18 July 2025 – God or devil? This aphorism, it turns out, has various protagonists, and even more attributed sources, in multiple languages.

“God is in the details,” for example, is attributed to architect Mies van der Rohe in English — but, in German or French, and earlier, to philosopher/poet Aby Warburg and Gustave Flaubert respectively. If you prefer the Devil as protagonist, Nietzche gets the nod (in German), with endless English and other adapters thereafter.

Standing yet again mesmerized in an alley, I decide my own version is: Fascination is in the details.

Last time around, you’ll recall, I was fascinated by a tree. This time? I doubt Joyce Kilmer would approve.

First, a squadron of yellow poles, one of whom…

clearly celebrated too long & too well last night.

Then, a trim green car, clean & shiny & standing firmly upright on all four tires. Just one more car, parked in the alley line-up.

But, aha… details!

Three yellow duckies hold the left tail light in place…

two red discs, their black cord tightly wound, secure the edge of the left front bumper to the hood…

and red V’s add extra panache to the snappy white tire rims. (As in, We may be down & somewhat out, but by golly, we’re doing it in style.)

(The smudge on the back bumper, alas, probably does not deserve our fascination. Looks like a side-wipe from something grubby, not a deliberate detail. In fact, and you can check this for yourselves, there seems to be similar black smudging in the duckie-supported tail light just above.)

Then I come home, look up “God/devil is in the details,” and find myself fascinated all over again by the number of rabbit holes I could pursue. Talk about detail!

Including the meaning of it all in Hindi. If any of you have the linguistic ability to pursue that one, please tell me what you learn.