Richard Bist

Poetry Moment – Watch Dogs The sofa butts up against our front window and two of our dogs, Chili and Bubbie, like to lay there and watch the world go by. I don't think they are actually on alert for danger. No, it's more about watching the birds, squirrels, and occasional neighborhood cat wander around the front yard. My dogs are on alert For what? I'm not sure. Maybe something that tweets or something that purrs. They lay at the window ears up in the air. They look ready to pounce and give something a scare.

Poetry Moment – Watch Dogs

The sofa butts up against our front window and two of our dogs, Chili and Bubbie, like to lay there and watch the world go by. I don't think they are actually on alert for danger. No, it's more about watching the birds, squirrels, and occasional neighborhood cat wander…

Poetry Moment – Fluorescent Sunset I captured the photo above late last week as I sat on the back patio with my dogs. Traffic on the road out front was light, so I enjoyed the late-evening birdsong and the light wind blowing in from the northwest. It was a simple, tranquil moment. A late evening glow, the last of the daylight slowly dimming as it passes below the horizon and I sit and watch it, quietly, thinking back on my day and feeling the cool air on my face. A beautiful palette of color, like a fluorescent light…

Poetry Moment – Fluorescent Sunset

I captured the photo above late last week as I sat on the back patio with my dogs. Traffic on the road out front was light, so I enjoyed the late-evening birdsong and the light wind blowing in from the northwest. It was a simple, tranquil moment. A late evening…

Introducing Bubbie So, we adopted another rescue mutt. Meet Bubbie, a 14 month old Staffordshire Terrier/Labrador mix we met at the local animal shelter. He's 58 pounds of affection, loves curling up with us on the sofa, and adores his new pack mates. It seems he has a hard time choosing who he likes better, Peppa or Chili, and he takes turns following them around and trying to snuggle up with them. He's only been with us a few days now, but he's settling in quite well. Of course, he's still testing boundaries (like jumping up on the bed, which is a no-no) and being the annoying little brother to his older sisters.

Introducing Bubbie

So, we adopted another rescue mutt. Meet Bubbie, a 14 month old Staffordshire Terrier/Labrador mix we met at the local animal shelter. He's 58 pounds of affection, loves curling up with us on the sofa, and adores his new pack mates. It seems he has a hard time choosing who he…

Review – The Last Dangerous Visions The Last Dangerous Visions has been a long-time coming. Originally announced in 1973 by Harlan Ellison, the last book of the anthology series became a legend in the science fiction community for the simple fact that it didn't seem it would ever be published. This was a mind-boggling situation after the success of the first two collections: Dangerous Visions (1967) and Again, Dangerous Visions (1972). No one knew why Ellison delayed publication, writers were frustrated and the publisher annoyed. But Ellison never gave a clear explanation as to why he couldn't - or wouldn't - complete the series.

Review – The Last Dangerous Visions

The Last Dangerous Visions has been a long-time coming. Originally announced in 1973 by Harlan Ellison, the last book of the anthology series became a legend in the science fiction community for the simple fact that it didn't seem it would ever be published.…

Poetry Moment – Feathered Fruit I was standing on the back patio earlier this week as the dogs ran around in the yard when I heard some birdsong nearby. I looked up to see what appeared to be feathered fruit perched on the branches of a leafless tree. Feathered fruit on bare branches Are they ripe enough to pick? Are they even edible? Or will they make me sick? They do produce a melodious song Like sirens out at sea I stand and watch them for awhile While they sit watching me. For what it's worth, I didn't pick any.

Poetry Moment – Feathered Fruit

I was standing on the back patio earlier this week as the dogs ran around in the yard when I heard some birdsong nearby. I looked up to see what appeared to be feathered fruit perched on the branches of a leafless tree. Feathered fruit on bare branches Are they ripe…

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Tape and Splatter I'd say that about half of my painting sessions begin with no ideas, just a blank canvas and a table full of supplies. I look around at things, maybe flip through a nice little Japanese paint color book (I'll write about that soon) and see what pops into my head. I'll then dig through my paints, looking for something that catches my eye, then decide on if I want to use brushes or palette knives, or maybe just balled up paper towels and some tape. The options are limitless. For these two canvases, I went with "all of the above".

