Compiled by London swaminathan
swami_48@yahoo.com
Date: 6 FEBRUARY 2019
GMT Time uploaded in London – 21-29
Post No. 6040
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William Blake, English mystic, poet and artist, said
I write when commanded by the spirits, and the moment I have
written I see the words fly about the room in all directions. It is then
published and the spirits can read. My manuscripts are of no further use I have
been tempted to burn my manuscripts, but my wife wont let me.
Xxx
Shakespeare Imitation!
At the Garrick Club in London the witty librettist W S Gilbert was once making light of Shakespeare, to the horror of most of those surrounding him.
All right, then, said Gilbert in answer to their protests,
Let us take this passage for example
I would as lief be thrust through a quickest hedge,
As cry Plosh, to a callow throstle
Why that is perfectly clear, insisted one of his hearers, rising to the defence of the bard.
It just means this bird lover would rather get himself all scratched up in the thorny bush than disturb the birds song. What play is the passage from?
No play, said Gilbert, I made it up — and jolly good Shakespeare too.
Xxx
Boileau in presenting a poet to M. d ‘Hemery, addressed him,
Sir, I present to you a person who will give you immortality;
but you must give him something to live upon in the meantime.
Xxx
Proof Reading !
On the subject of proof reading some authors are a menace to their publishers,
While others suffer from legitimate grievances. In one such instance the author , Ward Dorance, wrote to his publishers on the subject of proofs of his book,
In all the proof that has reached me windrow has been spelt Window, if, in ,the bound book windrow still appears as window, then neither rain nor hail, nor gloom of night nor fleets of riot squads will prevent me from assassinating the man who is responsible. If the coward hides beyond my finding, I shall step into Scribner’s and merely shoot up the place, Southern style
Xxx
Thomas Hardy
The import of Thomas Hardy’s birth was so little appreciated
that he was thrown aside for dead. Presently he must have been so in fact, had
not the nurse glancing up from attending the mother, cried out suddenly,
Dead! Stop a minute. He is alive enough sure!
Xxx Subham xxxx
R.Nanjappa (@Nanjundasarma)
/ February 7, 2019William Blake is one of the greatest English poets. But he was not much appreciated in his lifetime. He was given to seeing angels and divine visions even as a young boy, but this discovery distressed his parents. He was carefree as a youngster, and was fortunate not to attend formal schooling. He was apprenticed to an engraver, which trade he pursued in life. His poetry came to him in bursts of inspiration, but he was considered mad by his contemporaries. When his younger brother died, he saw his spirit leaving his body in joyous celebration, clapping his hands and passing through the roof. He believed that his brother’s spirit was always with him. It was his brother’s spirit that instructed him in a new method of engraving, with which he wrote and illustrated his poems. He lived in a mystical inner atmosphere a world populated by angels. His poetry has deep symbolic meaning. He is being increasingly appreciated now, and his greatness recognised as a poet of the Romantic period. Here is one of his greatest poetic gems:
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage
A Dove house filld with Doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thr’ all its regions
A dog starvd at his Masters Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State
A Horse misusd upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear
A Skylark wounded in the wing
A Cherubim does cease to sing
………
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly
For the Last Judgment draweth nigh
He who shall train the Horse to War
Shall never pass the Polar Bar
The Beggars Dog & Widows Cat
Feed them & thou wilt grow fat
……….
A Truth thats told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent
It is right it should be so
Man was made for Joy & Woe
And when this we rightly know
Thro the World we safely go
Joy & Woe are woven fine
A Clothing for the soul divine
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine
…..
God Appears & God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in Night
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day
[ From: Auguries of Innocence ]
If we reflect, we will see how well these lines echo
Hindu beliefs!