The voice of the didgeridoo was a call from far away, from centuries back. If you pressed your ear to the ground, Mattie thought, this was the tone the earth would make. The music resonated like an ancient god, or what desert winds must have sounded like to the first ears on earth. She closed her eyes again. She felt doomed, and lumpy, fat and old. She tried to recall the women from church, their triumphant wideness, centered and vigorous, and this helped. Ella clung to her like a baby Koala. Mattie nuzzled her, snorfled her neck. The didgeridoo sounded like an enormous animal panting at the end of its life. Mattie looked up and found Daniel standing before her, lifting her daughter into his arms. He held her in front of his chest, his long hands knitted together effortlessly to make a seat in which round, rosy Ella perched, somewhat worried but curious.
‘Want to dance?’ he asked her. ‘I’m probably the only person you know who can dance to the didgeridoo.’ Ella thought this over, tugging on her chin like an alchemist.
Mattie opened her fingers slowly to she could peek in at the little rubber shoe, as if examining a poker hand. Harry and Al were talking, and Daniel still held Ella in his arms, turning in slow circles. Mattie watched, listened, breathed in deep and slow: if the sound of the didgeridoo was a color, it would be rich and earthy, plant purple, like eggplant with light behind it.
*really didn’t like the book, but this quote was worth the read.
OK you’re going to laugh at this but I can’t get the “quote” from Blue Shoe about the didgeridoo out of my head. Then your reply to my comment about the quote saying that my dance with that sound was perhaps choreographed by solo flight really got me thinking. I’m considering writing a post about the quote, flying etc. do you mind if I mention your blog by name? I’ll send it to you to proof first. If no I’ll understand.
Why Mr. Bob Cloud, I’d be honored to have my blog mentioned by name on a post written by yourself, you can even hot link it if you wish. In fact, I’m tickled pink (not laughing at all) that that old didgeridoo has conjured up the writing juices within you…
And, no need for me to proof it, just please let me know when you publish it on your blog. I can’t wait to read it!
🙂
Bob, what a gorgeous piece of writing. I am placing the link here as the link to your site via clicking on your name on a comment is not being directed to your site…you might want to check on this.
peace
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Poetsmith
Yes, I have Laura. These are some of them:
Let’s Go Alfresco
Drama In The Gardens!
The Houseboat
To Flea Or Not To Flea
Postcard from Kosciuszko
Morning Has Broken
The Jacaranda
At Tesselaar’s Dandenongs
Autumn Afternoon
An Autumn Day
Forest Reserve
Flamenco Dancers
Quaint Cafe Bakery
Snow-capped Mountains
The Avenue
A Country Road
A Country Town
Another Season
I’ve had some wonderful experiences and fond memories of Australia.
Have a lovely week.
Kind regards.
Iris
Thank-you for commenting, Iris.
Have you written any poems concerning your Australian experiences?
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Anna Scott Graham
A beautiful quote; I too love Lamott’s writing books, and Traveling Mercies is great too. This quote is lovely, especially that last sentence.
purplemusicpeace
I have to admit that I was drawn to this passage in large part by its fluid, organic references to music as color.
I’ll have to check out Lamott’s Traveling Mercies.
purplehazeypeace
There is something primal about the sound of the didgeridoo and hearing one being played has always captured my attention no matter what I was doing, anytime I heard it. The quote from “Blue Shoe” above triggered an “Aha moment” within me.
Bob:
I am honored that my posted quote triggered an ‘Aha moment’ within you.
Perhaps your personal dance of the didgeridoo is choreographed by solo flight-paths, past & present?
peace
I love the sound of the didgeridoo, and agree that it sounds like ancient earth. When listening to it, it takes you there, back before time began.
I have Blue Shoe on my shelf but haven’t read it yet. Why didn’t you like it? I was hoping it would be a good read. Love her books on writing.
Welcome, Deborah!
I read Blue Shoe some time ago and don’t remember specifics as to why I didn’t enjoy it. Obviously, I found certain parts of it interesting enough to hand copy for quotes…I think it had to do with the pace of the story-a bit draggy, with a disjointed plot.
However I, too, love Anne Lamont’s books on writing.
