Inexplicable absence

I have been inexplicably absent from this weblog for a couple of weeks.

Roofvogel

Are roofvogels strong? Willem asked me.
They certainly are. I am a roofvogel. The English word is 'bird of prey'. Say it. No, not prey bird, 'bird of prey'.
Bird of prey.

John Dory

I finally plucked up the courage to look up the English translation of zonnevis. It is John Dory, a deep sea fish that feeds on other fish. Judging by its white flesh and the gentle Dutch name, I had no idea it was such an ugly fish. Also, John Dory sounds placid and good-natured.

John Dory looks like a curmudgeonly fish, spiteful and opinionated. And yet, might he not reveal himself to be possessed of warmth, irony and empathy?

Wonder Pets come to the rescue of a skunk.
A child buys a lolly shaped like a dummy or a butt-plug.

Can I learn some German by reading Rilke in translation? I need some very fine chocolate.