Sunday, May 31, 2009

Poets to come


Poets to come! Orators, singers, musicians to come!
Not to-day is to justify me and answer what I am for,
but you, a new brood, native, athletic, continental, greater than before known,
Arouse! For you must justify me.

I myself but write one or two indicative words for the future,
I but advance a moment only to wheel and hurry back in the darkness.

I am a man who, sauntering along without fully stopping
turns a casual look upon you and then averts his face,
Leaving it to you to prove and define it,

Expecting the main things from you.
[1860]

Walt Whitman, 31 May 1819 - 26. March 1892

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Hm ...

... like a volcano, tonight
I am a sitting here and ... write ...

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Kiss


Give me, my love, that billing kiss
I taught you one delicious night

When, turning epicures in bliss,

We tried inventions of delight.'

Thomas Moore

And thus ends my little homage to Thomas Moore on the occasion of his 230th birthday. I wonder though, why he did not choose as title 'The Meeting of the Tongues'.

The Meeting of the Waters

There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet;
Oh! the last rays of feeling and life must depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart.


'Twas that friends, the beloved of my bosom, were near,
Who made every dear scene of enchantment more dear,
And who felt how the best charms of nature improve,
When we see them reflected from looks that we love.

Sweet vale of Avoca! how calm could I rest
in thy bosom of shade, with the friends I love best,
Where the storms that we feel in this cold world should cease,
And our hearts, like thy waters, be mingled in peace.

Thomas Moore *28th May 1779

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

For each beginning bears a special magic*

I did not know what exactly Chris was thinking of when he told me of his idea to let some of my photos accompany (great) poets reading their own poems. However: I got curious - like I always am when visiting my philosopher's blog.

Well, and so it comes that God-free Morals and Omnium together are starting what - who knows? - might become a project.
Will it be interesting for our readers, friends and those who might stumble upon our blogs?
Hopefully. And if not? Well, in this case we may comfort ourselves with what Arnold Schoenberg once stated:
If it is art it is not for all
and if it is for all
it is no art.

So take your choice. And let us know. :)
Here's for a beginning ...




* :) with thanks to Hermann Hesse for writing one of my favourite poems.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Abraham Kuyper Neglected Titan ...

... is the latest article at Westminster Wisdom.

Why would I mention this?

Well, I think it could be particularly interesting for my Dutch readers to read this and his previous articles (and comment upon), and - it's an opportunity to commend Gracchi's blog especially to cineasts and those who are interested in history / politics.

Ah, and did I mention Livi? :)