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Tape and Splatter

I'd say that about half of my painting sessions begin with no ideas, just a blank canvas and a table full of supplies. I look around at things, maybe flip through a nice little Japanese paint color book (I'll write about that soon) and see what…

Poetry Moment – Morning Mist We planned to go to a nearby park for our morning walk with the dogs, but the ranger was late opening the gate. So instead, I drove us down to a nearby landing to look out of Lake Jackson as the sun came up. It was a chilly morning, and the water was warmer than the air, so there was a mist hovering over the water and drifting into the surrounding trees. Ethereal mist rising from the surface of the black water Birds linger, small ripples mar the mirror reflecting the sky…

Poetry Moment – Morning Mist

We planned to go to a nearby park for our morning walk with the dogs, but the ranger was late opening the gate. So instead, I drove us down to a nearby landing to look out of Lake Jackson as the sun came up. It was a chilly morning, and the water was warmer than the…

Words from the Past Tidying up my home office is a constant work in progress. Partly due to all the books I own, but also all the writing I've done over the years. Even after the advent of home computers, I still tend to scribble and take notes manually - pen and paper. It all tends to add up over time. Against one wall, next to a couple of filing cabinets, is an old milk crate that is full of things I wrote as a teenager and in my early 20s. Legal pads, loose sheets of paper, a couple of spiral notebooks - all filled with poetic angst and dreams of the future.

Words from the Past

Tidying up my home office is a constant work in progress. Partly due to all the books I own, but also all the writing I've done over the years. Even after the advent of home computers, I still tend to scribble and take notes manually - pen and paper. It all tends to add up over…

Music Moment: The Larger Bowl (a pantoum) "The Larger Bowl" is the fourth song on Rush's 2007 album, Snakes and Arrows. In addition to being a simply beautiful song, the lyrics are an interesting play on traditional rhyme schemes. Drummer and lyricist Neal Peart based it on a Malay form of verse in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza are repeated as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The goal is to repeat these lines exactly, while at the same time changing their meaning. The title of the song was taken from a "dysentery dream" Peart had while on a bicycle trip he took through Western Africa in 1988 (he published his adventure in the fantastic non-fiction book, …

Music Moment: The Larger Bowl (a pantoum)

"The Larger Bowl" is the fourth song on Rush's 2007 album, Snakes and Arrows. In addition to being a simply beautiful song, the lyrics are an interesting play on traditional rhyme schemes. Drummer and lyricist Neal Peart based it on a Malay form of verse…

Poetry Moment – Conspiracy! I was busy covering plants to protect them from some frigid cold and wasn't paying attention to what the dogs were up to. They usually play, chasing each other around the yard, or they find a sunny spot to lay in and soak up the warmth. When I took a break, I was surprised to see them huddled up with the chickens. I could hear some soft clucking and a few whines from the mutts. When I cleared my throat, they all looked at me with guilty expressions (as much as dogs and chickens can look guilty!), then they split up and went back to doing their individual activities.

Poetry Moment – Conspiracy!

I was busy covering plants to protect them from some frigid cold and wasn't paying attention to what the dogs were up to. They usually play, chasing each other around the yard, or they find a sunny spot to lay in and soak up the warmth. When I took a break, I was…

Finding Serenity in Chaos (A Repost) I originally posted this several years ago and recently stumbled across it while doing some site maintenance. I think the content is still applicable - maybe even more so now - and thought I should reshare it. -------------- Without a doubt, the world is a crazy place. Even taking politics and social unrest out of the equation, our lives can sometimes feel like they're out of control and we're simply hanging on by our fingertips. We've all felt like we're being tossed about in a turbulent sea, but there are also times when we can find serenity in the chaos.

