I made a brief visit to see my parents…My father was in the backyard feeding the birds. I hesitated to disturb him but felt an urgency to see him and quietly slipped out back. He was standing at the end of the yard with his back toward me with arms outstretched. As I stood in silence the birds flew to him and covered him, as if a fresco from the painter Giotto’s life cycle of St. Francis of Assisi. I could feel the birds’ affection for him, not merely because he fed them, but because they were responding to his innate goodness. At that moment I had no doubt that he was of a hallowed tribe. Not a perfect man, nor had he produced any known miracle, yet he had the simplicity of a saint, and I the saint’s errant daughter. Somehow sensing my presence, he turned as the birds flew above him and looked at me. Hello doll, he said. Hello, Daddy, I answered.
— Patti Smith, Bread of Angels: A Memoir (Random House, November 4, 2025)
Notes:
- Bread of Angels by Patti Smith. Recommended.
- Book Reviews:
- NY Times: Taking Stock: Patti Smith Looks Back at Everything.
- The Guardian: A Memoir, a wild ride with the poet of punk.
- Pexels Photo by Yahya Gopalani.
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.
- Thank you Kiki for sharing this video:
wow, that gave me chills, so moving – seeing each other in a new light
Yes, same…
What a beautiful write. I see you recommend it which tells me the rest of the book is as delightful to read.
I loved the book Dale, but I “recommend” it vs. “highly recommend it.” Appreciate her prose, her candor – it drifted a bit in places, but I enjoyed it.
Ahhhh… I hear you. Still, a slight drift is not too bad if the rest is good 😉
This is beautiful in many ways.
And I miss dad. I want to be her, there…
Awwwww
I feel the same way about my precious mother Sawsan. I loved my father as well, but he was not so easy to grow close to. Hope you are well. 💕
Your posts always make me feel wonderful. Thank you.
awwwww. So glad. Thanks for letting me know Claudia.
One of those moments in time … beautiful
Yes. Thank you.
Been awhile since you’ve shared Patti Smith’s gift of writing…I still have not read her first book, your shared, several years back….I love the way she writes…
Now for the photo! Two days back I ran across a collection of six photos on flicker…I’d planned on emailing. you to share with your Pro Photographer son, Eric 🙂 One of the photos is reminiscent of the birds, aloft on your share….Hope you enjoy!
https://blog.flickr.net/en/2025/09/26/weekly-snapshot-with-flickr-social-9-26-2025/
Love these photos Christie. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Christie; I saw and see loads of this kind of photos, made myself tons of them, mostly with seagulls or the smaller kind I don’t have a name for in English. Those photos to me always have an ethereal impact: now it’s here, then it’s gone – off to some more bread chasing, worm diving, or chips stealing! I also used to be a very active Flickr member but had to give up when my eyes were too unhealthy to see my subjects through a viewfinder and my hands hurting too much of always holding my heavy, wonderful Canon in an unnatural way….. I very much enjoyed viewing your offerings. Thank you.
What a wonderful, touching post! Have you seen and heard Stephen Colbert’s talk and her mini concert a few days ago? I knew, of course, her name and to me she was some far away rock and punk queen. I had no interest whatsoever in punks and only a little love for rock then, but she ‘must have impressed me’ or I wouldn’t have kept her name in my head…. And with that Late Show Talk she came alight and touched me deeply. I probably would love to read her book and her song she presented at the end of the interview spoke to me too. I’m therefore not surprised at all at this little passage you shared. Thank you so much – a precious gem of joy, serendipity, thankfulness.
I never heard her on the music circuit but have read her books. She is a writer, so talented.
https://youtu.be/lgamJ5SQlIg?si=kBbh6obZp7VD5-ku
I hadn’t see this Kiki. Thank you for sharing. In my cue!
Beautiful words Dave. Thanks for sharing. This is the lifestyle I dream of… Simple and beautiful. And I cannot help but be angry at our materialistic culture for not teaching me the importance of this type of life when I was very young. At least I can try now… I’m still here… For a while longer I hope. Best wishes to you and your family. – Paul.
Yes. Exactly. Me too Paul. Thank you!
“Writing is a kind of prayer, and sometimes praying is writing,” says Smith
So beautiful and hits me too.. Dear David, Thank you, Love, nia
Thanks Nia!