From this poem, I learned that the word “flex,” as a noun, can mean a boastful statement or display (informal). That helps. It’s by Jenny Browne and is called “I Am Trying to Love the Whole World.” It’s from The Poetry Foundation today.
I am trying to love the whole world
is such a public display of affection, a flex even,
one the lone magpie staring back from the backside
of a badly shorn sheep finds suspect. I flap my arms
& blink three times. Bad luck to glimpse just one.
Magpie being the only creature rumored to have
refused the ark, preferring to perch high on the mast
& curse the rain. I too keep rewinding this mixtape
of the plague years until I can hear it snap like a tendon
or a tent pole. The world stays busy out there, hammering
itself into softer ground with a flat rock & yet, the sound
of wind softly shaking the stars awake. My world
I have missed your mouth, your morning
breath coming round the wild garlic, your fat
lilacs forgetting to be the flower of death.
The hatemongers seeking political gain by trampling on innocent transgender kids might take note of the front page story in the NYT today. The Pope has made it clear that trans folks can be baptized, serve as godparents, and be witnesses at church weddings.
Cloaking hatred under the guise of morality is pretty nimble tap dancing. Yet the story goes on to note: Last spring, the American bishops’ conference issued its own doctrinal document stating that chemical and surgical interventions for the purpose of gender transitions were “not morally justified,” and instructed Catholic hospitals not to perform them.
That’s worth re-reading: It’s immoral to offer established medical treatment to aid a suffering transgender youth. And yet it is well-established that suicide rates and suicidal tendencies among transgender folks are considerably high compared to the general population. How are you on connect-the-dot exercises? — These bishops have the blood of children on their hands. Perhaps they can take a break from sexually abusing young boys to reverse this policy. Shouldn’t take too long.
Regarding the Pope, Maxwell Kuzma, a Catholic who runs a farm outside Columbus, Ohio, said the document was “a very good sign of, yes, we want transgender people to be involved in the life of the church.”
He said he was especially touched by the section that said transgender people could be witnesses at weddings. In 2019, he was asked to be the maid of honor at his younger sister’s wedding, which coincided with his decision to come out and begin transitioning, he said. But the wedding organizers told him they wanted only a female maid of honor and disinvited him from the wedding party.
Mr. Kuzma said many transgender Catholics hid their identities to participate in their church communities, “and that’s just not a very good way to live.”
Good job Pope. Stop by for a cold Rheingold the next time you’re in Jersey.
In the puzzle today, at 35D the clue was “Former attorney general Bill,” and the answer was BARR. Separately, 28A was “Cash in the music business,” and the answer was ROSANNE (as in Rosanne Cash, the singer, and daughter of Johnny). Anyway, Bill Barr triggered this Rex Rant:
“Are there no non-repugnant BARRs? Speaking of other BARRs, semi-hilarious that ROSANNE / BARR appears in this puzzle and the puzzle’s just pretending like she’s not there (yes, the real Roseanne BARR spells her name with that extra ‘E,’ but still, you can’t put ROSANNE / BARR in a grid and expect me not to think of Roseanne Barr). We need new BARRs! Candy BARR was an American stripper and burlesque dancer! I mean, she shot her second husband, and had a relationship with Jack Ruby (!), but she still seems way more appealing than Bill BARR. Candy BARR is my favorite BARR now (admittedly, it’s a low … bar).”
[Candy Barr’s real name was Juanita Dale Slusher. A club owner suggested the name Candy Barr because of her fondness for Snickers bars. She had a tough childhood with abuse and prostitution, but gained fame as an exotic dancer. At age 16, she appeared in one of the most famous early underground pornographic films, Smart Alec (1951), which led her to being called “the first porn star” by the media. She went on to cobble together a career in show biz.
In 1984, Texas Monthly listed Barr alongside other Texans like Lady Bird Johnson as one of history’s “perfect Texans.” In 1988, it was announced that Ryan O’Neal would direct Farrah Fawcett in a biographical film about Barr, but it was never made.
OK, guys, time to move on.
At 17A, the clue was “Drives around in circles, perhaps,” and the answer was DOES DONUTS, which was new to me. Where else but in Owl Chatter can you get over ten minutes of donut-doing? I don’t recommend giving it more than a few minutes, though – tops.
Whew, I’m a little wobbly now. See you tomorrow! Thanks for popping in.
There once was a teacher named Didi
Who came home to her squeeze, and said “Sweetie,
I’m so tired, I’m wobbly.
So pour me some Chablis
And don’t be emotionally needy.”
The Wellington Files 