I must thank Susie who sent me a terrific note on my charred violet blog…to let me know that…

‘Do you know that very obscure American writer, Weldon Kees, who was once called ‘the bitterest poet in America’?! I only know him because he apparently influenced John Berryman”s character Henry. (Kees had a failed hero called Robinson.) Anyhoo, in a poem somewhere Kees uses the word ‘vein-violet’ which I always admired. X’

No! I did not know…but will be reading henceforth, and that delightful ‘vein-violet’ reminded me I had one last word on the subject viz-a-vis Odorantes, that tiny flower shop in Paris that specializes in bouquets by scent rather than colour. Years ago, however, when I saved this Elle article, they were known for arrangements of faded withering wuthering gothic seduction….mmmmmmmm. And as I watch all the so called glitz and glamour of these too-early Christmas decorations go up around London, I rather long for a little more gloomth.