“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
He preached upon 'Breadth' toll it argued him narrow –– The Broad are too broad to define And of 'Truth' until it proclaimed him a Liar –– The Truth never flaunted a Sign ––
Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence As Gold the Pyrites would shun –– What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus To meet so enabled a Man!
Go and catch a falling star, __ Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, _Or who cleft the devil's foot, Teach me to hear mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy's stinging, ____ And find ____ What wind Serves to advance an honest mind.
If thou be'st born to strange sights, __ Things invisible to see, Ride ten thousand days and nights, __ Till age snow white hairs on thee, Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me, All strange wonders that befell thee, ___- And swear, ____ No where Lives a woman true, and fair.
If thou find'st one, let me know, __ Such a pilgrimage were sweet; Yet do not, I would not go, __ Though at next door we might meet; Though she were true, when you met her, And last, till you write your letter, ____ Yet she ____ Will be False, ere I come, to two, or three.
Do most old women stop enjoying sex Once the saggy baggy phase sets in? Could any potent male regard these wrecks As outlets for the joys of carnal sin?
Lechery in randy ancient goats Arises at the thought of flesh still fresh –– Softly rounded curves and slim white throats No too long departed from the creche.
Ironic that old pussies cracked and wizened Still dream of ardent service from Fair Youth, But no matter how these crones appear bedizened ‘Tis just their cash that lures, and that’s the truth.
The resource that sustains best when we’re old Is found in vaults replete with jewels and gold.
My hiney is so tiny It makes a lousy 'giny. The government should pay me To alter me and spay me, So I can then enjoy a whirl Pretending I was born a girl. Though my tits be made of plastic, Mt new 'giny's quite elastic, I hope this change so drastic Will prove to be fantastic. And a real man will unfurl His sword, and pierce this girl!
She doesn't shout. She doesn't pout. She doesn't whine. She doesn't pine. She doesn't simper. She doesn't whimper. She doesn't accuse. She doesn't excuse. She doesn't seem to have an axe to grind. In short she's really a great find. How could we all not love her Knowing no one sits above her, And all her sadly fast-diminishing kind?
I think you missed the point, FT. This seminar was intended to introduce some of Slavoj's contemporaries to the English speaking public. I kinda liked them, even if they had none of Slavoj's gift of gab. They're his intellectual sounding board, much as members of our own blogging groups are our own.
I may well have, FJ. I listened to the first speaker for a few minutes, decided i couldn't stand him, so abandoned the video, and decided to post poetry related to sexuality instead. So I DID attempt be relevant in sime way, but frankly –– unlike you, who apparently relishes the stuff –– my capacity for listenung to long-winded academics discuss their pet esoteric theories –– never great –– has diminished exponentually with the passing years.
I see life these says through the prism of wry humor, but with unbridled passion against manufactured public "crises" that strike me wrong. It's the HYPOCRISY that tries (unsccessfully in my case) to mask a ruthless agenda desigbed to acquire political power largely through trickery, treachery and deceit.
Yesterday, I searched in vain for this particular acrostic sonnet, and failed to locate it. Today, mirabile dictu it popped up almost immediately when I consulted my too-casually-arranged poetry files a few moments ago.
In my never humble opinion I think it quite amusing, though it may require a fairly close examination if one hope to "get" the joke. Though subtly phrased at first reading, it's quite ribald in spirit, and related most decidedly to human sexuality.
I wonder what Zizek & CO. would think of these poetic utterances, if they could ever descend form their self-styled, self-absorbed Thrones of Intellectual Superiority, and deign to read them?
_______ Grandeur of a Sort _______
Grandeur of a sort so rarely seen Nostrils flare and eyebrows start to raise. Under no constraint to withhold praise Harridans and hustlers turn pea green.
Ladies feel the breath stop in their throats; Looking fixedly at everywhere, Except the spot where others gape and stare, While he who has it calmly stands and gloats.
Ogleworthy ones have special rights Sparking fights whenever they wear tights.
