Blake, deviousness and kisses
Here are all the poems that I presented and some of my (brief) thoughts
William Blake, "Eternity"
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise
T. S. Eliot on William Blake's Poetry:
"...It is merely a peculiar honesty, which, in a world too frightened to be honest, is peculiarly terrifying. It is an honesty against which the whole world conspires because it is unpleasant. Blake's poetry has the unpleasantness of great poetry."
Me on "Eternity:"
If we cling to the things that give joy without sharing them, we will either destroy it or it will destroy us.
...
Because You are So Devious
Like the sweet thoughts of love on a darkened and devious spirit
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, II, iii, 143)
Because your weapon lies there,
in your right hand in his left,
they all will laugh and smile and cry
and know that you are bless'd.
Because you are so devious,
you hid it there so all could see,
and hear and touch and taste and smell
the words of him who speaks.
On "Because You are So Devious:"
Partially inspired by Wadsworth's definition of "devious." (See OED)
About holding on... and letting go.
...
Proverb
Like a lamb led to the slaughter,
these virgin kisses on your lips.
On "Proverb:"
Not really discussed as much as briefly interjected. Inspired by the book of Proverbs in the bible and Blake's "Proverbs of Hell" in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
A proverb is a brief statement that is meant to teach about a basic truth. They are often impactful and easy to memorize, often including metaphor and simile. This one is a simile.
Compare:
"Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion."
(Proverbs 11:22, ESV)
"As the catterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys"
(William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, 55.)
Note that both the biblical proverb and Blake's create powerful and dangerous images. My proverb is an attempt to describe the loss of virginity from a negative viewpoint (e.g. the "your" is directed at a degenerate corrupted person).
The virginity being lost (signified by the kisses) is compared to a lamb being slaughtered. The lamb is a traditional and biblical image of innocence and sacrifice.
I understand this to be a bit jarring, I hope you understand my intentions.
See you all next week.
William Blake, "Eternity"
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise
T. S. Eliot on William Blake's Poetry:
"...It is merely a peculiar honesty, which, in a world too frightened to be honest, is peculiarly terrifying. It is an honesty against which the whole world conspires because it is unpleasant. Blake's poetry has the unpleasantness of great poetry."
Me on "Eternity:"
If we cling to the things that give joy without sharing them, we will either destroy it or it will destroy us.
...
Because You are So Devious
Like the sweet thoughts of love on a darkened and devious spirit
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, II, iii, 143)
Because your weapon lies there,
in your right hand in his left,
they all will laugh and smile and cry
and know that you are bless'd.
Because you are so devious,
you hid it there so all could see,
and hear and touch and taste and smell
the words of him who speaks.
On "Because You are So Devious:"
Partially inspired by Wadsworth's definition of "devious." (See OED)
About holding on... and letting go.
...
Proverb
Like a lamb led to the slaughter,
these virgin kisses on your lips.
On "Proverb:"
Not really discussed as much as briefly interjected. Inspired by the book of Proverbs in the bible and Blake's "Proverbs of Hell" in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
A proverb is a brief statement that is meant to teach about a basic truth. They are often impactful and easy to memorize, often including metaphor and simile. This one is a simile.
Compare:
"Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion."
(Proverbs 11:22, ESV)
"As the catterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys"
(William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, 55.)
Note that both the biblical proverb and Blake's create powerful and dangerous images. My proverb is an attempt to describe the loss of virginity from a negative viewpoint (e.g. the "your" is directed at a degenerate corrupted person).
The virginity being lost (signified by the kisses) is compared to a lamb being slaughtered. The lamb is a traditional and biblical image of innocence and sacrifice.
I understand this to be a bit jarring, I hope you understand my intentions.
See you all next week.
posted by shine.is.dead at 9:39 PM
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