustion and beer) I feel compelled to post this:

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.; 11/17/10, 10:45 PM
jungatheart said...: There she goes centering her moon again.; 11/17/10, 10:45 PM
Cabbage said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 11/17/10, 10:46 PM
Cabbage said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 11/17/10, 10:46 PM
Cabbage said...: aaaaaaaand. I dont often comment because friggin blogger tells me my posts didnt go through, only to post them anyway.

argh.; 11/17/10, 10:47 PM
traditionalguy said...: Cabbage...Thanks, that was a wonderful poem to end the night on.; 11/17/10, 10:50 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: If you get up very early tomorrow morning after the moon has "set" (about 4 am) and if your sky is clear.....

Get a cup of coffee, bundle up, get the binoculars...stand out in the cold crisp (freezing here) morning and look eastward.

The Leonids meteor showers should be spectacular.; 11/17/10, 10:50 PM
jungatheart said...: Thanks for the heads up :) DBQ, I knew they were sometime this month.; 11/17/10, 10:53 PM
jungatheart said...: I just read that poem the other night to my daughter. My favorite line is 'I doubt it, said the Carpenter'.; 11/17/10, 10:57 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I have always felt very sorry and sad for the betrayal of the oysters when I read that poen.

However, it doesn't disuade me now from enjoying pan fried oysters, Cajin spiced deep fried oysters or oyster pan roast stew.; 11/17/10, 11:03 PM
sunsong said...: What is life? It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. ~ Blackfoot; 11/17/10, 11:06 PM
sunsong said...: "All over the sky a sacred voice is calling your name." ~Black Elk; 11/17/10, 11:07 PM
sunsong said...: “Believe there are no limits but the sky.” - Cervantes; 11/17/10, 11:08 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Is that a picked Cabbage patch in that picture ?

crickets

(this is one tough crowd); 11/17/10, 11:09 PM
traditionalguy said...: DBQ...I presume you did not name your dogs "Oyster". Michael Vick learned a lesson about treating dogs like the oysters in that poem were treated. But Mike is back to full strength now and ready to pass as well as run. Trooper's Giants should have fun chasing #7 when they play. May God have mercy on the Giants that day.; 11/17/10, 11:11 PM
jungatheart said...: My son was extremely gratified by the Eagles' win.; 11/17/10, 11:16 PM
Ann Althouse said...: It's picked corn.; 11/17/10, 11:53 PM
Beth said...: DBQ:

Normally, I'd be in oyster bliss this time of year. BP, and the fresh-water diversion used to keep the oil away from our coast, has our oyster industry in crisis. I've been in denial about it, but Thanksgiving is coming, and I can't imagine it without oyster dressing! Oh no!

The oyster beds need to be reseeded and some will be moved to accommodate the needed freshwater projects that will help restore the wetlands; I'm hearing it will be a two- to five-year task. So keep the little oysters in your prayers, please. We want 'em fat and salty and plentiful.; 11/18/10, 12:03 AM
Beth said...: A picked corn field? Lovely.

What happens after the harvest? Do they plow it under or do they burn it? It's been decades since I lived in corn and wheat land, so I've forgotten. The sugar cane harvest is in full swing right now, and as the fields are cleared, they're burned. The drive along LA 308 smells of burnt sugar - cannes brulee - and one must take care on the narrow two lanes lined by ditches as the big cane trucks speed by to the refinery. Those guys work every day until it's harvested, on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, right up through New Year's.; 11/18/10, 12:14 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Lully colors. You know what else is lully? A thread about a picture of a moon without a commenter referencing Star Wars, "That's no moon," followed with another picture suggestive of goatze. That's what.

Would you care to see tonight's ebi? It was made with shrimp that was already deveined and without bands of nori, so that caused it to be a little different than standard, but no less delicious.; 11/18/10, 12:24 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: It's picked corn.

I was trying to make a joke about the repeat Cabbage post.

But thanks.; 11/18/10, 12:33 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: ... you can talk all night.

No, the phrase is "We can rap all night."

I oughtta know, I wrote it.; 11/18/10, 2:52 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: DBQ,

If you get up very early tomorrow morning after the moon has "set" (about 4 am) and if your sky is clear.....

Get a cup of coffee, bundle up, get the binoculars...stand out in the cold crisp (freezing here) morning and look eastward.

The Leonids meteor showers should be spectacular.

Thanks. After another night of absolutely horrible ex-wife nightmares, a bit of reality's beauty (and mystery) will do me some good.; 11/18/10, 2:56 AM
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I'm the Charlie Brown of this blog, bumping his head against Snoopy's doghouse and saying, "I can't fucking stand it."; 11/18/10, 6:42 AM
Opus One Media said...: On an even more tranquil note...

.....Meteors and Moonbeams....; 11/18/10, 6:51 AM
Unknown said...: Very nice. Just the sort of scene for witches to dance naked around a bonfire.

deborah said...

There she goes centering her moon again.

Meade thinks her moon is adorable.; 11/18/10, 7:10 AM
KCFleming said...: Some moons are above rhyming.; 11/18/10, 7:51 AM
lemondog said...: Ya think economic heavyweight whatsisface and those astute Chicago pols had a clue?

Chicago City Pensions are Broke; 11/18/10, 7:55 AM
jungatheart said...: You bet your sweet bippy he does, E.

By the by, am I the only one who enlarged and saw Meade(?) walking along the trail?; 11/18/10, 7:57 AM
jungatheart said...: Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon.
This way, and that, she peers and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees.; 11/18/10, 8:00 AM
jungatheart said...: What is life? It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. ~ Blackfoot

What a beautiful and haunting quote, sunsong. Thanks for posting it.; 11/18/10, 8:04 AM
Clyde said...: No Leonids for me this year. I had to work and didn't take the night off as I often have in previous years. I did go out to the parking lot about 3 a.m. during my lunch, but there was way too much light pollution to see anything. I only could see a couple of stars, so meteors were pretty much out of the question.

I still have fond memories of the Leonid meteor storms of 2001 and 2002. Those were awesome; I saw dozens of meteors on those nights.; 11/18/10, 8:10 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Sadly, it was cloudy this morning in anticipation of snowing later today... so, no Leonids.

I've been in denial about it, but Thanksgiving is coming, and I can't imagine it without oyster dressing! Oh no!

@ Beth,

I feel your pain. Perhaps you could have some lovely oysters shipped in from Washington. That is where our local store supplies come from.

It isn't Thanksgiving without Oyster stew.; 11/18/10, 9:22 AM