Rosemary

Rosemary is a common, rather austere-looking herb, but it has many uses.  As a culinary herb, it adds a distinctive, fragrant, bitter-sweet flavor to food, and a little goes a long way.  Its oil is used in both hair and skin care, although some people show a marked sensitivity to it (it’s always good to test a small area of skin before using it or products that contain it).  As a medicinal herb, rosemary is useful for its antibacterial and antiviral properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, antispasmolytic effects on the gallbladder and upper intestine, its ability to stimulate circulation when applied to the skin, and its ability improve rheumatic conditions when used in the same way.  The oil should only be used externally, (and then as a mixture of 10% essential rosemary oil to 90% olive oil or some other lipophilic oil), and when taking an extract of the leaves in the form of teas or tinctures, a little is usually better than a lot.  Like any medicine, overdose is possible.  Rosemary should never be taken during pregnancy.  Rosemary has been approved by Commission E for blood pressure problems (external application), dyspeptic complaints (internal consumption), loss of appetite (internal consumption), and rheumatism (external application).  The possible anti-mutagenic and tumor-inhibiting qualities of some of its chemical components are currently being studied.  Rosemary oil has mild insect repellent properties.  Some people claim that rosemary also improves memory, helps with headaches, and makes wounds heal faster when applied to them as a poultice.

Wild Strawberries and Moonlight

I am honored to have a story up at the always outstanding Bewildering Stories.  Here is a link to it.  This piece originally appeared in a truly lovely print journal, The Germ, which I don’t think is around anymore.

Sebastian im Traum

What did the great twentieth century Austrian poet Georg Trakl find in the works of Novalis?  Certainly, echoes of his own longing for a mystical death, for union with a beloved beyond the grave, and a special veneration for dreams and the dream state, though, in Trakl’s case, this was certainly mixed up with his relentless drug addiction. Trakl shares so much aesthetically with Novalis, even beyond the blue flower and the juice of the poppy, especially Hymnen an die Nacht (though not necessarily Novalis’ philosophy).  Trakl’s poem to Novalis, "An Novalis," is so opaque that it expresses little to me about how he actually viewed him and his work.  His cycle of poems Sebastian im Traum is where I find him closest to Novalis.  Personally, though, my favorite poem of Trakl's is the one below, which I believe was written before Sebastian im Traum.  Trakl, like Novalis, died young, but his tragedy was much greater, abetted by all the demons of the twentieth century.

Im roten Laubwerk voll Guitarren

Im roten Laubwerk voll Guitarren

Der Mädchen gelbe Haare wehen

Am Zaun, wo Sonnenblumen stehen.

Durch Wolken fährt ein goldener Karren.

In brauner Schatten Ruh verstummen

Die Alten, die sich blöd umschlingen.

Die Waisen süß zur Vesper singen.

In gelben Dünsten Fliegen summen.

Am Bache waschen noch die Frauen.

Die aufgehängten Linnen wallen.

Die Kleine, die mir lang gefallen,

Kommt wieder durch das Abendgrauen.

Vom lauen Himmel Spatzen stürzen

In grüne Löcher voll Verwesung.

Dem Hungrigen täuscht vor Genesung

Ein Duft von Brot und herben Würzen.