Still they occupy a favored space Inimitable, above the commonplace
Exhibiting most coveted delights Half pityingly as they gaze down from the heights.
Having by now written over two-hundred of these things –– top to bottom and vice versa –– I suppose anagramatic acrostic sonnets ,ay be the new field to conquer.
A comic VILLANELLE would be a challenge.
The villanelle is THE most confining form I know.
Dylan Thomas's Do not go gentle into that good night is probably the most famous example of the genre. Analyze it sometime. You'll be astonished.
17 comments:
HOPE U HAD A FABULOUS THANKSGIVING FJ!!! xoxoxoxo
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
"Brevity is the soul of wit"
~ Shkespeare (1564-1616)
He preached upon 'Breadth' toll it argued him narrow ––
The Broad are too broad to define
And of 'Truth' until it proclaimed him a Liar ––
The Truth never flaunted a Sign ––
Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence
As Gold the Pyrites would shun ––
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus
To meet so enabled a Man!
~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
SONG: GO and CAtCH a FALLING STAR
Go and catch a falling star,
__ Get with child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
_Or who cleft the devil's foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Or to keep off envy's stinging,
____ And find
____ What wind
Serves to advance an honest mind.
If thou be'st born to strange sights,
__ Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
__ Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me,
All strange wonders that befell thee,
___- And swear,
____ No where
Lives a woman true, and fair.
If thou find'st one, let me know,
__ Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
__ Though at next door we might meet;
Though she were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
____ Yet she
____ Will be
False, ere I come, to two, or three.
~ John Donne (1572-1631)
_________ A Hard Truth _________
Do most old women stop enjoying sex
Once the saggy baggy phase sets in?
Could any potent male regard these wrecks
As outlets for the joys of carnal sin?
Lechery in randy ancient goats
Arises at the thought of flesh still fresh ––
Softly rounded curves and slim white throats
No too long departed from the creche.
Ironic that old pussies cracked and wizened
Still dream of ardent service from Fair Youth,
But no matter how these crones appear bedizened
‘Tis just their cash that lures, and that’s the truth.
The resource that sustains best when we’re old
Is found in vaults replete with jewels and gold.
~ FreeThinke
__ Christine's cri de coeur __
My hiney is so tiny
It makes a lousy 'giny.
The government should pay me
To alter me and spay me,
So I can then enjoy a whirl
Pretending I was born a girl.
Though my tits be made of plastic,
Mt new 'giny's quite elastic,
I hope this change so drastic
Will prove to be fantastic.
And a real man will unfurl
His sword, and pierce this girl!
~ Christine Jorgensen (1926-1989)
________ Provide, Provide ________
The witch that came (the withered hag)
To wash the steps with pail and rag,
Was once the beauty Abishag,
The picture pride of Hollywood.
Too many fall from great and good
For you to doubt the likelihood.
Die early and avoid the fate.
Or if predestined to die late,
Make up your mind to die in state.
Make the whole stock exchange your own!
If need be occupy a throne,
Where nobody can call you crone.
Some have relied on what they knew;
Others on simply being true.
What worked for them might work for you.
No memory of having starred
Atones for later disregard,
Or keeps the end from being hard.
Better to go down dignified
With boughten friendship at your side
Than none at all. Provide, provide!
