MuseLetter \’myüz-‘le-tər noun
1: a personal message, inspired by a muse of one's own creation, addressed to a person or organization, in the course of which, the sender becomes absorbed in thought; especially turning something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively.
2: a letter from a poet, or one who envisions oneself as such, in which he or she “muses” on that which is perceived to be news, or newsworthy, usually in some ironic or absurd way.
Word of the Month
sybarite syb·a·rite ˈsi-bə-ˌrīt
noun
1. voluptuary, sensualist
2. capitalized: a native or resident of the ancient city of Sybaris
Etymology
Originally denoting an inhabitant of Sybaris, an ancient Greek city in southern Italy, noted for luxury: via Latin from Greek Subaritēs
First known use
Circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Use in a sentence
Among poets, John Keats might be described as a sybarite given his sensuous imagery and descriptions, often appealing to all five senses.
The seventeenth of this month marks the tenth anniversary of the last of 92 episodes of Mad Men; widely regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time. Having once been in the advertising profession for over thirty years beginning in the era depicted in the series, it has informed some of the poetry I've written, including the following "triptych."
Mad Man Triptych
Ties
For fifty years and more I’d worn a tie.
First mandated by exacting schools
Later at the agency and formal functions
Weddings, funerals, first impressions—
In time they’d go the way of beliefs.
Though in the final days I wore them in spite
Of the coming of the god of Casual Fridays
An unspoken gospel that we’d rather be out
In the Great Somewhere
Than blue-skying it to no end in here.
In response to their taunting of “Lose the tie” …
Does a peacock in strut relinquish his feathers?
Happy Hour Sonnet
Along the bar rail they assume their places
As if branded cattle coming to the trough.
A slight-of-hand of light transforms their faces
Refracted through the vessels held aloft.
They dive headlong into a dry gin martini,
All but drowning, upon rising, putting on airs,
Take a stab at inuendo bordering on unseemly;
Faux flattery can lead them to seemingly care.
A backdrop of chatter transforms into jousting
As monkey suits, mansplaining, have multiplied,
Holding forth on what they purport they’re espousing
Fawners swallowing it whole, all goo-goo eyed.
The barkeep continues to turn water into wine
Turning, in turn, the homeward bound into swine.
345 Madison Avenue
A relic out of time on an avenue of myth
steel and stone soon to be rubble
the final days of life once in the bubble
young lions on their game had roamed within
lambs now recumbent in the memory of it all
that day of open windows before the fall
the concocted confetti in celebration thrown
on impulse, at random, in unification
taking license in bending iron rules of foundation
out those very windows now covered with boards
blunt intent posted on the wall—
the coming of the wrecking ball
with promise of new life to rise from the ashes
a high-rise formation in glass façade
a past ascendancy run roughshod.
Quote of the Month
"There's nothing like eavesdropping to show you the world outside your head
is different from the world inside your head."
— Thorton Wilder
Art Imitating Life, and Life Reciprocating?
As might have been expected, according to data from Luminate—the most comprehensive analytics platform revealing the trends, across film, television and music—the film Conclave, "saw a staggering 283% surge in viewership. It jumped from 1.8 million minutes watched on April 20 to nearly 6.9 million minutes on the day of the Pope's death, April 21st."
Kind of uncanny that this relatively recent film-release would not only be a case of art imitating life, but in a way, art predicting life? Or "merely" as a possible reciprocation now, with life in turn, imitating art.
I was very much taken with Conclave, as some of these excerpts from my December 2024 MuseLetter piece would indicate.
"...as a mass-going Catholic... I was all in. Though you don’t have to be of that faith, or any faith for that matter, to find this film captivating and enjoyable....Isabella Rossellini, who does an excellent turn as a nun in the film noted, 'the Catholic Church and the church is so theatrical.' Amen."
"... particularly interesting... it is as current as our most recent election.... ' it nicely combines the worlds of political and religious power play. The result is a wildly entertaining balancing act of egos, passive aggressive battles fought by self-proclaimed righteous men. And these fictional rivals who break into stark liberal and conservative camps, seem as if they might be modeled on American politics.'
