Monday, November 19, 2012
A scroll full of poems by poets of talent, and big pot full of wine fit for saints. I love to walk out to watch the young bull calves; sitting, I’d rather stay close to home. Frost and dew can soak through thatch, but the moon flowers white through the window made of old bottles; […]
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Of course, it will be my endeavour to study thoroughly anything that I decide to take up, but it is precisely on this account that the choice is so difficult; for one feels constrained to choose that branch of study in which one can hope to do something complete. And how illusory such hopes often […]
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The trouble about man is that he insists on being master of his own fate, and he insists on oneness. For instance, having discovered the ecstasy of spiritual love, he insists that he shall have this all the time, and nothing but this, for this is life. It is what he calls ‘heightening’ life. He […]
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Septimus is the American self-made man. God had no hand in his make-up. He made himself. He has been to Europe, no doubt seen everything, including the Venus de Milo. ‘What, is that the Venus de Milo?’ And he turns his back on the lady. He’s seen her. He’s got her. She’s a fish he […]
Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner. Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity. —Lao-Tzu, Section 9 from Tao […]
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Lying on a high seat in the south study, We have lifted the curtain—and we see the rising moon Brighten with pure light the water and the grove And flow like a wave on our window and our door. It will move through the cycle, full moon and then crescent again, Calmly, beyond our wisdom, […]
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Had we but World enough, and Time, This coyness Lady were no crime. We would sit down, and think which way To walk, and pass our long Loves Day. Thou by the Indian Ganges side. Should’st Rubies find: I by the Tide Of Humber would complain. I would Love you ten years before the Flood: […]
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
All those years and I never realized why I found the mourning dove so interesting until you pointed out that morning we stood by the icy window its resemblance to Robert Penn Warren— the secretive eyes, soft royal neck, and the mild, unruffled demeanor. It was the day after a garrulous night of champagne and […]
Ou temps qu’Alixandre regna, Ung horns nommé Diomedès Devant luy on luy amena Engrillonné poulces et des Comme ung larron, car il fut des Escumeurs que voions courir; Si fut mis devant ce cadès, Pour estre jugié a mourir. L’empereur si l’araisonna: «Pourquoi es tu larron en mer?» L’autre responce luy donna: «Pourquoy laron me […]
Thursday, September 29, 2011
But here my Muse her wing maun cour, Sic flights are far beyond her power; To sing how Nannie lap and flang, (A souple jade she was and strang), And how Tam stood, like ane bewitch’d, And thought his very een enrich’d: Even Satan glowr’d, and fidg’d fu’ fain, And hotch’d and blew wi’ might […]