Fleurs du Mal Magazine
Or see the index
“The staggering thing about a life’s work is it takes a lifetime to complete,” Craig Morgan Teicher writes in these luminous essays.
We Begin in Gladness considers how poets start out, how they learn to hear themselves, and how some offer us that rare, glittering thing: lasting work. Teicher traces the poetic development of the works of Sylvia Plath, John Ashbery, Louise Glück, and Francine J. Harris, among others, to illuminate the paths they forged—by dramatic breakthroughs or by slow increments, and always by perseverance.
We Begin in Gladness is indispensable for readers curious about the artistic life and for writers wondering how they might light out—or even scale the peak of the mountain.
Though it seems, at first, like an art of speaking, poetry is an art of listening. The poet trains to hear clearly and, as much as possible, without interruption, the voice of the mind, the voice that gathers, packs with meaning, and unpacks the language the poet knows.
It can take a long time to learn to let this voice speak without getting in its way. This slow learning, the growth of this habit of inner attentiveness, is poetic development, and it is the substance of the poet’s art. Of course, this growth is rarely steady, never linear, and is sometimes not actually growth but diminishment—that’s all part of the compelling story of a poet’s way forward. —from the Introduction
Craig Morgan Teicher is an acclaimed poet and critic. He is the author of We Begin in Gladness: How Poets Progress, and three books of poetry, including The Trembling Answers, winner of the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, and he regularly writes reviews for Los Angeles Times, NPR, and the New York Times Book Review. He lives in New Jersey.
We Begin in Gladness.
How Poets Progress
by Craig Morgan Teicher
Publication Date 11/6/18
Format: Paperback
ISBN 978-1-55597-821-1
Subject: Literary Criticism
Pages 176
Graywolf Press
$16.00
# new books
more info: http://craigmorganteicher.com/
How Poets Progress
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: - Book Lovers, - Book Stories, Archive S-T, Archive S-T, Art & Literature News, Sylvia Plath, The Art of Reading
The true story of twin sisters, Dorothea and Gladys Cromwell, born into New York’s Gilded Age, living lives of wealth and privilege, as told by Dennis Whitehead.
Amid the fervor of America’s entry into the First World War, the sisters volunteered for service with the American Red Cross in France, a country they knew and loved. To French soldiers seeking refreshment and solace in the Red Cross canteen, the identical twins were known as anges jumeaux, the twin angels.
Witnessing the non-stop horrors in the worst fighting in the war, the sisters were utterly exhaustion, both mentally and physically, when they boarded the SS La Lorraine for the return journey home. They had wished to continue their service to the people of France after the fighting stopped but were convinced to return to New York by their brother.
What happened on that ship, on that frigid January 1919 evening, almost one-hundred years ago, is one of the great untold stories of World War I, and the impact that modern warfare had upon not just the men in the trenches, but upon its women and other non-combatants, as well as civilians, that remained unrecognized until the Vietnam War.
Dennis Whitehead: A native of Cincinnati and a graduate of Ohio University, Dennis Whitehead is a writer, photographer, and media producer in Arlington, Virginia.
Shell Shock: Twin Sisters Born Into New York’s Gilded Age Struck Down by the Horrors of War
by Dennis Whitehead
Kindle Edition
$2,99
Available for download
Language: English
File Size: 27502 KB
Print Length: 52 pages
Publisher: MMImedia LLC (July 18, 2018)
Publication Date: July 18, 2018
Amazon Digital
# More information and link with Amazon Kindle Edition
Shell Shock is the story of the twin Cromwell sisters who served with the American Red Cross in World War I France. Witnessing the unrelenting horrors of war, the Cromwell sisters illustrate the unrecognized trauma wrought upon non-combatants in the First World War. Gladys Cromwell (1885-1919) was a very talented poet.
# Digital biography
American writers
Gladys Cromwell
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: #Biography Archives, *War Poetry Archive, - Book Stories, Archive C-D, Archive W-X, AUDIO, CINEMA, RADIO & TV, Gladys Cromwell, Photography, WAR & PEACE
Preparation
A time will come when I shall breathe
New melodies to soothe and fold,
Like portions of a mellow sheath,
My sorrow. While my songs withhold
Their tones, I pause before the years;
I gaze on the grey world ; I strive
To clear the mist of doubting tears.
My songs, what music you ll derive
From silence in the time to come!
