Shel Graves' Sensorium

Taste: orchard fresh Pink Ladies tart and sweet Sight: leaves blown behind a pick-up truck; russet highlights in black fur   Sound: tink, tink, tink-dog tags on ceramic dish; a song that would be improved by theremin woo, woo, woo, wooooo   Touch: crisp apples   Smell: Black Phoenix Lab Alchemy: Sin -amber, sandalwood, black patchouli, cinnamon Extra : "My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid, to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself, and we will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man, and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is peaceful and human," — Creature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein ; "The left, in contrast, has a Utopian Vision, which emphasizes the malleability of human nature, puts customs under the microscope, articulates rational plans for a better society...

I spent a long time with this book, which I picked up in August after visiting the Nevada mining town where Samuel Clemens first used his pen name Mark Twain in 1863 as a journalist at the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise . Not having read any Twain since high school ( The Adventures of Tom Sawyer , Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"), I was curious how I would find the author's work, writing style, and voice as a well-read adult. I didn't know Twain had written The Prince and Pauper , and the premise, a rich, powerful boy and an impoverished, powerless boy exchange experiences, interested me. Also, the theme felt timely to today's political discussions of income inequality and class warfare — and so I began. And slowly, slowly continued. On a six-hour flight to the East Coast, I never read a word of it. However, arriving in Greenwich Village, New York City in September I saw another plaque bearing Mark ...

Taste: pumpkin and peanut butter   Sight: lions in front of the New York Public Library; ice show on a cruise; Sargasso Sea ; striations of sun and shadow Sound: " Ghosts of Utopia ," "Spit it Out," IAMX; "Vajze e Valeve" Matane Malit , the Elina Duni Quartet; "Horrible People," Tragic Impulse Touch: touch your lap in a velvet dress   Smell: must and mold, a damp building Extra: the 1911 Triangle Factory Fire ; Charles Dickens: The Key to Character , at the New York Public Library Grateful for: unions

Taste: Science Club 's homemade veggie burger with Daiya and warm sticky fingers vegan brownie with dark chocolate and raspberry drizzle   Sight: Nature's Best Photography , Sally Ride's uniform; the Statute of Liberty  Sound: XTC, " Making Plans for Nigel " Touch: economy of space, Pod 39 Smell: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Extra: Sept. 22 International Elephant Appreciation Day; monumental emotions; communities of writers: Whitehorse Tavern, Lion's Head, Kettle of Fish, Monkey's Paw, McDougall St., Grove Court Grateful for: elephants, The Mercury, civil rights