Topical Guide 91
Mark Dorset
Radio, Tuning; Attention, Focusing
Guppa switched the radio on. The tubes began to glow with tiny, intricate lines of orange light. Guppa put the earphones on and began twisting the dials. … He twisted the dials some more, and he tapped at a couple of the tubes. He wiggled the coil in its socket. Then he pulled the coil out and put in another. …
“Peter wants to try listening,” said Gumma, speaking with exaggerated precision.Little Follies, “The Static of the Spheres”
I am down on my knees
At the wireless knobs
I am down on my knees
At those wireless knobsVan Morrison, “In the Days Before Rock ’n’ Roll”
Wishful Thinking; Deception
“It’s just right, Guppa!” I said, and of course, with the earphones on and the static hissing in my ears I shouted it so loudly that Guppa looked up with a start and Gumma burst out laughing.
I twiddled the dials, and the rushing hiss faded and the murmur became a howl, the metallic scraping began to echo, and an irregular ticking began somewhere far away.
Gumma said, “Oh, Herb, I’m so proud of you,” and Guppa shrugged and smiled. Gumma got up and poured Guppa a glass of beer and then went back to making dinner, and Guppa went off to the living room. Neither of them asked to try the radio, and I didn’t offer. When my parents arrived, I showed the radio to them but didn’t let them listen to it, and then we ate dinner, and after dinner I insisted on taking it to bed with me.Little Follies, “The Static of the Spheres”
My art is made of recollection, and revision, and wishful thinking.
At Home with the Glynns
[more to come on Friday, September 17, 2021]
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