Gladys Cromwell
(1885-1919)
Preparation
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive C-D, Cromwell, Gladys, Gladys Cromwell
Grief
Exultant whirlwind wrung the branches ;
And the weak leaves were loosed with power.
I heard the pelting dissonances ;
Anguish in the autumn shower.
But living petals now take wing
Like butterflies with dusky flashes;
April flutters her white ashes
Inaudibly, remembering.
Gladys Cromwell
(1885-1919)
Grief
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive C-D, Cromwell, Gladys, Gladys Cromwell
The Actor-Soldier
On the grass I m lying,
My blanket is the sky ;
This feeling is called dying.
No one will testify
They saw me suffer this ;
There s no one passing by.
The wonder of it is,
I m by myself at last
With plain realities.
No one is here to cast
A part for me to play ;
My term of life is past.
No one is here to see
How I can meet and take
This end ; how gallantly
Though the ice that binds a lake
Must weigh less heavily
Than Death to my soul awake.
Gladys Cromwell
(1885-1919)
The Actor-Soldier
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive C-D, Cromwell, Gladys, Gladys Cromwell
An den Tod
Wie den Seraph himmlische Lust erfüllet,
Kommt der Brüder einer, auch selger Engel,
Den des Himmels Freundschaft mit ihm verwebte
Zu dem unsterblichen Bunde,
Wieder von der fernesten Welten einer
Wo er Glück und Segen die Fülle ausstreut
Heitre Ruhe mit friedlicher Palme über
Tausend Geschöpfe ergossen,
Und nun fällt in Engels Entzücken seinem
Freunde an die himmlische Brust und dann im
Kusse, unaussprechbare Freundschaftswonne
Einet die Seelen der Seraphs.
So werd ich mich freuen wenn du einst holder
Todesengel meine geengte Seele
Zu dem selgen Anschaun Jehovas durch die
Trennung vom Körper beflügelst.
Und sich dann die neidische Hülle abstreift
Gleich der Puppe welche den Schmetterling hält
Und zerplatzet kommet die Zeit der Reife,
Jener befreit dann entfliehet.
So wird sie auch fliehen die edle Seele
Aus dem Erdenstaube entlastet dort zu
Jenen höhern, bessern Gefilden reich an
Seliger Ruhe und Freiheit.
Wo ein ewger Frühling die Wangen kleidet
Und ich voll unsterblicher Kraft die Schöpfung
Sehe, staune, himmlische Freundschaft mich un-
sterblichen Geistern vereinet
Novalis (1772 – 1801)
Gedicht: An den Tod
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive M-N, Novalis, Novalis
The Poet
O tell me, tell me,
How did you drain
Your song to drops
Clear as rain?
What labor, what sorrow,
What sacrifice,
Crystal d your song
To beryl ice?
What burning gladness
Warmed it again
To a vapor sweet,
Clear as rain?
O tell me, tell me,
Melody s price
Is it work, is it pain,
Is it sacrifice?
Gladys Cromwell
(1885-1919)
The Poet
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: *War Poetry Archive, Archive C-D, Cromwell, Gladys, Gladys Cromwell
Star Song
There are twisted roots that grow
Even from a fragile white anemone.
But a star has no roots; to and fro
It floats in the light of the sky, like a water-lily,
And fades on the blue flood of day.
A star has no roots to hold it,
No living lonely entity to lose.
Floods of dim radiance fold it;
Night and day their silent aura transfuse;
But no change a star can bruise.
A star is adrift and free.
When day comes, it floats into space and complies;
Like a spirit quietly,
Like a spirit, amazed in a wider paradise
At mortal tears and sighs.
Gladys Cromwell
(1885-1919)
Star Song
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive C-D, Cromwell, Gladys, Gladys Cromwell
Sibylla Schwarz
Alß sie ein Poëtischer Geist tribe
Ich, der ich sonsten pflag von schlechten Dingen schreiben,
bin gänzlich umgekehrt, nun muß mein Lob wohl bleiben,
und grünen wie ein Zweig, iezt wil ich meinen Sinn,
von dem, das niedrig ist, biß in die Wolcken ziehn.
Die Göttin Fama wil mir selber Flügel geben,
die immer für und für am helle n Himmel kleben,
und wo der Venus Sohn hinfüro schiessen wil
nach mir, so raht ich, daß er in die Wolcken Ziel.
