GARDEN GODS

Sunday April 4, 2010

 

“Garden cluster” – Following recent ruminations about Alice’s garden and its significance (the theme of the book is frustrated desire)

This morning, browsing dream diary, came across the dream where Penelope leads me into the garden where three animatronic figures, one of a beaming blond priest. 

Reading Powell’s memoirs, where he talks about his unproduced play “The Garden God”.  The god in question being Priapus.

Turning on TVO, where a show called “Recreating Eden” is airing, about gardens and gardening, naturally; this episode featuring a gay hairdresser in Hollywood and his garden.

Reading Leonard and Larry after that, the cartoons where Larry’s employee Jim discovers that the man he’s been having an affair with is a priest.  Father Andy leads him into the church garden to discuss this with him... Jim remarks that dressed the way he is he resembles Francis of Assisi (a common garden ‘god’).  Jim breaks off the affair because he can’t deal with the Catholic guilt and the secrecy. 

This cluster is for once strikingly obvious.  The beaming blond priest who is ‘not real’ – his friendliness is automatic – this would be X---- of course.  The attempt to combine sexual fulfilment with religion has been a failure on my part, I now know.  There are too many complications. 

In passing, I would note another dream in passing, where X---- was having an affair with T----, but T---- had grown a beard.  N----, who X----may well be involved with, has a beard and is red-haired (like T----). 

Later that evening... On the web, checked out the latest newsletter for the Anthony Powell Society, and happen upon an article entitled: Anthony Powell, Gardener