Anybody read German? When Ralf and I lived together, he transtlated this poem of mine so we could print out cards for both our American and German friends. The photo is one i took of roses he gave me, which I thought looked stunning against the snow.
This poem was inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s Sonnets to Orpheus. His mystical style touched me deeply. I read a version which had the German and English side by side. So I picked up a little German, too.
Integrity recognizes itself.–
The power of the inability to learn a lesson is the multiplier of the cost to fix it.–
The ego is a useful vehicle, if you get to know the driver.
Those are from Bradisms. Brad regularly expounds on various subjects ranging from politics to trust to caring to love, all with an inimitable style which can only be described as “pithy”, meaning tersely cogent. He also has a webpage featuring a collection of his best work, also worth visiting. Brad recently commented on my post Truth and Being, where I attempt to summarize large patterns in life, and which I almost deleted because of its intractable pithiness. But Brad seemed to understand my obscure logic. Then I found this post, “Life is…” on his website, and realized I think a lot like him. Yet he allows himself much more freedom in the realm of pithiness than I! Thanks Brad, for showing us how playfully rich truth can be.
(0)David Depape has a blog he cleverly calls “God is Love“. I’m sure he intends those words’ various echoes of meaning, from completely ironic to absolutely and literally true.
His voice is as subtle and complex as the title. He is neither religious nor atheist. The hypocrisies of organized religion get no mercy from him, but nor do rabid atheists. Somehow he finds inspiration in the ambiguous truth of neither/nor.
Take his post, The Religion of Science.
Religion is a form of stagnant science. Christianity is based on science. The priests were the scholars and scientists or their day. They observed the world and came up with a theory of existence based upon what they could observe. They didn’t know about atoms, cells and the quantum level. They came up with the best theory they could with what little they knew. Religion is science that got stuck on proving old theories. Now atheism is doing the same. Atheism is stuck on proving a point and it’s clinging to theories that are becoming antiquated in the face of new discoveries.
Instead of admitting what we know and admitting what we don’t know and moving forward from there.
I think you’ll find his views as refreshing as I did.
(5)I enjoy finding blogs (sort of) similar to mine. It’s taken me awhile to find my niche; a peculiar blend of personal experience, spiritual advice, philosophical explorations, poetry, gardening, food and general inspiration. Yesterday someone named Titus-Armand commented on my site, so I checked out his blog, Project Armannd. I was pleasantly surprised to fine a quality blog, one which isn’t prepackaged to a particular audience as so many are these days. He explores a variety of subjects toward living a better life; “about today’s society, issues of today’s world, tips on self-improvement, spiritual advices, inner peace, general psychology, happiness, and some other things…” The topics he chooses are intriguing and unique, like the psychological meaning of certain eye movements. But he doesn’t just report. He interprets. I like that. Welcome Titus-Armand (TA?). I like your style.
(1)
I wish I could read German! Here and Forever- the English version is very good, but ah! to have read the german too!
It’s funny, I lived with him 9 years, and only learned a bit of German. Well, we were living in the US afterall. I know enough to understand his translation, but that’s all.
Very beautiful. And to be able to read in German would have been awesome.
Although I’ve been taking a break from writing, I have not broke from reading. All very touching posts, and you continue to provide me with good reason to make Glittering Stew a frequent stop in my internet travels.
“Words, music, art, conversation, all fuel for the fires of creativity…a banquet for hungry minds…
as I traverse this dessert of conformity and class, I long for the nectar of the muse…..”
(although “muse” wasn’t itended as pun…it fits nicely there with a dual meaning)
This has been a rich stew in recent posts! I’m enjoying it all. Those roses on the snow are an amazing contrast.
Shyloh-thank you, glad you liked it.
Mike- your comments are florid little posts in themselves. I hope the “muse” serves you well!
moose- So glad you used that word, stew. A stew it is indeed. It wouldn’t be Garnet any other way.
What a beautiful photograph and inspirational poem. I will remember it as I enter into the next week of holiday chaos. Would that I could whirl like Betty.
Enjoy the holidays.
Teri
http://www.herestohappywomen.blogspot.com
Oh, boy. Testing memory…Ich spreche ein bichen Deutch. Sehr slecht.
Anyway, Guten Tag und Guten Abend;)
Nineth grade German. I can’t spell in English, either!
I’m going to try to translate, though.
Okay. I had to cheat and read the translated poem.
Teri- Glad to leave you with a good feeling. Yes, Betty is a good whirler, but sometimes she can’t stop!!
Tammi- Your German’s pretty good. About the translation, It’s OK. The English is the original. But his German translation is quite beautiful, too.