Phenomenon
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Post
I am very ill right now, so my spirits and my creative functions, my cognitive and soulful functions in general, are at extremely low ebb – so not much productivity at the moment here at Image & Verse. It’s all I can to sit here and write this post.
I haven’t been able, for a number of days now, to effectively visit your blogs and read your posts, leaving my two cents worth — as I enjoy doing. However, I wanted to offer something today.
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One phenomenon of our current time jumps out at me as a true phenomenon… the Internet.
It has so much promise, but right now, it’s mired in a shallow, curious, juvenile phase — marked by an imbalance in prurient fascination… but it will expand to realize its potential as it, and those using it most, begin to mature.
Proof that it will grow in quality and integrity – Sunday Scribblings, Poetry Thursday, and like sites of soul and intellect.
The Internet may, in fact, someday prove to be the vehicle to help save the planet and its people – if we can keep those with political, profit, and right-wing fundamentalist agendas from impeding its freedom.
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Another phenomenon that I find interesting is the rise in the popularity of poetry — offering hope that we humans may one day be civilized. Here are a few thoughts of others regarding poetry.
“Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen” Leonardo da Vinci
“Poetry is the music of the soul” Voltaire
“Poetry is what gets lost in translation.” Robert Frost
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” Robert Frost
“The people fancy they hate poetry, and they are all poets and mystics.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” Leonard Cohen
“Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away.” Carl Sandburg
“Poetry can communicate before it is understood.” T.S. Eliot
“The best craftsmanship always leaves holes and gaps… so that something that is not in the poem can creep, crawl, flash or thunder in.” Dylan Thomas
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” Edgar Allan Poe
“Poems for me always begin with images and rhythms, shapes, feelings, forms, dances in the back of my mind.” Gary Snyder
“It’s important that the words in your poems be those you could speak to your friends.” Robert Bly
“Poetry is close to madness.” Coleman Barks
“When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations.” John F. Kennedy
“Thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that’s what the poet does.” Allen Ginsberg
July 29th, 2007 at 4:06 am
and through this phenomenon - i can wish you a speedy recovery from across the other side of the world … amazing
July 29th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Kathryn -
Thank you…
July 29th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Get well soon–love your poetry quotes.
July 29th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
bravo.. i couldn’t have said it better myself.. this was excellent… i.m afraid to see how good you are when you are feeling better!!!!!
July 29th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
First I HOPE you will be well VERY soon. I send you lots of positive wishes. Second I LOVED reading all these great quotes.
rest, rest, rest… :))
July 29th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
wishing you well, from my little corner of the internet.
July 29th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Feel better soon! Great quotes and we are both thinking alike today.
July 29th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Sage -
Thank you for the kind wishes!
July 29th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Paisley -
You’re most kind — I appreciate it!
July 29th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Lucy -
I feel your energy — thank you!
July 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
& -
Appreciate the wishes…
July 30th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Tammy -
I will… thanks!
July 30th, 2007 at 1:30 am
EExcellent set of quotes and i think you’re right about the internet. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
July 30th, 2007 at 4:04 am
Juliet -
Thank you!
July 30th, 2007 at 6:05 am
So sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well. I hope you feel better soon. I thought the quotes you chose were marvellous.
July 30th, 2007 at 7:10 am
Hope you’ll soon be better.
July 30th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Internet and poetry are worth any scientic phenomenon.
July 30th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Gill -
I appreciate your kind words… thanks you!
They were quotes that resonated with my personal perspective on poetry.
July 30th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Paul -
My thanks for your well wishes…
July 30th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Gautami -
I hear you my friend.
As I wrote in this post, I like the creativity of responsible science as well.
Wish science of medicine could make me feel better right now…
July 31st, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Amen and amen!
Thoughtful even while ill — that’s a phenomenon too.
Take good care.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Noni -
Thank you, you are gracious…
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:40 am
Hey Rob if you post like that when you’re unwell - you’ll blow us away on a good day … as you usually do! Take care, be well soon!
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:09 am
Red -
Thank you for your kind words and well wishes!
I am indeed much better, and making trouble once again…