Monday, October 27, 2008

autumn evening in suburbia



the twilight turns from amethyst
to deep and deeper blue,
the lamp fills with a pale green glow
the trees of the avenue.

excerpted from james joyce “the twilight turns

5 comments:

Goldenrod said...

I like Joyce's poetry much better than his prose!

Purty pix, Steven ... appropo.

steven said...

hi goldenrod, glad you liked the pics! it's what i see out my backdoor . . . . i have been reading joyce off and on since i was a teenager and i have to say that i like his writing in both prose and poetry. his poems are kinder to the reader as they use words with a rich economy, where his stories are more demanding and it's necessary to eliminate all distractions to really get inside his thinking.
steven

Goldenrod said...

When I was in graduate school, Joyce's "Ulysses" was the subject and -- of course -- required reading of one of the courses I undertook.

"What did he mean by this/that phrase?" "The allegory was ........?" "The allusion was ........?"

My reaction (and this was a good 40-45 years ago now!) was -- and continues to be -- "Who cares?!?"

All I knew for CERTAIN was that I didn't want to think that hard for that long a period of time!!!


Do you play chess, Steven? I'll give you (maybe) 3/4 of a good game, and then "I don't want to think that hard for that long a period of time!"

I much prefer the game of bridge. When a particular hand is over -- and the concentration is full bore, by the way, in its duration -- , it's over ... next hand! (Do you play bridge, by the way? Good game!!)


I like a poetry writer who is 'kind' to his readers.


The fact that you've been reading (and obviously enjoying) James Joyce since you were a teenager tells me that your mind is much more agile than mine EVER was!

However, that fact is not going to keep me from continuing to read, enjoy, and comment on your posts, OK? (Who knows? I might even learn something!)

steven said...

more through luck than anything else, i managed to salvage joyce and many other fine writers from the horror of analysis. some authors and their writings were destroyed for me by well-meaning teachers and professors but most escaped alive and intact! i read incessantly - katherone mansfield's "garden party" right now alongside several young adult books destined for my class, a couple of graphic novels, and a beautiful book by laurie lee "as i walked out one midsummer morning". i read for pleasure and not to get inside powerful allegories or allusions. i totally agree with you goldenrod - who cares!!!!
i play chess occasionally. i am no use at cards - i cheat constantly - well not cheating as such but i forget the rules!!!!

steven

Goldenrod said...

The 'horror of analysis' ... wonderful phrase, Steven. I wish I'd been spared that when I was required to read his 'best' work.

You'd be a great bridge player ... particularly, I think, if you had a good teacher.

I LUV your saying "I cheat constantly" ... gave me a really good laugh, and it is most appreciated at this point. (I had just posted a gut-wrencher, Steven.)