~ Robert Frost (1874-1963)
__YOU'D BE SURPRISED (1919) __
Teddy was bashful and shy
Nobody understood why
Heidi loved him
All the other girls passed him by
Ev'ryone wanted to know
How she could pick such a beau
With a twinkle in her eye
She made this reply
[1st refrain:]
He's not so good in a crowd
___ but when you get him alone
You'd be surprised
He isn't much at a dance
___ but then when he takes you home
You'd be surprised
He doesn't look like much of a lover
But don't judge a book by it's cover
He's got the face of a simp
But there's a Devil in his eye
He's such a delicate thing
___ but when he starts in to squeeze
You'd be surprised
He doesn't look very strong
___ but when you sit on his knee
You'd be surprised
At a party or at a ball
I've got to admit
___ that he's nothing at all
But in a morris chair
You'd be surprised
[2nd verse:]
Heidi continued to praise
Teddy's remarkable ways
To the ladies
And you know advertising pays
Now Teddy's never alone
He has the busiest phone
Almost ev'ry other day
A new girl will say:
[2nd refrain:]
He's not so good in the house
___ but on a bench in the park
You'd be surprised
He isn't much in the light
___ but when he gets in the dark
You'd be surprised
I know he looks as slow as the Erie
But you don't know the half of it, dearie
He looks as cold as an Eskimo
But there's fire in his eyes
He doesn't say very much
___ but when he starts in to speak
You'd be surprised
He's not so good at the start
___ but at the end of the week
You'd be surprised
On a streetcar or in a train
You'd think he was born
___without any brain
But in a taxicab ––––
You'd be surprised!
~ Irving Berlin (1888-1898)
Madeline Kahn sings You’d Be Surprised at Irving Berlin’s 100th Birthday celebration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrVRQDFXIjk
The Definition of a Lady
She doesn't shout. She doesn't pout.
She doesn't whine. She doesn't pine.
She doesn't simper. She doesn't whimper.
She doesn't accuse. She doesn't excuse.
She doesn't seem to have an axe to grind.
In short she's really a great find.
How could we all not love her
Knowing no one sits above her,
And all her sadly fast-diminishing kind?
~ FreeThinke
U2, Angel!
I think you missed the point, FT. This seminar was intended to introduce some of Slavoj's contemporaries to the English speaking public. I kinda liked them, even if they had none of Slavoj's gift of gab. They're his intellectual sounding board, much as members of our own blogging groups are our own.
I may well have, FJ. I listened to the first speaker for a few minutes, decided i couldn't stand him, so abandoned the video, and decided to post poetry related to sexuality instead. So I DID attempt be relevant in sime way, but frankly –– unlike you, who apparently relishes the stuff –– my capacity for listenung to long-winded academics discuss their pet esoteric theories –– never great –– has diminished exponentually with the passing years.
I see life these says through the prism of wry humor, but with unbridled passion against manufactured public "crises" that strike me wrong. It's the HYPOCRISY that tries (unsccessfully in my case) to mask a ruthless agenda desigbed to acquire political power largely through trickery, treachery and deceit.
Yesterday, I searched in vain for this particular acrostic sonnet, and failed to locate it. Today, mirabile dictu it popped up almost immediately when I consulted my too-casually-arranged poetry files a few moments ago.
In my never humble opinion I think it quite amusing, though it may require a fairly close examination if one hope to "get" the joke. Though subtly phrased at first reading, it's quite ribald in spirit, and related most decidedly to human sexuality.
I wonder what Zizek & CO. would think of these poetic utterances, if they could ever descend form their self-styled, self-absorbed Thrones of Intellectual Superiority, and deign to read them?
_______ Grandeur of a Sort _______
Grandeur of a sort so rarely seen
Nostrils flare and eyebrows start to raise.
Under no constraint to withhold praise
Harridans and hustlers turn pea green.
Ladies feel the breath stop in their throats;
Looking fixedly at everywhere,
Except the spot where others gape and stare,
While he who has it calmly stands and gloats.
Ogleworthy ones have special rights
Sparking fights whenever they wear tights.
Still they occupy a favored space
Inimitable, above the commonplace
Exhibiting most coveted delights
Half pityingly as they gaze down from the heights.
~ FreeThinke
A "reverse" acrostic. Well done! ;)
Merci, Monsieur!
Having by now written over two-hundred of these things –– top to bottom and vice versa –– I suppose anagramatic acrostic sonnets ,ay be the new field to conquer.
A comic VILLANELLE would be a challenge.
The villanelle is THE most confining form I know.
Dylan Thomas's Do not go gentle into that good night is probably the most famous example of the genre. Analyze it sometime. You'll be astonished.
Like the Russian revolution, you must ravage both content AND form... ;)
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