September 20th

Ten more days! Two thirds of the way through and a beautiful Monday to spend outdoors. Jacob and I brought delicious sandwiches and ate before I wrote. Today he was accompanying to enjoy the park, not to write. We went for a walk afterwords and saw turtles and lots of nannies and private school kids.

I wrote on the grass outside the Sackler wing also known as the home of the Temple of Dendur. They were setting up for an event inside. All sorts of white table cloths and sound equipment.



The World Burns a Brighter Blue

I meant to share the smoked salmon,
but I could not sacrifice
the quiet porch. Others busy
with trays on steps, salting tomatoes.
 That night the ocean tossed up
florescent jellyfish.
Grandmother, a day before eighty,
cupped one in her hands. A greenish
glow visible between fingers.
In the light of a fire and twenty candles
we sang Happy Birthday. My brother
smelling of charcoal, of beef,
arm around my waist.



Factors
Day of the Week: Monday
Weather: Sunny, cool in shade, breezy.
Arrived at: 12:40
Departed at: 2:15
Read on Commute: Thunderstruck by Eric Larson (still disappointing me).

September Third

Today I decided to visit one of my favorite parts of the museum, the Sackler Wing, where the Temple of Dendur is.

I remember first seeing The Temple of Dendur at ten, when my parents took my brother and I to New York for the first time. It is the reason I fell in love with the Met. I can remember nothing else of that first visit.

It was interesting writing there, because it is one of the few places in the Museum where visitors spend long periods of time. People stop and sit and talk, watch their children, one man read a book for over an hour while I was there.

The writing came easier today, which was relief.





I apologize. The poem originally here was revised and accepted elsewhere.




Factors
Day of the Week: Friday. The Met is open till 9:00 on Friday's and Saturday's. There is also live classical music from 5:00 on, in the balcony which is nice.
Occupancy of Museum: Busy, but not overwhelmingly so.
Arrived at: 4:05
Departed at: 5:20
Read on Commute: Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem (portions of it involve the Met)