could it be magic?

my magic carpet
has been a little threadbare recently

to put it mildly

the warp threads have broken in places
and the weft thinner
and lacking in the colours and textures than I'd like. . .

but it's all part
of life's rich tapestry,
and life goes on. . .

so today we're going on a little trip:
.
roll up for the mystery tour!

(not that the machinations of the organ in my head
should be a mystery to you lovely people by now)

gather round. . .


John William Waterhouse

one of my favourite English painters,
a pre-Raphaelite (I love the pre-Raphaelites)

shall we just take a look at a couple more of his paintings
before we get back to the subject of the day?

yes, I think so


most people are familiar with The Lady of Shalott. . .

both painting and poem, from which a stanza:
.

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott.

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

(nice that that ties in with the warp and weft or earlier, huh!)

and here are some breasts,
especially for vicus:

oh and while we're in the 1880s, or thereabouts,
let's take a peak at my favourite John Singer Sargent:

Carnation Lily Lily Rose

but we're getting sidetracked. . .
back to the magic:

and we'll move smoothly on from
one of my favourite childhood television shows
- The Magic Roundabout -
to another:

that's Mr Benn, for the uninitiated

(and it just so happens that
the guy who wrote Mr Benn
lived a few roads along from where I find myself
- but that's entirely coincidental)

for those who haven't made Mr Benn's aquaintance,
he was a soberly suited man
who would visit a costume shop and choose a costume, where
"as if by magic"
- once he had put the costume on -
he would be transported to another land and time
for a rather splendid adventure

(the man in the fez is the owner of the shop,
who would provide sartorial advice to Mr Benn)

so, if you got be be Mr Benn for today,
which costume would you choose?!

(answers on the back of a postcard to the usual address)

now, just change the second consonant,
and we go from
magic to magpie

and there's nothing wrong with
a slice of good pie
eveverynowandagain

bon apetit!

and to finish, I'd just like to add
.

and I truly hope that
your day, dear reader
has more than a little magic in it

When you're down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up
Even your darkest nights
.
You just call out my name,
And you know whereever I am
I'll come running,
To see you again
.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And Ill be there,
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Should turn dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
And soon I will be knocking upon your door
.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again
.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call on me
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you
Yes and desert you.
Well they'll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don't you let them. . .

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running running to see you again.
Oh babe, don't you know that,
Winter spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you've got to do is call.
Lord, I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
You've got a friend.

.

written by CAROLE KING
as sung by JAMES TAYOR