Author Archives: JMN

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About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day. I like to read and memorize poetry.

Semicolon Rebellion

Posted on May 22, 2021 by JMN

Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses — i.e., two sentences that work on their own — which are closely sequential: “I finished a painting today; it went better than I thought it would.” Or in order to separate … Continue reading →

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Fanfare for the Arch and Monarchic Empyrean

Posted on May 21, 2021 by JMN

For fanfaronnish, pharaonic, peerlessly peeraged personnages kitted, kilted, severely coiffed and balconic in presence, shod and booted in besotted opulence, blackamoorian brooched, got up in splendid headgear, lorded lads and ladied dames garbed in emblazoned berobement, none… For sherlockian, sherwoodian, … Continue reading →

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‘Cowards’ by Miguel Hernández

Posted on May 20, 2021 by JMN

[Translator’s note: The blog of Andrés Cifuentes — Eco Social…Ojo Crítico (doff of cap to) led me to this poem by Miguel Hernández. It doesn’t soar as poetry, but it does register a raw and memorable cri de coeur. All … Continue reading →

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In Which the Paladin of the Long Face Gives Wise Counsel to His Squire

Posted on May 19, 2021 by JMN

Sé breve en tus razonamientos; que ninguno hay gustoso si es largo.Be brief in your remarks; none is pleasurable if it’s long.(Don Quijote) (c) 2021 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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To China and Back

Posted on May 18, 2021 by JMN

In 1922, Lin Shu translated the first part of “Don Quixote” into classical Chinese. It was published as “The Story of the Enchanted Knight.” Lin Shu knew no Spanish, nor any other western language. A friend who had read two … Continue reading →

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Police Haiku

Posted on May 16, 2021 by JMN

Behold and lo. What?Fire. Ready. Aim. Oh my god.Turn on body cam. Versión castellana: ¿Qué es esto? ¡Coño!Balazos. Hostia.Ponte las gafas. (c) 2021 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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Ni pintado.

Posted on May 16, 2021 by JMN

La Ribera. Ni pintado. La luz cae y se levanta una ligera brisa. Solo se escucha el sonido de la corriente y el alboroto de las ranas. This goes out to those tadpoles in your pond, Alba. “Luz, brisa, sonido, … Continue reading →

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Vuelta a ellas.

Posted on May 16, 2021 by JMN

Arbusto en flor. Vuelta a ellas. Las flores o árboles siempre son una buena opción cuando no tienes oportunidad de fotografíar otras cosas. Besides being a lovely photo by Carmac, this caption merits your attention for the Spanish conversations we’re … Continue reading →

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What It Means

Posted on May 15, 2021 by JMN

The so-called ‘ethical dative’ or ‘dative of interest’, where the use of an indirect object pronoun expresses the involvement of the subject in the action of the verb, intensifies such feelings as sadness, happiness and mockery. Ten cuidado, y no … Continue reading →

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The Rock Pile

Posted on May 14, 2021 by JMN

Dwight Garner’s review of a new biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings* evokes a foible-wracked genius: It’s a pleasure to meet this cursing, hard-drinking, brilliant, self-destructive, car-wrecking, fun-loving, chain-smoking, alligator-hunting, moonshine-making, food-obsessed woman again on the page. The passage that hits … Continue reading →

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