Rebecca's Reading Room Rebecca Budd

S4 E5: Emily Carr "Baptism" from her autobiography “Growing Pains”

Welcome to my Reading Room! Thank you for listening in.
I am your host Rebecca Budd and I look forward to sharing this moment with you.
Emily was a Canadian artist and writer inspired by the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Born in 1871, she was one of the first painters in Canada to adopt a Modernist and Post-Impressionist painting style. As a writer, Emily Carr was one of the earliest chroniclers of life in British Columbia. Along with the Group of Seven, she became a leading figure in Canadian modern art in the twentieth century. She spent the greater part of her life living and working in Victoria, where she struggled to receive critical acceptance.
In her biography, “Growing Pains” Emily Carr tells her life story growing up in British Columbia, of attending art schools in London, San Francisco, and Paris, and of her return home to Victoria British Columbia.
This podcast is the second in the series of readings from Growing Pains -The Autobiography of Emily Carr. Today, I will be reading Part One, Baptism.
Music by Epidemic Sound
Emily Rubye "Finding Rain" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/LcXQhHd2MT/
More than Family "Choir Hymn" https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zLlZB2Y3zt/

S4 E4: Happy Birthday Edna St. Vincent Millay

As the afternoon sun of February heralds the approach of spring and the forthcoming summer, it is a fitting day to commemorate the birthday of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Born on February 22nd, 1892, Millay’s enduring legacy as an American poet and champion of feminism continues to inspire and resonate with readers around the world. Her contributions to lyrical poetry and her unyielding dedication to exploring themes of love and the human experience are celebrated on this special day, reaffirming her enduring place in literary history.
Throughout her life, Millay made significant contributions as a celebrated feminist and a prominent figure in New York City during the Roaring Twenties and beyond. Her achievements include being the first woman and the second person to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923, an accolade she earned for her remarkable poem “Ballad of the Harp-Weaver.”
In addition to her literary accomplishments, Millay was also known for her bohemian lifestyle and her outspokenness on social and political issues. She remains a significant figure in American literary history, revered for her contributions to poetry and her role in shaping the cultural landscape of her time.
Celebrate the Birthday of Edna St. Vincent Millay with me by reciting her poem “Afternoon on a Hill”
I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
And then start down!

Photography and Recitation by Rebecca Budd
Music by Rannar Sillard “Worlds Apart” #EpidemicSound
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/DfrxaRrTVW/

S4 E3 After the Winter Rain by Ina Coolbrith



After the Winter Rain

by Ina Coolbrith

After the winter rain,
  Sing, robin! Sing, swallow!
Grasses are in the lane,
  Buds and flowers will follow.


Woods shall ring, blithe and gay,
  With bird-trill and twitter,
Though the skies weep to-day,
  And the winds are bitter.


Though deep call unto deep
  As calls the thunder,
And white the billows leap
  The tempest under;


Softly the waves shall come
  Up the long, bright beaches,
With dainty, flowers of foam
  And tenderest speeches…


After the wintry pain,
  And the long, long sorrow,
Sing, heart!—for thee again
  Joy comes with the morrow.



This poem is in the public domain.



After the winter rain, the world is transformed. The sky is a bright blue, the sun is shining, and the air is fresh and crisp. The trees are glistening with raindrops, and the grass is a vibrant green. Everywhere there is a feeling of new life and hope. The birds are singing, and the flowers are blooming. The world is alive and vibrant, and it is a beautiful sight to behold.

Ina Coolbrith’s poem captures this moment perfectly, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and beauty to be found.

Ina Coolbrith was a poet, librarian, and literary figure in California during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was the first California Poet Laureate, and was the first poet laureate of any U.S. state. Coolbrith was born in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1841 and moved to California in 1851. She was a prolific writer, publishing her first book of poetry at the age of 17.



Ina Coolbrith was a key figure in the literary and cultural life of San Francisco and was a mentor to many young writers, including Jack London and Isadora Duncan. She was also a member of the Bohemian Club and the Saturday Club, two of the most prominent literary and cultural organizations in the area. Ina Coolbrith was an advocate for women’s rights and education, and was a leader in the early women’s suffrage movement in California. She died in 1928 at the age of 87.



“Were I to write what I know, the book would be too sensational to print, but were I to write what I think proper, it would be too dull to read.“ Ina Coolbrith






Photography & Recitation by Rebecca Budd

Music by More Than Family “Choir Hymn” EpidemicSound
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/zLlZB2Y3zt/

S4 E2 Celebrating Robert Burns with The Address to a Haggis



Robert Burns is one of the most important figures in Scottish culture and history. Every year, Scots and people around the world come together to celebrate the life and works of the beloved poet. There are many reasons why we should celebrate Robert Burns and his contributions to Scotland.



