The Kungle Jing

For all who love Shel Silverstein, and for those who smile at his words:

The Kungle Jing
by Shel Silverstein

"Oh I am the Jing of the Kungle,"
Runny roared to one and all
When he wore his cion's lostume
To the Walloheen bostume call.
But there he met a leal rion
Who said, "You'd best cake tare,
And do not start believin'
You're the costume that you wear."

Couldn't resist. From Runny Babbit. 

April 1st on March 11th

The latest. Don't forget to click to enlarge and see detail.

Interval of Joy

Interval of Joy by George Seferis

We were happy all that morning Ο God how happy. First the stones the leaves and the flowers shone and then the sun a huge sun all thorns but so very high in the heavens. Α Nymph was gathering our cares and hanging them on the trees a forest of Judas trees. Cupids and satyrs were singing and playing and rosy limbs could be glimpsed amid black laurel the flesh of young children. We were happy all that morning; the abyss was a closed well οn which the tender foot of a young faun stamped do you remember its laughter: how happy we were! And then clouds rain and the damp earth; you stopped laughing when you reclined in the hut, and opened your large eyes and gazed on the archangel wielding a fiery sword 'Ι cannot explain it, ' you said, 'Ι cannot explain it, ' Ι find people impossible to understand however much they may play with colors they are all black.

From PoemHunter

Favorites List

A few of my 'favorites' and something a bit new for this space:

From the interviews archive at the Paris Review, engage with Gabo here.

A slide through Bratislava, Slovakia -- here.

Because I have not visited her site in a while, and because...

All who wander are not lost -- Persephone.

Sometimes it's the words of others that we hear with greatest clarity.

Not to be missed -- Stoppard.

Of course, I'm anticipating this.

That's seven for the 7th. More again soon. Enjoy!

Moore Inspiration

One of my current inspirations...by Henry Moore

On the Subject of What One Ought to Be

I discovered the following on one of my usual trails. It is attributed to Khalil Gibran:

“It was in the garden of a madhouse that I met a youth

with a face pale and lovely and full of wonder.

And I sat beside him upon the bench,

and I said, 'Why are you here?'

And he looked at me in astonishment, and he said,

'It is an unseemly question, yet I will answer you.

My father would make of me a reproduction of himself;

so also would my uncle. My mother would have me the

image of her illustrious father. My sister would hold up

her seafaring husband as the perfect example

for me to follow.

My brother thinks I should be like him, a fine athlete.

'And my teachers also, the doctor of philosophy,

and the music master, and the logician, they too were

determined, and each would have me but a reflection

of his own face in a mirror.

'Therefore I came to this place. I find it more sane here.

At least I can be myself.'

Then of a sudden he turned to me and he said,

'But tell me, were you also driven to this place

by education and good counsel?'

And I answered, 'No, I am a visitor.'

And he said, 'Oh, you are one of those who live

in the madhouse on the other side of the wall.”

Cummings, Camus, and Hemingway on April 1st

Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers 

is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.

-- Ben Hecht

Once we believe in ourselves, 

we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, 

or any experience that reveals the human spirit.

-- EE Cummings

When I'm at my best, it's because I'm taking care of myself.

-- Michelle Gass

Has fortune dealt you some bad cards.

Then let wisdom make you a good gamester.

-- Francis Quarles

Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising 

one's levels of aspiration and expectation.

-- Jack Nicklaus

A man's life is what his thoughts make of it.

-- Marcus Aurelius

One cool judgement is worth a dozen hasty councils.

The thing to do is supply light not heat.

-- Woodrow Wilson

In the depths of winter I finally learned

there was in me an invincible summer.

-- Albert Camus

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

-- William Hazlitt

Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do 

what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can.

-- Willis R Whitney

Freedom is man's capacity to take a hand in his own development. 

It is our capacity to mold ourselves.

-- Rollo May

Never confuse movement with action.

-- Ernest Hemingway