“They saw their injured country's woe;
The flaming town, the wasted field;
Then rushed to meet the insulting foe;
They took the spear, - but left the shield.”
―Philip Freneau
.
And by a prudent flight and cunning save A life which valour could not, from the grave. A better buckler I can soon regain, But who can get another life again?
Archilochus
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Framing Desire - Images of American Dream's Past & Present
I thought Casting Crowns was only a Christian band...good to know they're not; they're very good. I couldn't listen to the pretty dark haired (and VERY SMART) girl because it was too depressing!
Funny, FJ...A toy I had as a little girl came to my mind just yesterday, after YEARS (more than I'd care to admit)...it was a little perfect house like the one in your top image....and it sat up on 6" 'feet' and you moved the people around with a magnet from underneath...you moved the magnet and they walked room to room.......it was so much fun as a 5 yr old....it was so normal, so sweet and good....the Leave it To Beaver house, you know? I blogged the other day on TV shows that lift us up in their innocence...I chose I LOVE LUCY, others chose Gilligan's Island and the Brady Bunch (I wouldn't go THAT far!!)... but I think we're looking for times when the American dream WAS either happening or could be dreamed...today, notsomuch :-( Today, we need old TV shows to remind us of better times. I feel for our kids.
There was a time when the American Dream was obtainable. Today, NOT so much. Putting three kids through college was the end of mine. I got my mortgage BACK.
A dream lies dead here. May you softly go Before this place, and turn away your eyes, Nor seek to know the look of that which dies Importuning Life for life. Walk not in woe,
But, for a little, let your step be slow. And, of your mercy, be not sweetly wise With words of hope and Spring and tenderer skies. A dream lies dead; and this all mourners know:
Whenever one drifted petal leaves the tree –– Though white of bloom as it had been before And proudly waitful of fecundity –– One little loveliness can be no more;
And so must Beauty bow her imperfect head Because a dream has joined the wistful dead!
Should I care if I get cancer In this wretched, troubled, world Where all seems swiftly headed towards the rocks?
Since we live with devolution, Marred and poisoned with pollution Cancer gives us absolution, Since our kids don’t care enough to wear their socks.
As towards The End we're whirling With flaming batons twirling, And last night's dinner hurling towards the rug
And no one seems to notice As they take positions lotus To escape the awful bother, Despite demur from failing father, To remove the dreadful stench, at which they shrug
And each, emaciated limb Grayish, pale, translucent, slim Flailing in St. Vitus' Dance Keeps death watchers in a trance As with dead, unseeing eyes they watch and long With fading final song for their ultimate demise . I’d be grateful to have cancer It has given me an Answer In this wretched, troubled, world Where my life now lies unfurled Wherever I have travelled All behind me lies unravelled, And backward glances give me naught but shocks. As I see we’ve always headed towards the rocks.
4 comments:
I thought Casting Crowns was only a Christian band...good to know they're not; they're very good.
I couldn't listen to the pretty dark haired (and VERY SMART) girl because it was too depressing!
Funny, FJ...A toy I had as a little girl came to my mind just yesterday, after YEARS (more than I'd care to admit)...it was a little perfect house like the one in your top image....and it sat up on 6" 'feet' and you moved the people around with a magnet from underneath...you moved the magnet and they walked room to room.......it was so much fun as a 5 yr old....it was so normal, so sweet and good....the Leave it To Beaver house, you know?
I blogged the other day on TV shows that lift us up in their innocence...I chose I LOVE LUCY, others chose Gilligan's Island and the Brady Bunch (I wouldn't go THAT far!!)...
but I think we're looking for times when the American dream WAS either happening or could be dreamed...today, notsomuch :-(
Today, we need old TV shows to remind us of better times.
I feel for our kids.
There was a time when the American Dream was obtainable. Today, NOT so much. Putting three kids through college was the end of mine. I got my mortgage BACK.
__________ A Dream Lies Dead __________
A dream lies dead here. May you softly go
Before this place, and turn away your eyes,
Nor seek to know the look of that which dies
Importuning Life for life. Walk not in woe,
But, for a little, let your step be slow.
And, of your mercy, be not sweetly wise
With words of hope and Spring and tenderer skies.
A dream lies dead; and this all mourners know:
Whenever one drifted petal leaves the tree ––
Though white of bloom as it had been before
And proudly waitful of fecundity ––
One little loveliness can be no more;
And so must Beauty bow her imperfect head
Because a dream has joined the wistful dead!
~ Dorothy Parker (1893 - 1967)
We Can Never Go Back to Manderley Now
Should I care if I get cancer
In this wretched, troubled, world
Where all seems swiftly headed towards the rocks?
Since we live with devolution,
Marred and poisoned with pollution
Cancer gives us absolution,
Since our kids don’t care enough to wear their socks.
As towards The End we're whirling
With flaming batons twirling,
And last night's dinner hurling towards the rug
And no one seems to notice
As they take positions lotus
To escape the awful bother,
Despite demur from failing father,
To remove the dreadful stench, at which they shrug
And each, emaciated limb
Grayish, pale, translucent, slim
Flailing in St. Vitus' Dance
Keeps death watchers in a trance
As with dead, unseeing eyes they watch and long
With fading final song for their ultimate demise
.
I’d be grateful to have cancer
It has given me an Answer
In this wretched, troubled, world
Where my life now lies unfurled
Wherever I have travelled
All behind me lies unravelled,
And backward glances give me naught but shocks.
As I see we’ve always headed towards the rocks.
~ FreeThinke
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