it’s not the picture
of that old guy
with a smile
bordering on sadness
but the clean look feel
of something begging
to be used
which should methinks
change that smile
to one more accustomed
to hope
of finding that
which one seeks
Author: zdunno03
from Love Poem to Be Read to an Illiterate Friend by Tess Gallagher
Forgive it then
that so much of after
depends on these, the words
which must find you
off the page.
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden… for any one else.”
from Douglas Moore’s blog Art of Quotation
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for any one else.”
Charles Dickens, writer, from Our Mutual Friend
on memory and cities: from Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
And Polo said: “Every time I describe a city I am saying something about Venice.”
“When I ask about other cities, I want to hear about them. And about Venice, when I ask you about Venice.”
“To distinguish the other cities’ qualities, I must speak of a first city that remains implicit. For me it is Venice.”
“You should then begin each tale of your travels from the departure, describing Venice as it is, all of it, not omitting anything you remember of it.”
The lake’s surface was barely wrinkled; the copper reflection of the ancient palace of the Sung was shattered into sparkling glints like floating leaves.
“Memory’s images, once they are fixed in words, are erased,” Polo said. “Perhaps I am afraid of losing Venice all at once, if I speak of it. Or perhaps, speaking of other cities, I have already lost it, little by little.”
translated by William Weaver
“We must always take sides… Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
from Douglas Moore’s blog Art of Quotation
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
Elie Wiesel, writer, holocaust survivor, writer, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech
“We must always take sides… Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
from Douglas Moore’s blog Art of Quotation
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
Elie Wiesel, writer, holocaust survivor, writer, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech
stones, arches, bridges: a repost from Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone.
“But which is the stone that supports the bridge?” Kublai Khan asks.
“The bridge is not supported by one stone or another,” Marco answers, “but by the line of the arch that they form.”
Kublai Khan remains silent, reflecting. Then he adds, “Why do you speak to me of stones? It is only the arch that matters to me.”
Polo answers: “Without stones there is no arch.”
translated by William Weaver
“There is no sound more powerful than the marching feet of a determined people.”
from Douglas Moore’s blog Art of Quotation
“There is no sound more powerful than the marching feet of a determined people.”
John Lewis, political figure, Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district
on your silver screen
life is no movie
there’s no Hollywood ending
on your silver screen
just dead flowers, stale candy
a walk in deserted parks
the little things
the little things stay
like a tug
on the old heart strings
the body will sag
remembering what lingers
never quite able
to forget
Leonard Durso 