Shhh…
Several years ago, while a huge building was under very noisy construction right across from our urban townhouse, Jane read an arresting work, Sara Maitland’s The Book of Silence. The author had spent six months in utter silence and isolation in a tiny cottage on Scotland’s Isle of Skye. Her musings and insights about her remarkable experience led Jane, who enjoys precious little silence during her “day job” as a symphonic violinist, to embark on her own (briefer) self-designed silent retreat in a log cabin in rural Virginia. With no laptop, no phone, and no watch, having set aside even the input of reading, she ate when hungry, slept when sleepy, and existed in virtually silent solitude for three days. For company: the sights of nature, her own thoughts, and some at times surprisingly potent emotions. Certainly neither a wild beast nor a god (see Answer T. of this week’s acrostic), she nonetheless relished the experience.
In constructing this puzzle, we enjoyed brainstorming words and phrases related to quiet, including Quakerism, Buddhism, and Calvin [“Silent Cal”] Coolidge. We hope “bowwow” didn’t unduly break the mood. How do you seek serenity in these clamorous times?
Finding a video clip on the theme of quietude presented a fun challenge. We wonder how many of you remember this classic scene:
On an unrelated note, we wanted to share the delightful news that our NYT acrostics-constructing predecessor Henry Rathvon has turned a portion of his vast verbal talents to writing delightfully clever poems, usually on topics related to either food or science. With the aid of his HEX (and life) partner, Emily Cox, he posts them to a Substack titled “Into the Words.” Here’s one example that may tempt you to subscribe:
Stopping by Joe’s on a Frosty Morning
Whose grits these are I think I know.
The cook is in the kitchen, though.
He will not notice I’ve unscrewed
A thermos of my private joe.
The diner staff would think it rude—
In fact, they might become unglued—
To see me sipping on the sly
A java they had never brewed.
While bacon sizzles on the grill
My little thermos I keep still
Between my thighs. It will not spill.
My deep, dark secret will not spill.
This place has breakfast for to die,
But coffee here? I cannot lie,
It’s strictly hotplate tin-can swill.
Drink at your risk, or do as I.
Thank you for introducing me to Sara Maitland’s book, which I will now read with pleasure. I loved the acrostic, and I loved the Marcel Marceau clip!
This acrostic was on the gentler side for me. The abundance of short (two- and three-letter) words in the quote helped me to come up with many of the clue answers.
I always pick up a few new words or phrases from each acrostic. For this puzzle, ISOPLETH, AMPHIGORY, INNER LIGHT, and EDENIC (covenant) were on the list.
Seeing AMPHIGORY reminded me of the great artist, writer, and costume designer Edward Gorey. Among his other accomplishments, he created the animated introduction to the PBS series “Mystery!”. And he published three illustrated collections of short stories and verse: “Amphigorey: Fifteen Books”, “Amphigory Too”, and “Amphigory Also”.
Finally, thanks for mentioning HEX’s Substack. I’ll definitely check it out!
Oops – the last two book titles are “Amphigorey Too” and “Amphigorey Also”.
I got sidetracked a bit searching for a book on religion, but when I cut out the noise I saw that what I was looking at was the sound of silence. Having gone to a Quaker college INNERLIGHT was a gimme for me. Although not a Quaker, or religious person at all, I do admire the Quaker silent worship. Got a laugh out of seeing silent Cal COOLIDGE emerge as a theme answer. I loved seeing AMPHIGORY, ISOPLETH, and EQUANIMITY. Delightful words to encounter on a gorgeous Sunday morning.
Just delightful. Thank you for another Acrostic adventure.
Characteristically thought-provoking quote and wonderful anecdote about Jane‘s experiment with a three-day silent retreat.
I also loved the link to the Marcel Marceau cameo (which I’d either never seen or totally forgot).
“Isopleth” was new to me. Not sure how I can work this word into casual conversation. 😉
The priceless story about “Silent Cal” Coolidge (possibly apocryphal, but it should be true) is that he was once seated next to a society woman at a dinner. She said to him, “Mr. President, I made a wager with a friend that I could get more than two words out of you during the course of this dinner.“
To which the President responded: “You lose.“
A fun reminder of the talented Edward Gorey. I came by his AMPHIGORY years ago, working in the library to put myself through art school. I often found peace, quiet and inspiration there, and purchased his book.
Oh, yeah. I also loved the poem by Henry Rathvon. All of us who love the acrostic owe so much to the many years that he and Ms. Cox did such ingenious and satisfying work.
As we were nearing the finish line for today’s acrostic, we noted that the grid had a Q, J, Z, and K. Since the two of you are such wonderful wordsmiths, we kept expecting that an “X” would show up. Still, having 25 letters of the alphabet in a grid of less than 180 letters is pretty remarkable. Good puzzle — well done!