drift, wait and obey: A Kipling Writing Recipe

Ron Price · 04-19-2008, 06:57 AM

I trust a moderator here will be able to correct the above misspelling of "Kipling."
__________________
SOVEREIGNTY

When Rudyard Kipling died in January 1936 and his autobiography was published the following year, the Baha’i community of North America was just beginning its first teaching Plan, 1937 to 1944. This poet of British imperialism, the first English language writer and the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature had died. Some critics denied Kipling’s claim to poethood. His poetic, his literary, aim was to reach out to a very varied audience, to amuse, to entertain, to educate the sensibilities and he had done this as far back as 1892 when he began to emerge as a fully fledged poet. His observation skills, his power of imagination, his inner vision, his unpretentiousness, his idealism and sense of duty, his luminous narrative gift and genius, were all part of a life that, as he himself put it, “he played as it came.” He said his recipe for writing was: "drift, wait and obey.” -Ron Price, Pioneering Over Four Epochs, 18 April 2008.

I, too, drift, wait and obey,
Rudyard, in a different time,
indeed, a different epoch, so
much has happened in those
years since the beginning of
those Plans, since your book,
your published autobiography,
saw the light of day and that
preliminary task1 unfolded
enabling my generation to
fulfil in the course of the
succeeding century the vision
of America’s spiritual destiny.

The empire that was your love
was not to last, as you foresaw,
Rudyard, but the evidences of
an earthly sovereignty had just
begun to be established in this
world, one that would endure
forever, would never perish,
a sovereignty that would
overshadow all the peoples
of the earth thus forsaking
mortal, fleeting sovereignty.2

1 The Seven Year Plan of 1937 to 1944
2 Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, p.44.

Ron Price
18 April 2008

Logos · 04-19-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Price

I trust a moderator here will be able to correct the above misspelling of "Kipling."

Yes, no problem

Ron Price · 08-25-2009, 09:13 AM

thanking you, Logos...Ron in Tasmania

Ron Price · 08-25-2009, 09:14 AM

thanks, Logos...Ron in Tasmania

04-19-2008, 06:57 AM	#1
Ron Price Mr RonPrice Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: George Town Tasmania Australia Posts: 133 Blog Entries: 5	drift, wait and obey: A Kipling Writing Recipe I trust a moderator here will be able to correct the above misspelling of "Kipling." __________________ SOVEREIGNTY When Rudyard Kipling died in January 1936 and his autobiography was published the following year, the Baha’i community of North America was just beginning its first teaching Plan, 1937 to 1944. This poet of British imperialism, the first English language writer and the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature had died. Some critics denied Kipling’s claim to poethood. His poetic, his literary, aim was to reach out to a very varied audience, to amuse, to entertain, to educate the sensibilities and he had done this as far back as 1892 when he began to emerge as a fully fledged poet. His observation skills, his power of imagination, his inner vision, his unpretentiousness, his idealism and sense of duty, his luminous narrative gift and genius, were all part of a life that, as he himself put it, “he played as it came.” He said his recipe for writing was: "drift, wait and obey.” -Ron Price, Pioneering Over Four Epochs, 18 April 2008. I, too, drift, wait and obey, Rudyard, in a different time, indeed, a different epoch, so much has happened in those years since the beginning of those Plans, since your book, your published autobiography, saw the light of day and that preliminary task1 unfolded enabling my generation to fulfil in the course of the succeeding century the vision of America’s spiritual destiny. The empire that was your love was not to last, as you foresaw, Rudyard, but the evidences of an earthly sovereignty had just begun to be established in this world, one that would endure forever, would never perish, a sovereignty that would overshadow all the peoples of the earth thus forsaking mortal, fleeting sovereignty.2 1 The Seven Year Plan of 1937 to 1944 2 Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, p.44. Ron Price 18 April 2008 __________________ I am a Canadian who has been living in Australia for 38 years(in 2009). I am married to a Tasmanian and have been for 34 years after 8 years in a first marriage. We have three children aged 42, 37 and 30(in 2008). I am retired and at 65 spend most of my time writing. I have been associated with the Baha'i Faith for 56 years and a member for 50 of those years.cool: Last edited by Ron Price; 04-19-2008 at 06:58 AM. Reason: to correct a spelling error: unable to correct

08-25-2009, 09:13 AM	#3
Ron Price Mr RonPrice Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: George Town Tasmania Australia Posts: 133 Blog Entries: 5	thanking you, Logos...Ron in Tasmania __________________ I am a Canadian who has been living in Australia for 38 years(in 2009). I am married to a Tasmanian and have been for 34 years after 8 years in a first marriage. We have three children aged 42, 37 and 30(in 2008). I am retired and at 65 spend most of my time writing. I have been associated with the Baha'i Faith for 56 years and a member for 50 of those years.cool:

08-25-2009, 09:14 AM	#4
Ron Price Mr RonPrice Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: George Town Tasmania Australia Posts: 133 Blog Entries: 5	thanks, Logos...Ron in Tasmania __________________ I am a Canadian who has been living in Australia for 38 years(in 2009). I am married to a Tasmanian and have been for 34 years after 8 years in a first marriage. We have three children aged 42, 37 and 30(in 2008). I am retired and at 65 spend most of my time writing. I have been associated with the Baha'i Faith for 56 years and a member for 50 of those years.cool:

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