The voice of the didgeridoo was a call from far away, from centuries back. If you pressed your ear to the ground, Mattie thought, this was the tone the earth would make. The music resonated like an ancient god, or what desert winds must have sounded like to the first ears on earth. She closed her eyes again. She felt doomed, and lumpy, fat and old. She tried to recall the women from church, their triumphant wideness, centered and vigorous, and this helped. Ella clung to her like a baby Koala. Mattie nuzzled her, snorfled her neck. The didgeridoo sounded like an enormous animal panting at the end of its life. Mattie looked up and found Daniel standing before her, lifting her daughter into his arms. He held her in front of his chest, his long hands knitted together effortlessly to make a seat in which round, rosy Ella perched, somewhat worried but curious.
Ella thought this over, tugging on her chin like an alchemist.
Oops! Here’s the link:
http://paywindow7.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/earths-music/
OK you’re going to laugh at this but I can’t get the “quote” from Blue Shoe about the didgeridoo out of my head. Then your reply to my comment about the quote saying that my dance with that sound was perhaps choreographed by solo flight really got me thinking. I’m considering writing a post about the quote, flying etc. do you mind if I mention your blog by name? I’ll send it to you to proof first. If no I’ll understand.
Why Mr. Bob Cloud, I’d be honored to have my blog mentioned by name on a post written by yourself, you can even hot link it if you wish. In fact, I’m tickled pink (not laughing at all) that that old didgeridoo has conjured up the writing juices within you…
And, no need for me to proof it, just please let me know when you publish it on your blog. I can’t wait to read it!
🙂
That’s a roger tower, understand request is approved. Be advised it may take awhile. Cloud out.
(now if only I can get spell check working again)
😀
My thoughts on the sound of the didgeridoo are now posted on my blog as “Earths Music”. Your comments and critique are invited.
Bob
Bob, what a gorgeous piece of writing. I am placing the link here as the link to your site via clicking on your name on a comment is not being directed to your site…you might want to check on this.
peace
Yes, I have Laura. These are some of them:
Let’s Go Alfresco
Drama In The Gardens!
The Houseboat
To Flea Or Not To Flea
Postcard from Kosciuszko
Morning Has Broken
The Jacaranda
At Tesselaar’s Dandenongs
Autumn Afternoon
An Autumn Day
Forest Reserve
Flamenco Dancers
Quaint Cafe Bakery
Snow-capped Mountains
The Avenue
A Country Road
A Country Town
Another Season
I’ve had some wonderful experiences and fond memories of Australia.
Have a lovely week.
Kind regards.
Iris
I recognize some of these! I’ll hop over to your site and check up on some of the others later in the week.
Take care and keep writing.
Loved your audio. … the sound of the aboriginal didgeridoo (haunting sound).
Reminds me too of my days in Australia! Interesting article, Laura.
Thank-you for commenting, Iris.
Have you written any poems concerning your Australian experiences?
A beautiful quote; I too love Lamott’s writing books, and Traveling Mercies is great too. This quote is lovely, especially that last sentence.
purplemusicpeace
I have to admit that I was drawn to this passage in large part by its fluid, organic references to music as color.
I’ll have to check out Lamott’s Traveling Mercies.
purplehazeypeace
There is something primal about the sound of the didgeridoo and hearing one being played has always captured my attention no matter what I was doing, anytime I heard it. The quote from “Blue Shoe” above triggered an “Aha moment” within me.
Bob:
I am honored that my posted quote triggered an ‘Aha moment’ within you.
Perhaps your personal dance of the didgeridoo is choreographed by solo flight-paths, past & present?
peace
I love the sound of the didgeridoo, and agree that it sounds like ancient earth. When listening to it, it takes you there, back before time began.
I have Blue Shoe on my shelf but haven’t read it yet. Why didn’t you like it? I was hoping it would be a good read. Love her books on writing.
Welcome, Deborah!
I read Blue Shoe some time ago and don’t remember specifics as to why I didn’t enjoy it. Obviously, I found certain parts of it interesting enough to hand copy for quotes…I think it had to do with the pace of the story-a bit draggy, with a disjointed plot.
However I, too, love Anne Lamont’s books on writing.