poetry friday

Ezra Pound called poetry "condensed speech." Maybe that's what makes it memorable -- like this anonymous love poem from the 16th century.

O western wind, when wilt thou blow
That the small rain down can rain?
Christ! that my love were in my arms!
And I in my bed again!


I mean, really. It just doesn't get any clearer than that.

odds & ends

For a more detailed view of the political situation on the ground in Iraq, read this. There's good news and bad news.

For an overview of Iraqi bloggers -- who they are and what they have to put up with and why they do it, check this out.

Here's a list of the Top Ten blog stories of the year that's hard to argue with.

And if you have any appetite for reading another vivid illustration of why John Kerry lost the election, this is pretty instructive.