I find inspiration in Yeats's poem "Lapis Lazuli." He makes some problematic language choices, a product of the time. But the poem points to the churn of human activity, the ultimate fragility of our civilizations, none of which last. But that shouldn't cause us to break up our lines to weep. We create and appreciate beautiful things even though nothing will last. Like the "Chinamen" he describes as the poem closes, we can enjoy art and beauty despite knowing that all things fall and are built again. To paraphrase Frank Zappa, we decorate our time.
The Atlantic had a solid article along these lines recently, touching on Camus and his interpretation of the Myth of Sisyphus. While there may not ultimately be a greater meaning or purpose in what we do--that boulder will ineluctably roll back down the hill each evening--we can choose to be joyful in our labors.
Thanks Arleigh, I really appreciate your thoughtful reading and reminder about "Lapis Lazuli." I haven't read it since college but it's definitely worth a return even if I maybe be one of his "hysterical women." I've printed the article and will hopefully read it on the train ride home. Cheers and happy writing!
Sure, Jessica. I love the poem, but there are those problematic choices of “hysterical women” and “Chinamen.” (Dude, Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please!)
I'm almost 74. I've lived through a quintuple bypass heart surgery followed by an aggressive case of prostate cancer. I have found that true hope is found, when I search for it. My Bible promises that those who seek, will find. I have found this is true. The media promotes the opposite of hope, so that is a rare place to find it. I share this hope in the arms of my wife.
I find inspiration in Yeats's poem "Lapis Lazuli." He makes some problematic language choices, a product of the time. But the poem points to the churn of human activity, the ultimate fragility of our civilizations, none of which last. But that shouldn't cause us to break up our lines to weep. We create and appreciate beautiful things even though nothing will last. Like the "Chinamen" he describes as the poem closes, we can enjoy art and beauty despite knowing that all things fall and are built again. To paraphrase Frank Zappa, we decorate our time.
The Atlantic had a solid article along these lines recently, touching on Camus and his interpretation of the Myth of Sisyphus. While there may not ultimately be a greater meaning or purpose in what we do--that boulder will ineluctably roll back down the hill each evening--we can choose to be joyful in our labors.
https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2025/01/case-for-sisyphus-and-hopeful-pessimism/681356/?gift=VI-8JtAbH9UVI6VJ8KsIaA9VB_TKS6TWrat8ZLBy0kg&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Thanks Arleigh, I really appreciate your thoughtful reading and reminder about "Lapis Lazuli." I haven't read it since college but it's definitely worth a return even if I maybe be one of his "hysterical women." I've printed the article and will hopefully read it on the train ride home. Cheers and happy writing!
Sure, Jessica. I love the poem, but there are those problematic choices of “hysterical women” and “Chinamen.” (Dude, Chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please!)
All things fall and are built again . . . .
Haha yeah, it's impossible to find an unproblematic modernist poet but I love them anyway.
I'm almost 74. I've lived through a quintuple bypass heart surgery followed by an aggressive case of prostate cancer. I have found that true hope is found, when I search for it. My Bible promises that those who seek, will find. I have found this is true. The media promotes the opposite of hope, so that is a rare place to find it. I share this hope in the arms of my wife.