Sometimes the days go by and one simply cannot think of what to say on his or her blog. It can really be the most disappointing and frustrating thing at times, especially when certain parties are begging the person to post about something when quite often the person doesn't know of anything that would be amusing or of interest to his or her audience. And now I find myself in this same position. Well, well, well, I suppose that I must write something, and I hope that whatever it is, my readers will enjoy it. Frankly, I myself would ramble for forever and a day, if I could, about anything, but I must not. And I hope, and am quite sure, that this will be the first and last of this kind of posts, however much enjoyment my readers may find in it.
And now I must be sensible. Speaking of that word, I used to believe that "sensible" and "sensibility" meant the same thing, only, they were used differently, depending on how the sentence was built. But by way of a dictionary, I was proved quite wrong. Sensible means "aware of" or "informed" as in, 'I am sensible of the difficulties;' whereas "sensibility" means the ability to appreciate or respond to complex emotional or aesthetic influences. As in the beloved movie when Mrs. Dashwood remarks to Marianne, "I think that might be carrying your romantic sensibilities a little too far." And now I ask my reader... Do I have any idea of what I am speaking of? Because I am quite sure that I do not know. Just an interesting thought... Although I daresay that my reader may not have found it quite so interesting as I did, and they are most likely "bored to death" like Lady Dedlock, who, in the end, did die. (But most certainly not of boredom... Read the book. Bleak House, by Charles Dickens.) Goodnight and God Bless!
I found this peoms in McGuffey's Fourth Reader.... It is so incredibly heart-wrenching. I love this poem, because the tragedy, the grief, and the story are all so original and classic... Very well written, and so... tragic! (Just the type of thing I like!) Oh, and I know it's kind of long, but it is so worth it!
Ginevra- by Rogers
If ever you should come to Modena, Stop at a palace near the Reggio-gate Dwelt in of old by one of the Donati. Its noble gardens, terrace above terrace, And rich in fountains, statues, cypresses, Will long detain you—but, before you go, Enter the house—forget it not, I pray you— And look awhile upon a picture there.
'Tis of a lady in her earliest youth, The last of that illustrious family; Done by Zampieri—but whom I care not. He, who observes it—ere he passes on, Gazes his fill, and comes and comes again, That he may call it up when far away.
She sits, inclining forward as to speak, Her lips half open, and her finger up, As though she said, "Beware!" Her vest of gold Broidered with flowers and clasped from head to foot An emerald stone in every golden clasp; And on her brow, fairer than alabaster, A coronet of pearls.
But then her face, So lovely, yet so arch, so full of mirth, The overflowings of an innocent heart— It haunts me still, though many a year has fled, Like some wild melody!
Alone it hangs Over a mouldering heirloom; its companion, An oaken chest, half-eaten by the worm, But richly carved by Antony of Trent With scripture-stories from the life of Christ; A chest that came from Venice, and had held The ducal robes of some old ancestors— That by the way—it may be true or false— But don't forget the picture; and you will not, When you have heard the tale they told me there.
She was an only child—her name Ginevra, The joy, the pride of an indulgent father; And in her fifteenth year became a bride, Marrying an only son, Francesco Doria, Her palymate from her birth, and her first love.
Just as she looks there, in her bridal dress, She was, all gentleness, all gayety, Her pranks the favorite theme of every tongue. But now the day was come, the day, the hour; Now, frowning, smiling for the hundredth time, The nurse, that ancient lady, preached deco'rum And, in the luster of her youth, she gave Her hand, with her heart in it, to Francesco.
Great was the joyl but at the nuptial feast, When all sat down, the bride herself was wanting. Nor was she to be found! Her father cried, "'Tis but to make a trial of our love!" And filled his glass to all; but his hand shook, And soon from guest to guest the panic spread.
'Twas but that instant that she had left Francesco, Laughing and looking back and flying still, Her ivory tooth imprinted on his finger. But now, alas! she was not to be found; Nor from that hour could anything be guessed, But taht she was not!
Weary of his life, Francesco flew to Venice, and embarking, Flung it away in a battle with the Turk. Donati lived—and long might you have seen An old man wandering as in quest of something, Something he could not find—he knew not what. When he was gone, the house remained awhile Silent and tenantless—then went to strangers.
Full fifty years were past, and all forgotten, When on an idle day, a day of search Mid the old lumber in the gallery, That mouldering chest was noticed; and 'twas said By one as young, and thoughtless as Ginevra, "Why not remove it form its lurking-place?" 'Twas done as soon as said; but on the way It burst, it fell; and lo! a skeleton With here and there a pearl, and emerald-stone, A golden clasp, clasping clasping a shred of gold. All else had perished—save a wedding ring, And a small seal, her mother's legacy, Engraven with a name, the name of both—"Ginevra."
—There then had she found a grave! Within that chest had she concealed herself, Fluttering with joy, the happiest of the happy; When a spring lock, that lay in ambush there, Fastened her down forever!
As many of you already know, poetry is one of my passions. To begin this blog, I will start with this poem that I wrote back in October of 2007.
Wind and Rum
From East to West, from North to South, There blows a wind that bites the mouth It gnaws the lip and chews the gum And the only remedy is rum. It blows across the hard, rock floors Of Scotland and her wide bleak moors I felt the sting of this wind on my face As I herded my sheep 'cross that wide bleak space And the only comfort for me red, raw gums Was a beaker of that strong, hot rum. It warms the spirit, it melts the snow! It heats the blood from head to toe! In the glow of the kitchen I heard that sound Of the furious wind whipping 'round and 'round. But I laughed at the wind and drank my brew Enough to fill a whole ships' crew. I awoke at dawn the next dark morn And remembered nothing of the day before But the only clue 'tis not a fable Is the empty beaker on the table. And still I hear that endless sound Of the furious wind whipping 'round and 'round.
Happy is he who still loves something he loved in the nursery: He has not been broken in two by time; he is not two men, but one, and he has saved not only his soul but his life.
Cicero
Other relaxations are peculiar to certain times, places and stages of life, but the study of letters [books] is the nourishment of our youth, and the joy of our old age. They throw an additional splendor on prosperity, and are the resource and consolation of adversity; they delight at home, and are no embarrassment abroad; in short, they are company to us at night, our fellow travelers on a journey, and attendants in our rural recesses.
Wendell Berry
Praise ignorance, for what man has not encountered he has not destroyed.
Samuel Davies
The greatest number of mankind beyond comparison are sleeping under ground. There lies beauty mouldering into dust, rotting into stench & loathsomeness, and feeding the vilest worms. There lies the head that once wore a crown… There lie mighty giants, the heroes and conquerors… the Caesars of the world… There lie the wise and learned, as rotten, as helpless as the fool.
Leo Tolstoy
Faith is the sense of life, that sense by virtue of which man does not destroy himself, but continues to live on. It is the force whereby we live.
Arthur W. Pink
The apprehension of God's infinite knowledge should fill the Christian with adoration. The whole of my life stood open to his view from the beginning. He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed his heart upon me. Oh, how the realization of this should bow me in wonder and worship before him!
C.S. Lewis
Part of every misery is, so to speak, the misery's shadow or reflection: the fact that you don't merely suffer but have to keep on thinking about the fact that you suffer. I not only live each endless day in grief, but live each day thinking about living each day in grief.