Happy Birthday Sammy

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Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born on October 21, 1772 in the rural town of Ottery St Mary, Devonshire. He was the youngest of ten children, and his father, the Reverend John Coleridge, was a well respected vicar.

He is probably best known for his long poems, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Christabel. Even those who have never read the Rime have come under its influence: its words have given the English language the metaphor of an albatross around one's neck, the quotation of "water, water everywhere, ne any drop to drink (almost always rendered as "but not a drop to drink")", and the phrase "a sadder and a wiser man (again, usually rendered as "sadder but wiser man")". Christabel is known for its musical rhythm, language, and its Gothic tale.

Kubla Khan, or, A Vision in a Dream, A Fragment, although shorter, is also widely known. Both Kubla Khan and Christabel have an additional "romantic" aura because they were never finished. Both poems are revered for their "exquisite metrical movement" and "imaginative phrasing." (Click the headline for the complete 'Rime' )

In an incredible juxtaposition of the 18th and 21st centuries, the heavy metal rock group Iron Maiden produced the following tribute to Coleridge's signature poem. It is in two parts, the second of which can be accessed by clicking 'read more.'




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The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things - Hieronymus Bosch

A few years ago we published a small article on Greed that carried the illustration headlined and shown here. Since that time the article has consistently registered on our 'most popular' list. If a reader clicked the headline  they would get additional information on the painting. But if  readers didn't know that, they would miss out.

In case you're a reader who missed out, here's your chance at redemption: Click the headline!

If you're curious about the original article, click here.

It's that time again!

Winter is Icummen in, by Ezra Pound

Winter is icummen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
An ague hath my ham.
Freezeth river, turneth liver
Damn you, sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, tis why I am,
Goddamm.
So 'gainst the winter's balm
Sing Goddamm, damm, sing Goddamm
Sing Goddamm, sing Goddamm,
DAMM.

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Time Burnishings -- Through a Glass Darkly

Dave Flack died of Hodgkin's Disease in the early 70s. He was a co-worker, a friend, and a steady golfing partner. He couldn't have been 40 years old.

For the longest time after his death his memory centered on Sloan-Kettering hospital, his stark room, and a last visit... from me and another mutual friend, Frank Spezzano. �Frank was one of those guys who always did the right thing, so you'd expect him to be there, but me? I could wriggle out of a hospital visit with any number of classic excuses. Why not this time? �I had no clue.

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