Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

The secret meeting cave

11 replies

christmasteafortwo · 20/12/2008 20:48

So the children are sound asleeep in their beds dreaming of magical childhood things.

Now it is time for you to climb upto the attic, out of the window and down the carefully placed secret ladder to tiptoe across your glowing silver lawn.

By only the light of the moon you cross fields and ditches towards the sea.

At the little Cornish beach there is a salty cove and the lapping of the waves echoes. The noise is as rerefreshing as a morning shower but with the bite of a sliced lemon in a cool drink on summer solstice evening.

A little further along, past the tiny ruined church; and down the cliff a little is a glowing cave. In the cave you can hear music.

You enter it. You draw near the inviting fire. Next you settle by one of the large candles used to illuminate the warm cave that is lined with many beautiful and wonderful books. You pull one of the many blankets over your tingling toes.

Around you are your dear mn friends. A gramaphone is playing in the corner and everyone is listening in silence to a beautiful Schumann piano quartet. Pure intoxication. The needle stops. Everyone breathes.

Teafortwo passes you a glass of your favourite red wine looks kindly into your eyes and says. "I am glad you made it. Won't you start by reading us something? Anything? Something you found while you were reading today, something you have always loved reading, something that hit you in the heart, something that you love but don't feel you understand, even something in a foreign tongue or perhaps something you can close your eyes to read or perhaps wrote yourself?"

Her enthusiasm jolts you "But I am shy!" You protest.

"Please. It will be just perfect. Trust me" She giggles "And then after you have finished we can laugh or cry or feel well or afraid together. Afterall... that is why we are here... in the secret meeting cave... to discuss poetry and literature and share our ideas and thoughts on it."

"Alright. Infact, it would be a pleasure." You give a small sweet smile and then pick a book from the shelf, open it on that special bit you simply love; and begin to read....

OP posts:
BoccaDellaNativita · 20/12/2008 22:54

Tea - Really, darling, if you persist in sitting in this draughty cave you will catch a cold. It's so much cosier in the tea room, but I hate to think of you sitting on your own so have brought you this ...

This Is Just To Say
by William Carlos Williams

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

cmotdibbler · 20/12/2008 23:03

It's terribly rustic here isn't it ?

It's too late for me to think of high literature, so may I pose the question of the books that you must read at this time of year ? I have this thing that I must read 'The Box of Delights' and 'The Dark is Rising' in the week before Christmas

christmasteafortwo · 20/12/2008 23:03

Oh yes - I love it!!!!

Bocca - how sweet of you to make the journey!!! Intersting choice of clothing - when I wrote the introduction I hadn't really imagined you doing it in a chicken costume... oh well!!! Talking of chickens...

What about "The Red Wheelbarrow" too... it really sends chills down my spine!!!

The Red Wheelbarrow

so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

OP posts:
christmasteafortwo · 20/12/2008 23:07

Hi cmot!!!!

I am glad you made it too...

Like you I am feeling rather tired...

I look forward to a reading from 'The Box of Delights' in the near future!

OP posts:
BoccaDellaNativita · 20/12/2008 23:11

Slightly off the point, but I think that at this time of year one has to watch the Muppet Christmas Movie.

christmasteafortwo · 20/12/2008 23:30

Oh yes - your outfit, Bocca, reminds me a little of animal farm!

Awwwwwww - Animal Farm.... perhaps in that outfit you could give us a little reading tomorrow?

Tonight my book is...

"As I lay Dying" - perhaps I could read a few lines tomorrow night?

OP posts:
BoccaDellaNativita · 21/12/2008 13:06

Christmastea - Ahem. As the resident Ms Piggy look-alike I am the epitome of style and glamour. I do not like those under-dressed porkers from Animal Farm. Is that clear?

christmasteafortwo · 21/12/2008 15:58

Oh - yes - come to think of it, Bocca, with your Froggy luuuurver perhaps a little reading from "The French Lieutenant's Woman" might be a little more fitting?

OP posts:
maamajullah · 26/12/2008 12:50

[tiptoes and peeps]

Phew! No-one in here. I'll just relax and read some of these lovely books! But which one? mmm.....

christmasteafortwo · 28/12/2008 01:06

T42 stands up from the huge pile of beautiful cushions at the bak of the cave... and puts down her hardback 1950s copy of 'A woman in Berlin'. It smells a little of dust. She wipes her eyes (it is very sad) then begins to speak....

"Hello maamajullah I didn't notice you sneak in. So, what is that interesting book you are reading?"

OP posts:
Bleuravin · 07/01/2009 13:35

'Why are we reading, if not in hope of beauty laid bare, life heightened and its deepest mystery probed...'

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread