further dust

 

Dust storm in Mongolia, 2023.

Dear Thoughtful,

Here we are again, meeting over a cup of coffee and a phrase.  It's a pleasure to have someone to talk to about myriad meaning.

"The novel was bad; I never finished it; but the writing thickens the dust." - Vera Caspary, from Laura.

The sentence for me is puzzling, but in the most gratifying way.  I think, because the writing of the novel was not finished, that the thickening of dust could refer to time going by.  It might also be that the time/dust obscures the meaning of the writing.  It might be that the writing does the obscuring.  It might be that the act of writing passes/passed the time.  It might be that the writing's dustiness makes it hard to recollect the reality or facts?  Also, it borders on nonsense, on absurdity.  Those are the ways I have counted to love that sentence.

"...The writing thickens the dust."  It sure does!

PS  Let's have another version of yesterday's song of the day, today.

thickening dust

 

Thick dust.  Bodie State Historic Park, California.

Dear Misc.,

I have a backlog of things to tell you about; two books, some art, some music.  A large playlist of songs around the word 'radio.'  Some thoughts on disdain and reverence.  There are scrappy notes and lists all over the desk, table, nightstand, coffee table, to remind me to write to you here.  But, (and yes, we all felt that 'but' coming, didn't we?), but, I want to give you today a totally different song, a song that isn't yet on a list.  

I also want to give you a line from Vera Caspary's novel Laura:  "The novel was bad; I never finished it; but the writing thickens the dust."

It's so good!  The book, and beyond that, the line!  And beyond that, "...the writing thickens the dust"!!!???  Well.  Take a day to think on it.  I will be back tomorrow, and we will toss around the old pigskin of meaning!