Finding Serenity in Chaos (A Repost)

I originally posted this several years ago and recently stumbled across it while doing some site maintenance. I think the content is still applicable - maybe even more so now - and thought I should reshare it. -------------- Without a doubt, the world is a…

Music Moment: Dog & Butterfly The band Heart is known for a handful of radio staples: "Barracuda", "Magic Man", "Kick It Out", "Straight On", and "What About Love?". Personally, I've preferred the lesser-known cuts from their albums. One of my favorite songs of theirs is "Dog & Butterfly", the title track from their fourth album. It was one of their first non-rocking songs, and I think it's one of the most beautiful songs I've heard. According to singer Ann Wilson, she was inspired after looking out a window and seeing a dog "relentlessly chasing a butterfly".

Music Moment: Dog & Butterfly

The band Heart is known for a handful of radio staples: "Barracuda", "Magic Man", "Kick It Out", "Straight On", and "What About Love?". Personally, I've preferred the lesser-known cuts from their albums. One of my favorite songs of theirs is "Dog & Butterfly", the…

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Intuitive Abstracts While I often have an idea or an image in mind when I start painting, sometimes it's fun to improvise. I'll tape a piece of canvas paper to my easel, then get my color wheel and choose a few complimentary colors (plus black and white). After that, I'll grab some random tools - a couple of brushes, a few palette knives, paper towels, and maybe a few of the odds and ends I've collected. Oh, and maybe a few acrylic pens in different colors. Once I have everything laid out, I'll put on my headphones and cue up some music.

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Intuitive Abstracts

While I often have an idea or an image in mind when I start painting, sometimes it's fun to improvise. I'll tape a piece of canvas paper to my easel, then get my color wheel and choose a few complimentary colors (plus black and white). After…

Poetry Moment – Frosty Morning We had a "weather event" come through this past weekend. A "weather event" seems to be the new nomenclature here for storms. There was a fairly good chance we were going to get some snow, but it ended up being some light sleet and rain. So now it's just cold and wet out. Of course, the temperature dropped down into the low 20s, and Monday morning there was a frost covering everything. It was actually nicer than snow. I could still see the grass and leaves, but everything was tinged in white.

Poetry Moment – Frosty Morning

We had a "weather event" come through this past weekend. A "weather event" seems to be the new nomenclature here for storms. There was a fairly good chance we were going to get some snow, but it ended up being some light sleet and rain. So now it's just cold and wet…

Creativity and Aging I've previously written about how creativity can help our mental health, but I've recently read about a study that shows creativity can also slow the aging of our brains. Which really isn't surprising. Physical exercise is good for our bodies. It not only strengthens muscles, but it can also improve balance, develop new capillaries, slow brain aging, and keep our hearts strong. So it only makes sense that creativity can keep our brains strong and agile. The study found that creative activities - painting, playing an instrument, dancing, even playing strategy-based video games - can be beneficial for our brains.

Creativity and Aging

I've previously written about how creativity can help our mental health, but I've recently read about a study that shows creativity can also slow the aging of our brains. Which really isn't surprising. Physical exercise is good for our bodies. It not only strengthens muscles,…

A Little Inspiration – The Finding (a short story) I was flattered to learn that a recent post of mine - Red Abstract (Two Versions) - inspired another blogger to write a short story. Michelle, over at Book Quotes (Mostly) Out of Context, posted her story earlier this week and I found it a wonderful accompaniment to my canvases. If you aren't familiar with Michelle's blog, she post read-alongs, where she posts regularly about the wide-variety of books she reads. But her entries are just reviews. She explores the context of the books (both fiction and non-fiction), how she interprets the texts, and discusses how the books relate to things in her life.

A Little Inspiration – The Finding (a short story)

I was flattered to learn that a recent post of mine - Red Abstract (Two Versions) - inspired another blogger to write a short story. Michelle, over at Book Quotes (Mostly) Out of Context, posted her story earlier this week and I found it a…

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Repurposed Palette Paper I tend to use palette paper for mixing and blending when I paint. Probably not the best or cheapest option, but I received a free pack of it when I picked up some canvases a while back and I've stuck with using them. Up until recently, I would throw away the used sheets once they were covered in layers of paint, miscellaneous colors all overlapping and messy. But the other day I was about to toss one in the bin when I had an idea. Why not try reusing them?

