Today is the day when bold kites fly,When cumulus clouds roar across the sky.When robins return, when children cheer,When light rain beckons spring to appear. Today is the day when daffodils bloom,Which children pick to fill the room,Today is the day when grasses green,When leaves burst forth for spring to be seen. — Robert McCracken, … Read more
Narcissus so himself himself forsook,And died to kiss his shadow in the brook. — William Shakespeare Narcissus (another name for the daffodil), is the word from which we get “narcissism“, which is in reference to the tragic story of the haughty Narcissus in Greek myth. In the tale told by Ovid, one day when the … Read more
ITHAKAby Constantine P. Cavafy (1911) When you set out on your journey to Ithaka,pray that the road is long,full of adventure, full of knowledge.The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,the angry Poseidon — do not fear them:You will never find such as these on your path,if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fineemotion touches your spirit and … Read more
InspirationMove me brightly,Light the song with sense and colorHold away despair. — Robert Hunter The Graces, also called the Charites (sometimes spelled Kharites), are three beautiful daughters of Zeus, the supreme ruler of Olympus. Their mother was the sea-nymph Eurynome, daughter of the Titan Oceanus. The Graces, then, would be related to Zeus’ other children, … Read more
The Song of Wandering Aengus by W.B. YeatsI went out to the hazel wood,Because a fire was in my head,And cut and peeled a hazel wand,And hooked a berry to a thread;And when white moths were on the wing,And moth-like stars were flickering out,I dropped the berry in a streamAnd caught a little silver trout. … Read more
Illustrious Kharites, mighty named, from Zeus descended, and Eunomia famed [Eurynome], Thalia and Aglaia fair and bright, and blest Euphrosyne, whom joys delight.– from The Hymns of Orpheus, translated by Thomas Taylor (1792) The Graces, also called the Charites (sometimes spelled Kharites), were three beautiful daughters of Zeus, the supreme God of ancient Greece. Their … Read more
For reasons I cannot explainThere’s some part of me wants to seeGraceland,And I may be obliged to defendEvery love every endingOr maybe there’s no obligations now,Maybe I’ve a reason to believeWe all will be receivedIn Graceland. In Graceland, Graceland, GracelandI’m going to Graceland.— Paul SimonAll who know me well are aware that my roots are … Read more
Halcyon days, now wars are ending.You shall find where-e’er you sailTritons all the while attending With a kind and gentle gale. — Halcyon Days by Thomas Shadwell (1642 – 1692) Winter Solstice draws near, and we enter into the Time Out of Time. Once upon a time, Alcyone (also called Halcyon) was the daughter of … Read more
Hate was just a legend,War was never known.People worked togetherAnd they lifted many stones.Then they carried them to the flatlandsBut they died along the wayThen they built up with their bare handsWhat we still can’t do today.And I know she’s living thereAnd she loves me to this dayI still can’t remember whereOr how I lost … Read more
All the perplexities, confusion and distresses in America arise not from defects in the constitution or confederation, nor from want of honor or virtue, as much from downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit, and circulation. — John Adams, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson What is the difference between a hobby, a passion, … Read more