But clearly for me, it was the performance of Ralph Fiennes that made it all work.
"It is hard to describe just how phenomenal he is in his ability to project his thoughts and feelings often without saying a word. Some actors embody a role. And its soul. Which is what he does here. It’s organic. He IS this man."
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, is regarded as a compelling papal candidate due to his extensive experience in interfaith dialogue, pastoral care in conflict zones, and commitment to the Church's mission of reconciliation. A Franciscan friar fluent in Italian, Hebrew, and English, he has lived in the Holy Land since 1990.
His leadership during times of tension, including offering himself as a hostage during the Gaza conflict ( in exchange for Israeli children taken hostage by Hamas), demonstrates his courage and dedication to peace. Elevated to cardinal in 2023, Pizzaballa embodies the Church's call to universality and dialogue, making him a strong candidate to continue Pope Francis's legacy of outreach and compassion.
In fact, the more I think about it, Ralph Fiennes should be the next pope! Ah, but he's currently working on a revival of the film franchise "28 Years Later". Ergo, he wouldn't be available. But as unpredictable as selecting a next pope has proven to be, Eligo in Summum Pontificem, the phrase printed on ballot cards used by the cardinals as in "I elect as Supreme Pontiff"... I, as in me, elect a long shot currently listed at 20-1: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. A name that the late-night show hosts would have a field day with if he ever were to be chosen. Especially if he took the papal name of John. (Papa John's Pizza...bella?).
Here's what caught my eye about him, when I looked over the field of prime contenders. (I couldn't resist. It's a Catholic thing).
Though unlike Jorge Mario Bergoglio (aka Francis), theologically speaking, Pizzaballa is considered a "soft conservative" rather than a "who-am-I-to-judge" progressive.
His selection, like that in the movie, would be highly unexpected and somewhat shocking. With both Cardinals coming from places that you don't expect these men in red to be coming from. (Spoiler alert) Afghanistan in the movie. Possibly, Israel in real life?
But unlike the fictional Pope, Pizzaballa's unusual biological quirk is not one of gender, but of age. At 60, he would be considered by many of the 133 voting Cardinals to be too young to be pope. At least at this time within a church so passionately divided on doctrinal issues. With the rare exception of Benedict XVI, popes leave office in a casket. And if it happened that you didn't like Papa John, you could conceivably be digesting a bad pizza for 30 years. A downside consideration at the ballot blaze (all votes are burned at the end of each conclave session). Though only two popes ever lasted that long. The first, St. Peter for 34 years (33–67 AD) and the 256th, Pope Pius IX (1846-1878). Pieces of trivia you'll want to keep in your back pocket should you ever find yourself in the Final Jeopardy round and this pops up as the category.
In the meantime, the Cardinals are hobknobbing, getting to know each other, discussing the most pressing issues the church is facing. Some perhaps, blowing smoke during such discussions if the movie is to be believed. That is, until holy smoke, by Jorge they've got it! A moment not expected to happen for at least another ten days from now.
The New Yorker Cartoon: #3
There is something about a New Yorker cartoon that you can't find anywhere else. It's not that they are so drop dead funny. To the contrary, most of the time they traffic in a dry wit that at best, might elicit a chuckle or a smile in recognition of the situation being depicted. Or at times, they can even be cryptic. "Hon, do you have any idea what they're getting at here?"
Then you come upon one that juxtaposes elements and sensibilities you would never think of putting together, yet upon seeing it think... yes, of course. And maybe, see even more in it than the cartoonist ever intended. Such is the case here. A cartoon that stopped me cold with what I will call, its high-concept brilliance. As I've done on here twice before, I offer this third one. Taken from the recent April 28th issue of the magazine.
Amen.
