Sunday, April 23, 2023

Rather be it Shakespeare*

On Shakespeare's 459th birthday and
the 407th anniversary of either his death
and the death of Cervantes
just to wish a very special literary evening.

It's also the (International) Day of the book?

Well, yes. But isn't every day a day of the book?

Comparing the results of my recent attempts to write some sonnets myself with what I am rereading these days, I came to the conclusion, in order not to put anyone off the realm of poetry, to post rather one from the Master of Avondale.


Alack what poverty my muse brings forth,
That having such a scope to show her pride,
The argument all bare is of more worth
Than when it hath my added praise beside.
O blame me not if I no more can write!
Look in your glass and there appears a face,
That over-goes my blunt invention quite,
Dulling my lines, and doing me disgrace.
Were it not sinful then striving to mend,
To mar the subject that before was well?
For to no other my verses tend,
Than of your graces and your gifts to tell.
       And more, much more than in my verse can sit,
       Your own glass shows you, when you look in it
.

 

* knowing I would be fighting with a deadline, I went back to April 23rd, 2014, copied and pasted, updated the years, and voilà.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXXVII – History of Ireland

A Short History of Ireland (1952)

J. C. Beckett (8 February 1912 – 12 February 1996)

Monday, April 17, 2023

Harbingers of spring

Busy visitor
Mason bee meets daffodil
Harbingers of spring

Saturday, April 08, 2023

Saturday Night Music – Piano Sonata No.1

Last weekend Mark rhapsodised over Yulianna Avdeeva: "On Shostakovich piano sonata no.1, honestly she is super human!!!"
Voilà, Mark, here she is (not only) for you ... ;-)

Yulianna Avdeeva *3 July 1985

Dmitri Shostakovich (25 September 1906 – 9 August 1975)

Monday, April 03, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXXVI – The Strange Beast ...

Det sällsamma djuret från
norr och andra science-fiction-berättelser,
not available in English.
The title would probably read:
The Strange Beast from the North and Other Oddities

Lars Gustafsson (17 May 1936 – 3 April 2016)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Ingenious, eh?

Our grandson, who turns six on 1 April, recently said when he learned that some films (FSK 12) are only recommended for children over 12: "Then I'll have to live my complete life over again."

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Beers & Books CCCXXIV – Book of the South

Libro del Sur

André Heller *22 March 1947

Today ten years ago

Today ten years ago, "out of the blue" my friend Jams died, seven days before his 50th birthday.
I am still sad. And grateful.

Thanks for being, Jams.