Robert Burns's famous poem "Address to a Haggis" is an integral part of Burns Night, a celebration of the Scottish poet's life and works. The poem praises the haggis, a traditional Scottish dish, with great enthusiasm and is often recited before the haggis is ceremonially sliced open.


Address to a Haggis

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race!Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,Painch, tripe, or thairm:Weel are ye wordy o’ a graceAs lang’s my arm.The groaning trencher there ye fill,Your hurdies like a distant hill,Your pin wad help to mend a millIn time o’ need,While thro’ your pores the dews distilLike amber bead.His knife see rustic Labour dight,An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight,Trenching your gushing entrails bright,Like onie ditch;And then, O what a glorious sight,Warm-reekin’, rich!Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyveAre bent like drums;The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,‘Bethankit’ hums.Is there that owre his French ragoutOr olio that wad staw a sow,Or fricassee wad make her spewWi’ perfect sconner,Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ viewOn sic a dinner?Poor devil! see him owre his trash,As feckless as a wither’d rash,His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,His nieve a nit;Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash,O how unfit!But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,The trembling earth resounds his tread.Clap in his walie nieve a blade,He’ll make it whissle;An’ legs an’ arms, an’ heads will sned,Like taps o’ thrissle.Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,And dish them out their bill o’ fare,Auld Scotland wants nae skinking wareThat jaups in luggies;But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,Gie her a Haggis



Cheers to Robert Burns and the rich tapestry of Scottish heritage!


Photography Rebecca Budd
Poetry Recitation by Thomas Budd
Music by Megan Wolford “Auld Lang Syne” (Piano Version) #EpidemicSound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Te9OqcYjzc/

Location: Burns Cottage and Burns Monument and Memorial Gardens, Ayrshire, Scotland

S4 E1: Welcome 2024 and Season 4 of Rebecca's Reading Room Podcast!

I am thrilled to embark on this new year of possibilities and opportunities for reading. Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey! Get ready for a season filled with book discussions, poetry readings, and literary inspiration. Stay tuned for my upcoming episodes that explore a diverse range of genres and delve into the fascinating world of literature. Whether you're a bookworm, bibliophile, or simply love a good story, there's something for everyone in Season 4 of Rebecca's Reading Room Podcast.

My grand project for 2024 is reading Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Faust is a timeless classic that offers a rich tapestry of philosophical and literary themes. The depth and complexity of Goethe's masterpiece make it a compelling choice for a year-long exploration. I look forward to hearing about your insights and reflections as you progress through your 2024 literary journey.

Many thanks for your company on Rebecca's Reading Room!

Happy reading!

Rebecca

Music by David Celeste “Wake Up With Me” Epidemic Sound

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/lNvPapTBle/

S3 E14 Is there a Santa Claus


Is Santa real? Of course, he is!

There is reliable confirmation that dates to 1897, when eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote her famous letter.

You may recall that it all began when Virginia asked her father, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon, whether there really was a Santa Claus.  Her father’s answer was brilliant.  Instead of responding himself, he suggested that she write direct to The Sun, one of New York’s most prominent newspapers at the time.  He assured her that “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”

Virginia received a response from veteran newsman, Francis Pharcellus Church, a lead editorial writer for the New York Sun. Francis Church, who had seen great suffering as a war correspondent during the American Civil War, was a known skeptic, hardened cynic who had little tolerance for superstitious beliefs. And yet, he recognized the need for hope and faith in society. Perhaps it is when we see sorrow and grief, we are more able to answer a call for affirmation in the goodness of life. For that is what Virginia looked for when she asked whether there is a Santa Claus.

More than a century later, the article written by Francis Church still maintains it standing as the most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

While the existence of Santa Claus as a literal being is a matter of belief, Santa Claus holds a special place in the hearts of many. The story of Virginia’s letter to The Sun in 1897 has become a symbol of the enduring spirit of Santa Claus. It reminds us of the joy and wonder that Santa Claus brings during the holiday season. Whether we believe in Santa Claus or not, the idea of Santa Claus continues to inspire generosity, love, and the spirit of giving.

Join me as I read Francis Church’s most famous editorial written in 1897 – Is there a Santa Clause?


Dear friends, may the joy of Christmas Eve surround you and yours, with love, warmth, and wonder.  Together, may we embrace hope and expectation as we enter a new year.  

Rebecca






Music from Epidemic Sound

Howard Harper-Barnes "The Gift of Giving"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/c1fLLKeTmH/

John B. Lund "A Christmas Lullaby"

https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Mor63mOsPB/

Niklas Gabrielsson with Martin Landström & His Orchestra "Ding Dong (Instrumental Version)"
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/UZaZuE6miR/