Nice poem. I like "I want to crawl into six years old and crisp fall weather" as well as the recounting of childhood memories. It's weird how much past experiences encourage certain longings.
I just fixed up my Smith Galaxie (not a deluxe) after a long search for a carriage return spring. Despite feeling cheap-ish (compared to my Olympia SM-3) it's urprisingly fun to use.
I have a feeling the "Deluxe" model was the only model they made at the time. It's a fairly standard model, a regular width carriage, and just your typical SCM features--with one notable exception. The platen is BLUE.
I like it a lot. For one, it's the same model as my first-ever typewriter. For another, it has a nice fast snappy feel, and I'm very accurate on it. And thirdly, the platen is BLUE! That it's one of the only typewriters I have *ever* found in a thrift store and I got it for four dollars...that doesn't hurt, either.
For some reason, despite its homely appearance and rather plain-jane typeface, it tends to be the typewriter I'm drawn to when it comes to poetry.
I've not seen or heard of a blue platen before. That's pretty cool.
My "regular" Galaxie looks similar except it doesn't have the button that is on the right end of the space bar, nor does it have the bar and associated buttons that are above the numbers on yours. Mine, too, is pretty snappy and I might start using it quite a bit now that it works.
Interesting sentiment about being drawn to a certain machine for a certain purpose. I love my SM-3 for composing but not for typecasting. I have an Olivetti 21 and it is ugly as sin, yet the typeface is so rad that I sometimes use it for typecasting. I wrote three letters the other day on the "new" Galaxie and it seems very good for that. Weird.
Nice images and feelings. Reminded me of something I hadn't thought of for a long time. We would gather the brightest autumn leaves we could find (October was the best time for this in southern New England) and iron them between two pieces of wax paper. Then we would tape the sheets to sunny windows. It was like stained glass. Don't know if anyone does this anymore.
@Justin--the bar and buttons up above are the tab settings, and the button on the right side of the keyboard is the power space, which is far more fun than it is useful. It spaces. Fast. Makes a cool sort of power saw sound. But I've really never *used* it....
@Jeff--I don't know if everyone does those wax papered leaves, but we sure did! That and wax paper art with melted crayon shavings. We also made long maple leaf garlands by pinning the base of one leaf to the top of another using the stems. And built gigantic leaf piles to jump into. Ah, Vermont in October...I always get homesick this time of year!
Thanks, Anne! I actually shamelessly stole that bit (though molded to my own rhyme) from the two songs Dad or Mom used to sing at the very end of putting us to bed, after we'd had our story and said any lengthier prayers: the Angel of God prayer (to the tune of Come, Holy Ghost), and a little poem that is apparently by Victor Hugo:
Good night! Good night! Far flies the light; But still God's love Shall flame above, Making all bright. Good night! Good night!
We always sang it, but I can't seem to find the melody on-line, which makes me think either Mom or Dad must have made it up!
7 comments:
Nice poem. I like "I want to crawl into six years old and crisp fall weather" as well as the recounting of childhood memories. It's weird how much past experiences encourage certain longings.
I just fixed up my Smith Galaxie (not a deluxe) after a long search for a carriage return spring. Despite feeling cheap-ish (compared to my Olympia SM-3) it's urprisingly fun to use.
I have a feeling the "Deluxe" model was the only model they made at the time. It's a fairly standard model, a regular width carriage, and just your typical SCM features--with one notable exception. The platen is BLUE.
I like it a lot. For one, it's the same model as my first-ever typewriter. For another, it has a nice fast snappy feel, and I'm very accurate on it. And thirdly, the platen is BLUE! That it's one of the only typewriters I have *ever* found in a thrift store and I got it for four dollars...that doesn't hurt, either.
For some reason, despite its homely appearance and rather plain-jane typeface, it tends to be the typewriter I'm drawn to when it comes to poetry.
I've not seen or heard of a blue platen before. That's pretty cool.
My "regular" Galaxie looks similar except it doesn't have the button that is on the right end of the space bar, nor does it have the bar and associated buttons that are above the numbers on yours. Mine, too, is pretty snappy and I might start using it quite a bit now that it works.
Interesting sentiment about being drawn to a certain machine for a certain purpose. I love my SM-3 for composing but not for typecasting. I have an Olivetti 21 and it is ugly as sin, yet the typeface is so rad that I sometimes use it for typecasting. I wrote three letters the other day on the "new" Galaxie and it seems very good for that. Weird.
Nice images and feelings. Reminded me of something I hadn't thought of for a long time. We would gather the brightest autumn leaves we could find (October was the best time for this in southern New England) and iron them between two pieces of wax paper. Then we would tape the sheets to sunny windows. It was like stained glass. Don't know if anyone does this anymore.
Jeff
@Justin--the bar and buttons up above are the tab settings, and the button on the right side of the keyboard is the power space, which is far more fun than it is useful. It spaces. Fast. Makes a cool sort of power saw sound. But I've really never *used* it....
@Jeff--I don't know if everyone does those wax papered leaves, but we sure did! That and wax paper art with melted crayon shavings. We also made long maple leaf garlands by pinning the base of one leaf to the top of another using the stems. And built gigantic leaf piles to jump into. Ah, Vermont in October...I always get homesick this time of year!
I love the prayer at the end!
Thanks, Anne! I actually shamelessly stole that bit (though molded to my own rhyme) from the two songs Dad or Mom used to sing at the very end of putting us to bed, after we'd had our story and said any lengthier prayers: the Angel of God prayer (to the tune of Come, Holy Ghost), and a little poem that is apparently by Victor Hugo:
Good night! Good night!
Far flies the light;
But still God's love
Shall flame above,
Making all bright.
Good night! Good night!
We always sang it, but I can't seem to find the melody on-line, which makes me think either Mom or Dad must have made it up!
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