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Repurposed Palette Paper

I tend to use palette paper for mixing and blending when I paint. Probably not the best or cheapest option, but I received a free pack of it when I picked up some canvases a while back and I've stuck with using them. Up until recently, I…

Why We Need Art I had an interesting video pop up in my YouTube feed last week. Most of the videos I watch tend to be art and creativity related, so it wasn't a surprise to see this one. In fact, it was something I needed to watch at the moment as the national news was becoming oppressive and depressing. If you aren't familiar with TED talks, they are organized by the non-profit group, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design). They organize conferences and bring in speakers to discuss various topics - science, education, psychology, creativity - and I tend to find them worth the watch.

Why We Need Art

I had an interesting video pop up in my YouTube feed last week. Most of the videos I watch tend to be art and creativity related, so it wasn't a surprise to see this one. In fact, it was something I needed to watch at the moment as the national news was becoming oppressive and…

Functional Art For my birthday a few months ago, a dear friend (my sister from another mother) created a piece of functional art as a gift. It's a mini canvas, about two inches square, on a tiny easel. It's really adorable and it's quite possibly one of the best things I've ever received. A few weeks after she gave it to me, she asked if I had made my wish. I had to admit the thought hadn't occurred to me. I loved my little canvas and lighting the wick to make a wish would forever change it.

Functional Art

For my birthday a few months ago, a dear friend (my sister from another mother) created a piece of functional art as a gift. It's a mini canvas, about two inches square, on a tiny easel. It's really adorable and it's quite possibly one of the best things I've ever received. A few…

Poetry Moment – Spanish Moss A couple of things that North Florida is known for are the abundance of Live Oak trees and Spanish Moss. The oaks are majestic, huge, with long, twisted branches that fill the sky. And those branches, more often than not, are draped with moss. During the warmer months when the trees are full of green leaves, the moss isn't as noticeable. But in winter, the moss is easy to see dangling from the bare branches and slowly swaying in the cold breeze. I took the photo above at a local state park that's also an archeological site.

Poetry Moment – Spanish Moss

A couple of things that North Florida is known for are the abundance of Live Oak trees and Spanish Moss. The oaks are majestic, huge, with long, twisted branches that fill the sky. And those branches, more often than not, are draped with moss. During the warmer months…

Peace, Love, and Joy I was walking the dogs on a trail we hadn't visited in a while and found a little Christmas tribute someone had built where two trails crossed. I'd originally walked by it without noticing, but caught site of it on the way back to the parking lot. I have no idea who built this or how long it'd been out there in the woods, but I had to stop for a few minutes to admire it. It made me wonder if I was the first and only person to see it.

Peace, Love, and Joy

I was walking the dogs on a trail we hadn't visited in a while and found a little Christmas tribute someone had built where two trails crossed. I'd originally walked by it without noticing, but caught site of it on the way back to the parking lot. I have no idea who built this…

Kurt Vonnegut on Making Art Starting off this new year, I thought it might be helpful to remind myself why I create. I've often said that it's an urge I have, something inside of me wants to make things and express myself, my ideas, my feelings. I think many others feel the same way. In 2006, a New York high school English teacher gave an assignment to her students to write to an author they admired and ask them to visit the school. Of all the authors contacted, only Kurt Vonnegut responded. While he was unable to visit the school, he instead sent a letter of encouragement to the students.

Kurt Vonnegut on Making Art

Starting off this new year, I thought it might be helpful to remind myself why I create. I've often said that it's an urge I have, something inside of me wants to make things and express myself, my ideas, my feelings. I think many others feel the same way. In 2006, a…

Public Domain Day 2026 January 1st is Public Domain Day in many countries. What this means is, certain works - music, books, artwork, etc. - have reached the end of their copyright protection and are now available to the general public for free. On January 1, many works from 1930 will transfer to public domain. This includes books, films, songs, paintings, cartoons, and comic strips. What I like about items entering public domain is that they can now be seen and shared by anyone and everyone without licensing fees. So, for example, a non-profit could host a public domain movie night and ask for donations at the door.

