I think elephants can be abstract, but only when they're philosophers. Midgely sounds mighty interesting. Mary, thanks, I'll look into Howe.
Have enjoyed this thread. Mark and Andrew, thanks for the poems.
I agree all living poems are philosophical, and I agree with those above who say in essence, philosophy, yes, measurement, logic, reason, yes, but I prefer music, play, embodiment, revelation and intuition over abstraction and substitution. But by saying so, we assume the worst of the bloodless philosophies, and the highest of sublime poetries. I think it's poets themselves, and not any imposed or imagined establishment which under/overestimates poetry, as though when we put the instruments aside and begin to sing, the ancients and measurements
don't remain, and we aren't dancing with all we know and don't know, but hovering nearby instead.
It was a hard thing to undo this knot.
The rainbow shines, but only in the thought
Of him that looks. Yet not in that alone,
For who makes rainbows by invention ?
And many standing round a waterfall
See one bow each, yet not the same to all,
But each a hand's breadth further than the next.
The sun on falling water writes the text
Which yet is in the eye or in the thought.
It was a hard thing to undo this knot.
(GMH)
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By silver water, fruit of gold bowed low
to free the spellbound prince from form
of tree or beast, or keep from harm
the peasant girl before whom all will bow.
What shall we do with all our magic now?
Our wands are turned to sticks to beat
each other off and school belief.
Once, our gift of meaning to our world
gave back the gift of meaning to our days.
But even still, imagination
lets all understanding happen;
even then, curiosity was praise.
- Carolyn Connors
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There is no such thing as collective consciousness !
- JM
Snowflake
Behold:
one
by floating
one
they come,
feather like,
small, and sweet,
molecular
and oh so
like-we unique,
melting at
the child’s cheek,
lighting on
the tattered aster,
at the backs
of elder trees,
accumulating in our sleep,
chalking the slate, revising the field,
clinging to the heresies
of silence and
significance,
of gathered weight, and influence,
of sway, touch, alight, and word,
of seasonal law acquiring earth.
(wendy v)
[This message has been edited by wendy v (edited August 30, 2008).]
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