I have seen several things that are attributed to John Keats that suggest to me that he not only had a very fortitudinous imagination; it was that creative state of mind that he seemed to truly reside in. As a poet, I often try to go there, but I truly do not live in that realm. I'm not sure that living there is particularly fitting in the world we live in today. Which of course raises the question of just how fitting it was in Keats's time? (1795-1821)
I suppose that if one were a poet and nothing else, such an existence could work. Even among many very gifted contemporary poets, I'm not sure that I identify any single instance of one who I think actually "lives" in that kind of state of mind. Thinking of poets like Robert Bly, WS Merwin, Naomi Shihab Nye, John Ashbury, Maya Angelou, Margaret Atwood or Mary Oliver... these are a few poets who I believe have very bold imaginative flashes within their work. Yet, them seem to have normal lives. I'm guessing they come back to reality everyday.
From two quotes that I will share today, I glean Keats strived if not found that realm.
"My imagination is a monastery and I am its monk." There is something that tells me that with Keats, this is not particularly a metaphorical pronouncement. I get a real powerful image of his mind in this statement and how he resides within it.
Then, Keats speaks of the truth of imagination. "I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections, and the truth of imagination." His poetics here works well for me because I firmly believe we write from a basis of truth. That truth may not necessarily reflect with 100% accuracy, historical events, but it is based on our life experiences real or imagined. Therefore those things, which are born within the mind, are truth.
Tags: John Keats Writing and poetry
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Rice faces silent protest in Boston�|�Reuters.com
Rice faces silent protest in Boston - Reuters.com
Rice's selection as commencement speaker had stirred controversy at the Jesuit school, where many oppose the war and say it contradicts Catholic teaching.
Tags: Iraq Rice Protest
Rice's selection as commencement speaker had stirred controversy at the Jesuit school, where many oppose the war and say it contradicts Catholic teaching.
Tags: Iraq Rice Protest
You get Keats this week
mWeekend is gone, good ones I believe are all greased and travel through time way too quickly.
I was able to crank out a first draft of something early Sunday evening. Also read an interesting piece in The New Yorker by Peter J Boyer on the marketing "The Da Vinci Code" to Christians. (which was quite fascinating) Meanwhile the film' generated $77 million in box office sales in its first weekend (source) which is a good start for a film which Sony invested $125 million making it and another $62 million to market it.
Meanwhile, the Dixie Chicks are releasing a new album Taking The Long Way in which the Chicks seem to be gravitating to a harder line and much more personal poetics to their lyrics and moving somewhat away from the fun and good humor days of the past. They have no regrets about the harsh words about President Bush some three years ago and their music suggests they are ready to move on, but stand by their opinion of the President and the war in Iraq. [listen to single]
Ok, now you get my John Keats quote for today:
"Praise or blame has but a momentary effect on the man whose love of beauty in the abstract makes him a severe critic on his own works."
I was able to crank out a first draft of something early Sunday evening. Also read an interesting piece in The New Yorker by Peter J Boyer on the marketing "The Da Vinci Code" to Christians. (which was quite fascinating) Meanwhile the film' generated $77 million in box office sales in its first weekend (source) which is a good start for a film which Sony invested $125 million making it and another $62 million to market it.
Meanwhile, the Dixie Chicks are releasing a new album Taking The Long Way in which the Chicks seem to be gravitating to a harder line and much more personal poetics to their lyrics and moving somewhat away from the fun and good humor days of the past. They have no regrets about the harsh words about President Bush some three years ago and their music suggests they are ready to move on, but stand by their opinion of the President and the war in Iraq. [listen to single]
Ok, now you get my John Keats quote for today:
"Praise or blame has but a momentary effect on the man whose love of beauty in the abstract makes him a severe critic on his own works."
Tags: Da Vinci Code Dixie Chicks John Keats Writing and poetry Marketing Dan Brown Sony
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Yesterday Barry was Three!
Pictured here is Barry, our long haired Dachshundwho turned three years big on Saturday. He is pictured here with his stuffed cigar in his mouth.
Last night my wife and youngest daughter went to a pig roast, weather here was absolutely beautiful in the evening.
Doing chores today for the most part, not writing as of yet, perhaps later.
Another couple of Amy Lowell quotes to share today and starting Monday, I'll select another poet to quote throughout the week.
Here is an Amy Lowell quote on art: "Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in." A very good starting place to describe what art is, I think.
Here she speaks of happiness: "Happiness: We rarely feel it. I would buy it, beg it, steal it, Pay in coins of dripping blood For this one transcendent good."
And lastly, perhaps a bit of good advise from this poet...
"Take everything easy and quit dreaming and brooding and you will be well guarded from a thousand evils."
- Poetry on the Internet: Some is quite good, but is it literature?
- Poetry in my bones
Saturday, May 20, 2006
The Moon, McCain, War & Poetry
Hang lose with me, the fascination with Amy Lowell quotes will end soon enough and I'll move on to yet another poet. However, the quote I've picked for today is yet another exquisite joining of words... "Moon! Moon! I am prone before you. Pity me, and drench me in loneliness."
At the New School graduation in Madison Square Garden, Senator John McCain, keynote speaker was jeered, booed, and heckled by students who objected to his defense of the war in Iraq.
A student speaker, Jean Sara Rohe, 21, discarded her original remarks to talk about Mr. McCain. Stating that the Senator did not reflect the ideals upon which the university was founded. "I am young, and although I don't profess to possess the wisdom that time affords us, I do know that pre-emptive war is dangerous and wrong," she said.
At one point in his speech, the Senator defended the war saying, "I believe the benefits of success will justify the costs and risks." The protests grew louder and more frequent, some graduates walked out. Others laughed. When Mr. McCain returned to policy after briefly quoting Yeats, someone shouted, "More poetry!"
tags: Iraq War John McCain Poetry Amy Lowell
At the New School graduation in Madison Square Garden, Senator John McCain, keynote speaker was jeered, booed, and heckled by students who objected to his defense of the war in Iraq.
A student speaker, Jean Sara Rohe, 21, discarded her original remarks to talk about Mr. McCain. Stating that the Senator did not reflect the ideals upon which the university was founded. "I am young, and although I don't profess to possess the wisdom that time affords us, I do know that pre-emptive war is dangerous and wrong," she said.
At one point in his speech, the Senator defended the war saying, "I believe the benefits of success will justify the costs and risks." The protests grew louder and more frequent, some graduates walked out. Others laughed. When Mr. McCain returned to policy after briefly quoting Yeats, someone shouted, "More poetry!"
tags: Iraq War John McCain Poetry Amy Lowell
Friday, May 19, 2006
'101 Selected Poems' from a poet of 102
The Daily Star - Arts & Culture - '101 Selected Poems' from a poet of 102
Haidar has won international renown from a wide variety of patrons - from Pope John XXIII to the Arab League - which named him "Prince of Poets." The French awarded him the Medal la Croix de Grand Officier, and his work also won him Lebanon's Gold Medal of Merit and the Order of the Cedars. (read the fascinating story linked above)
Haidar has won international renown from a wide variety of patrons - from Pope John XXIII to the Arab League - which named him "Prince of Poets." The French awarded him the Medal la Croix de Grand Officier, and his work also won him Lebanon's Gold Medal of Merit and the Order of the Cedars. (read the fascinating story linked above)
Unrequited
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