Public Domain Day 2026

January 1st is Public Domain Day in many countries. What this means is, certain works - music, books, artwork, etc. - have reached the end of their copyright protection and are now available to the general public for free. On January 1, many works from 1930 will transfer to…

My 2026 Reading List I'm sad to report that I read fewer books this past year than I did the year before. Partly because last year I was doing freelance book reviews, and that allowed me access to many more books than I usually have. And there were deadlines. Deadlines can be quite motivational. Which reminds me of a favorite quote by the late author, Douglas Adams: "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they go by." But I wanted to get paid, so I hit every one of my deadlines, often with time to spare.

My 2026 Reading List

I'm sad to report that I read fewer books this past year than I did the year before. Partly because last year I was doing freelance book reviews, and that allowed me access to many more books than I usually have. And there were deadlines. Deadlines can be quite motivational.…

Poetry Moment – Time Dilation Did you know that you experience time differently than I do? For example, per Einstein's Theory of Relativity (and yes, I'm a science nerd), if I'm standing at sea level and you're standing on a mountain top, time moves faster for you due to lower gravity. So, technically, you would also be aging faster than me. I find this fascinating because it means that time is different everywhere...not just everywhere on Earth, but on every celestial body in the universe, as well as in the space in-between. Even people flying in aircraft are experiencing time moving faster than the people on the ground.

Poetry Moment – Time Dilation

Did you know that you experience time differently than I do? For example, per Einstein's Theory of Relativity (and yes, I'm a science nerd), if I'm standing at sea level and you're standing on a mountain top, time moves faster for you due to lower gravity. So,…

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Red Abstract (Two Versions) A while back, I was asked to paint a canvas for an art show with the theme of "Red". I played around with a few ideas and splashed acrylics on a few practice pages before I settled on an idea. I wanted to keep it simple, emphasize the main color, but still have a little whimsey about it. I ended up with two canvases that I liked, but I couldn't decide which one I preferred. They are basically the same image, but with a few slight differences. I'd like to know which one you prefer.

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Red Abstract (Two Versions)

A while back, I was asked to paint a canvas for an art show with the theme of "Red". I played around with a few ideas and splashed acrylics on a few practice pages before I settled on an idea. I wanted to keep it simple, emphasize the…

Poetry Moment – The Last of the Leaves Winter is starting to set in here in North Florida. While we've been boomeranging from lows in the 30s and 40 to highs in the 70s and 80s. Makes it difficult to decide what to wear each day. Next week will be getting colder, and it looks like it's going to stick around. I guess the trees got the message and have now dropped most of their leaves. The branches are, for the most part, bare except for the random stragglers who don't know when to let go. The result is leaves in my yard.

Poetry Moment – The Last of the Leaves

Winter is starting to set in here in North Florida. While we've been boomeranging from lows in the 30s and 40 to highs in the 70s and 80s. Makes it difficult to decide what to wear each day. Next week will be getting colder, and it looks like it's going to…

Hypnagogic Creativity I read an article this past weekend about the hypnagogic state. It's that moment between wakefulness and sleep, the semi-dream state when we're still aware but our minds are untethered to conscious thought. Research is now showing that this can be a creative time for people, a time to work out problems or discover new ideas. A famous example (noted in the opening of the article linked above) is that of Paul McCartney coming up with the song, "Yesterday". As the story goes, McCartney was waking up one morning - in a semi-dream state - when he heard the notes playing in his head.

Hypnagogic Creativity

I read an article this past weekend about the hypnagogic state. It's that moment between wakefulness and sleep, the semi-dream state when we're still aware but our minds are untethered to conscious thought. Research is now showing that this can be a creative time for people,…

A Little Abstract Expressionism – Circles

After my last practice series with abstract flowers, I wanted to do something different. Well, not completely different since the circles feel like they are carry overs from the flowers (similar shapes). Circles are benign shapes. No straight edges or…

Being Creative "To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it." - Osho Sometimes I think about my urge, my need, to be creative. I had it for as long as I remember. I was drawing detailed pictures when I was very young, and started writing poetry in grade school. Then came fiction writing, blogging, painting, making music.

Being Creative

"To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it." - Osho Sometimes I think about my urge, my need, to be…