Da soll mein Ball=Plaz seyn, da soll das Glüder fliegen,
wie Spreu das brennen muß, und allzeit unten ligen.
Die Clio bindet mir schon selbst die Lohrbeer=Kron,
die Ewig grünen wird / nun soll die Kunst den Lohn
erlangen, recht; So muß ein freyer Sinn bekleiben;
nuhn, ich will immer auch bey meinen Worten bleiben,
und steigen mit dem Sinn des Himmels Leiter an,
ein jeder sey bereit, daß er mir folgen kan.
Sibylla Schwarz (1621 – 1638)
Gedicht: Alß sie ein Poëtischer Geist tribe
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: - Archive Tombeau de la jeunesse, Archive S-T, SIbylla Schwarz
The Mould
No doubt this active will,
So bravely steeped in sun,
This will has vanquished Death
And foiled oblivion.
But this indifferent clay,
This fine experienced hand,
So quiet, and these thoughts
That all unfinished stand,
Feel death as though it were
A shadowy caress;
And win and wear a frail
Archaic wistfulness.
Gladys Cromwell
(1885-1919)
The Mould
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive C-D, CLASSIC POETRY, Cromwell, Gladys, Gladys Cromwell
Novalis
Elegie auf einen Kirchhof
Kirchhof, werter mir als Goldpaläste,
Werter einem jeden Menschenfreund,
Birgest manches Edlen Überreste
Aber auch wohl manchen Tugendfeind.
Trink die Tränen, welche meinen Lieben
Die hier ungestöret ruhn, geweint;
Stunden sagt, wo seid ihr denn geblieben,
Die ihr uns als Jünglinge vereint?
Sprosset auf zu dunklen Trauermyrten
Tränen, die die Liebe hier vergoß
Grünt, um meine welke Stirn zu gürten,
Meine Laute, der nur Schmerz entfloß.
Kirchhof, Freund der trüben Knabentage
Die mir schwanden tränenvoll dahin,
Hörtest du nicht oft auch meine Klage,
Wenn mich eine Freundin mußte fliehn?
Novalis (1772 – 1801)
Gedicht: Elegie auf einen Kirchhof
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: Archive M-N, Novalis, Novalis
The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time.
Frankenstein: Or, Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on gothic horror and science-fiction genres, and her creation has become part of our everyday culture, from cartoons to Hallowe’en costumes. Even the name ‘Frankenstein’ has become a by-word for evil scientists and dangerous experiments. How did a teenager with no formal education come up with the idea for an extraordinary novel such as Frankenstein?
Clues are dotted throughout Georgian science and popular culture. The years before the book’s publication saw huge advances in our understanding of the natural sciences, in areas such as electricity and physiology, for example. Sensational science demonstrations caught the imagination of the general public, while the newspapers were full of lurid tales of murderers and resurrectionists.
Making the Monster explores the scientific background behind Mary Shelley’s book. Is there any science fact behind the science fiction? And how might a real-life Victor Frankenstein have gone about creating his monster? From tales of volcanic eruptions, artificial life and chemical revolutions, to experimental surgery, ‘monsters’ and electrical experiments on human cadavers, Kathryn Harkup examines the science and scientists that influenced Shelley, and inspired her most famous creation.
Kathryn Harkup is a chemist and author. Kathryn completed a PhD then a postdoc at the University of York before realising that talking, writing and demonstrating science appealed far more than spending hours slaving over a hot fume-hood. Kathryn went on to run outreach in engineering, computing, physics and maths at the University of Surrey, which involved writing talks on science and engineering topics that would appeal to bored teenagers, and she is now a science communicator delivering talks and workshops on the quirky side of science.
Making the Monster
The Science Behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
By: Kathryn Harkup
Published: 08-02-2018
Format: Hardback
Edition: 1st
Extent: 304 pp
ISBN: 9781472933737
Imprint: Bloomsbury Sigma
Illustrations: 11 black and white illustrations
Dimensions: 216 x 135 mm
£16.99
new books
fleursdumal.nl magazine
More in: - Book News, Archive G-H, Archive S-T, Archive S-T, Art & Literature News, Mary Shelley, Natural history, Percy Byssche Shelley, Shelley, Mary, Shelley, Percy Byssche, Tales of Mystery & Imagination
Thank you for reading Fleurs du Mal - magazine for art & literature