Emerson

[primsong]

Been reading through a collection of poetry and essay snippets by Ralph Waldo Emerson. We have a 'secret sisters' thing at our church where you pick a name at the beginning of each year out of a basket, then leave goodies anonymously for them throughout the year. Last year I got random thrift store clearance bin stuff. This year I have a great one - I get chocolate, LOTR figures and books of poetry! Woohoo!

Hence the new (antiquated) anthology of Emerson. I never cared for him before, but now I see it's because I only read some of his poems. He is a bit stilted in his poetry, the imagery is okay but it doesn't flow together very well and his analogies often feel a bit forced. Now I see why - he utterly soars in his essays and journal entries! Taking the concepts he has there and trying to force them into a poetic pattern was for him like clipping his wings.

I'm heading to the library today to return my daughter's nearly-overdue Star Trek novels (she's getting into classic Trek this summer) and I have *got* to find a collection of his essays to read the complete work instead of these tantalizing sections that are sprinkled between the poems in this book. I don't necessarily agree with Emerson on some of his conclusions about man, the spirit realm and nature but wow could he write!

Comments

"Very funny Scotty, now beam down the clothes too..."

[siradaono.livejournal.com]

Please e-mail me your mail addy. I have some things that will make her Very Happy. You see I recently cleaned out some boxes and found some ST 25th Ann. stuff and a Captains LOGBOOK/Diary, unused....If you think she might like that sorta thang.
Lemme know.
;-{>