Full-lipped flowers
Bitten by the sun
Bleeding rain
And just like that, as if a switch has been flicked, the gentle meander from one season into another becomes a (literal) torrent. The temperature halves, the darkened clouds course across the sky, flashes of light momentarily blind, the rumbles in the distance soon become splintering cracks above – the weather has become a bull in a china shop.
Stood in the shop doorway, as if standing behind a waterfall, a curtain of rain overflowing the guttering above. Nature was in complete control for these few brief minutes of chaos, and as soon as the darkness has moved on, the sun asserts itself and rewards us with the most magnificent double rainbow – perhaps a pot of gold to be found at either end of Sheep Street!
The following is the first poetry I’ve come across from the early 20th century American writer Jean Toomer. His writing was much influenced by the world he witnessed about him – a world recovering from the Great War, a country still grappling with racial tensions and the gradual slide down into the financial depression of the late 20s and early 30s, and yet, here is writing of simple beauty.
‘Storm Ending’ by Jean (Nathan Pinchback) Toomer
Thunder blossoms gorgeously above our heads,
Great, hollow, bell-like flowers,
Rumbling in the wind,
Stretching clappers to strike our ears …
Full-lipped flowers
Bitten by the sun
Bleeding rain
Dripping rain like golden honey –
And the sweet earth flying from the thunder.
September is nearly upon us, the busiest and most exciting month in the book world. We’re looking forward to Ken Follett’s historical novel coming at the end of the month, and we’re offering it at a Coles Special Price for those who love Follett as much as we do!
Across the shop, there are plenty of books to read now; from the romantic endeavours of Jane Austen to tasty morsels about cheesemongers, there are tales to keep us buoyant as the summer winds down.
As always, if there’s anything you need, just pop by or reply to this email!
From Sophie
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