The Passing of a Populist Pope
When Pope Francis died 10 days ago, tributes poured in from around the globe. Heads (and tails?) of state came from far and wide to pay their respects. Which is not surprising, as popes invariably have a high profile in worldly affairs and are usually afforded such protocol. But this guy was different. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina of parents who were Italian immigrants, had been a surprise pick for the papacy. And in no time, he would demonstrate that this was no cookie-cutter pope. Despite his exalted position in the church and in the eyes of the world really, he was a personification of humility. Something I tried to capture in a flight of whimsy in my January 2014 MuseLetter. Which I reprise here in full.
Pope to Pop More Surprises in 2014?
In the nine months he has been in office, it seems Pope Francis pops one surprise after another on an almost weekly basis. Be it a startling quote, an act of ya-gotta-be-kidding-me humility, or some off-beat everyman disclosure (he was once a bouncer), he has captured the imagination of a large cross section of humanity. I mean, a pope in a clown nose?
In designating him as their Person of the Year for 2013, Time magazine had this to say:
"… he has placed himself at the very center of the central conversations of our time, about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalization, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power. When he kisses the face of a disfigured man or washes the feet of a Muslim woman, the image resonates far beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church."
And that’s just on Monday.
Shortly after, Advocate, the oldest gay rights magazine in America, also honored him as their person of the year. In so doing, they hailed as a landmark, his famous response to a reporter who had asked about gay people in the church: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?"
One can’t help but wonder in all of this, what surprises and revelations might be forthcoming in 2014, regarding this popular pontiff. Such a man of the people, these are but a smattering of headlines that are not difficult to imagine in the coming year.
Pope Francis: “I once got a ‘D’ on my Latin Final”
A Vatican source who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that the Pope was a also terrible speller.
Pope Francis Lives in a Studio Apartment with His Dog “Assisi”
Sources confirmed that he walks to work every day, after first walking his dog, a mutt he rescued from a pound in his first week as Pope.
Pope Francis was Actually Born in Kenya
Pope Francis: “Mary Magdalene was an Apostle”
When asked by someone in the press corps on a flight coming back from the desert in which he had spent 40 days and 40 nights, if he was saying therefore that there were really 13 apostles (and a woman at that) and not 12 as in the scriptures, he responded: “13, 12, 11, whatever…it’s just a number.”
Pope was Fired from His Bouncer Job
It was revealed today in the Italian press, that Pope Francis was fired from his job as a bouncer for always turning the other cheek and never checking ID’s at the door.
Pope Stands in line at Motor Vehicles
Not using his status to avoid a four hour wait, Pope Francis stood in line to renew his license at a nearby Motor Vehicles in Rome today. (He drives an ‘84 Renault in lieu of the Vatican provided chauffeured car). It gave him the opportunity to “demonstrate patience, rather than merely to preach it” he said, as he consoled some who had stopped by in tears, after having failed their written test.
Pope Francis Was Once Jewish
New Dress Code for the Swiss Guard
The Pope announced today that the Vatican will institute a casual Friday dress code for the Swiss Guard beginning this Spring.
“It’s Gay Divorce I’m Really Concerned About,” says Pope Francis
Pope Surprises Many on Scriptural Interpretations
As for the eating of the apple in the Garden of Eden, he responded: “I might have done the same. Who’s to say? I love apples.”
Pope Owns a Cell Phone
But in keeping with his austerity, it is a rotary. And he has not downloaded any apps. The U.S. Government has confirmed this.
Pope’s Denunciation of Capitalism Caused the DOW to Drop on Friday
Cardinal Dolan in a recent homily at St. Patrick’s, and in follow ups on Meet the Press, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Charlie Rose, CNN, CNBC, Fox News and the Tonight Show, assured all that the pope was speaking metaphorically; not infallibly.
Pope Once Gave Meat to a Hungry Man on a Friday
When asked whether or not the man was Catholic, “Don’t ask don’t tell,” he explained.
Pope Meets with Lady Gaga
They shared a laugh over the number of syllables in their respective real names: Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Ted Cruz is outraged.
Pope: “I am Not Worthy of My Name Being Capitalized”
In still one more sign of great humility, the pope issued a statement in which he asked that his name no longer be capitalized, nor should a formal Roman number follow it. He asked that it now appear in print as
