THE greatest seer and poet of the sea for me is Melville.
~D.H. Lawrence
Happy Poetry Friday! Today's photo is of the Peep diorama Elena and I made, inspired by Pride and Prejudice. It's our first:
I tried to do the Classic Found Poem Palooza that Jone originated, but I really struggle with blackout poems. I looked at a page of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. The only poem I could come up with included an entire line of his:
give
us
all the glad, hay-making suns, and soft, cymballing, round harvest-moons
(from Chapter 106, Ahab's Leg)
So instead I decided to share a poem by Melville. (Read it out loud, if circumstances permit!)
Art
By Herman Melville
In placid hours well-pleased we dream
Of many a brave unbodied scheme.
But form to lend, pulsed life create,
What unlike things must meet and mate:
A flame to melt—a wind to freeze;
Sad patience—joyous energies;
Humility—yet pride and scorn;
Instinct and study; love and hate;
Audacity—reverence. These must mate,
And fuse with Jacob’s mystic heart,
To wrestle with the angel— Art.
**************
Ending with a Melville quote:
Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.
Jone Rush MacCulloch has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Jone!
13 comments:
Tabatha, that is a beautiful Melville poem, which I did read aloud, with all its beautiful assonance. I think we can call that peep diorama classic poetry. It is gorgeous!
Ohhhh that's lovely. Thank you for sharing! I didn't even know Melville wrote poetry... love this.
My colleague and I had "peep" contests every year with the students, such fun. I love yours and Elena's, Tabatha, especially the Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Bennett's 'dress'. Melville's use of the rhyme puts us all to shame, doesn't he? And the quote, something many might ponder! Thanks for all!
Bravo for giving Peeps a chance, Tabatha! That diorama is everything.
And thank you for two bits of Melville. Art was a fun to read out loud. :)
Many thanks for Peep and Prejudice...it is just too amusing. I will have to share it with my grands. Thanks also for Art. What insights Melville offers!
Wonderful work, Tabatha! I actually can't stand Melville...but you make his words much more fun for me.
Your diorama is delightful, my complements to you both, I can't stop smiling from it.
Art, as an angel I love this idea, such an intriguing poem too. I'd love to see some of the "hay-making suns, and soft, cymballing, round harvest-moons" thanks for all Tabatha!
I love that Melville poem. I've been reading Moby Dick for years now, and I haven't gotten very far. I need to go back to it. And your diorama is wonderful!
What a plethora of Melville pleasure, Tabatha! I wrote from Moby Dick for the Palooza, too.
Peeps on parade! That's what we sent Daisy for her birthday, a box of 24 (for 24 years old) peeps and a bunch of craft supplies. I love that, and your quote is paining me bc last night we learned that our new house is part of development by real estate moguls who had whites-only convenants in place right up through 1968. They said it was for health and sanitation reasons. Grrrrrr.
Tabatha, your Peeps diorama is an inspiration! I'm embarrassed to confess I didn't know Melville wrote poetry. I love what you've shared, and those "hay-making suns."
Melville and a Peep diorama — I didn't know this was what I needed today! :)
The poem and the quote are both exquisite. And the entire line from Moby Dick totally works.
Happy middle-of-National-Poetry-month, Tabatha!
Oh Tabatha, I love your poem and thanks for sharing the Melville Poe which reads aloud beautifully!
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