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Since it came up, and in case anyone was curious, the figures in the picture are Queen Nefertari and the goddess Isis. I don't think it really matters if you decided they're other characters for the purpose of the contest though. Poetic license! :)Quote:
EDIT: heheh, no thats not Amon, thats Nefertari! Didnt read the entries first + should have looked at it more carefully. Anyway, my mistake! It wont be wise to edit it now, so *shrug* .
Isis?? Thought it's Hathor with Nerfertari....
There'a a great deal of similarity between Isis and Hathor, as with many Egyptian deities the attributes of earlier deities was merged into later ones (in this case Isis appeared later.). I believe that this depicts Isis, but I don't think it really matters, as I understand it Virgil is looking for the picture to act as inspiration, but how we interpret it is up to us!Quote:
Originally Posted by symphony
By the way - it's an excellent poem Symphony, really beautifully written :)
Ah its Hathor. There's a somewhat similar picture of Hathor and Nefertari around the bottom of this page. There's a temple (abu simbel) depicting Nefertari and Hathor together holding hands, I think this picture was taken from that.
But well, Isis has been confused/merged with Hathor at times. Plus, in some depictions she is seen with cow horns too. :)
Edit: I see we posted together, Fifth :p
And thanks for the compliment. :)
Well, I agree that it doesn't really matter who these people are for the purpose of the contest, but since I have a book that labels this as Nefertari and Isis, I did a little more poking around because I wanted to know the truth.:idea: Isis and Hathor are almost identical looking, but the picture Virg. gives really does seem to be of Isis leading Nefertari to meet Osiris. It comes from the tomb of Nefertari. Here's one site that shows it in its original context, which I found interesting to see, since it's so easy to forget how these things are interacting with the other pictures around them when you just see a picture in a book or online. http://www.gallica.co.uk/Egypt/page14.htm Anyway, Isis, Hathor; tomato, tomahto, back to the contest. :p
By the way, Symphony, regardless of who's who I agree with fifthelement. I really liked your poem.
Well thanks Petrarch. I will not hold any incorrect understanding of the poem against anyone. I will judge strictly on the poetry.
I just came upon this. I'm glad the deadline was extended to Thursday. I wanted to write more poetry, so this is a good outlet.
O Lady
O Lady who hath charity, what deed imparts the day?
The damned, raised off their treading bellies, forsake labors on
Her head.
O Lady, my Queen, I shall be thy crown.
O Lady who hath conduct, what ground wears the day?
The lost, guided through foreign labyrinths, forsake labors on
Her hand.
O Lady, my Light, I shall follow thee.
O Lady who hath history, what tale scribes the day?
The poets, privileged pens, granted labors on
Her name.
O Lady, my Muse, I shall immortalize thee.
Who would have thought this and this would be different!! :eek: These gods and goddesses rise a hell of a confusion everywhere :p . Anyway, as Petrarch said, back to the contest. :) And thanks for clearing it to me, Petrarch. Though I've gladly decided I'd never take Egyptology as a subject in my life. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Petrarch's Love
Thanks :D Coming from you, that really means much to me, since I've loved and admired every poem I've seen by you so far. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Petrarch's Love
Nay, don't be turned aside from a perfectly lovely subject because Isis and Hathor happen to be twins. :p Surely this sort of confusion could only spur us on to take more Egyptology and learn to read Hieroglyphs so that we can always make authoritative claims. ;)Quote:
Though I've gladly decided I'd never take Egyptology as a subject in my life.
:blush:Quote:
Thanks Coming from you, that really means much to me, since I've loved and admired every poem I've seen by you so far.
What a very kind compliment Symphony. I'm very glad if some of my poems have brought you enjoyment. :)
so who won?!?!?!?!
We'll know soon I guess. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by browneyedbailey
thanks symphony
The contest is now closed. I will review all entries and make a decision this evening, my time zone, of course. :)
OK, so since you all wrote interesting poems I will highlight my favorite lines from each of you and then present the winner. Frankly it was tough to choose. In fact as I write this I may still change my mind by the time I reach the end. But we'll see.
My favorite lines for Pen's were right at the beginning:
Same for autolycus:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendragon
For Granny, I thought her best was at the end:Quote:
Originally Posted by autolycus
For Bailey I leave the entire poem.Quote:
Originally Posted by Granny5
I really loved these lines in Fifthelement's poem:Quote:
Originally Posted by browneyedbailey
A fascinating poem by Petrarch. I loved this list of images:Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFifthElement
Symphony created an interesting opposition between the two:Quote:
Originally Posted by Petrarch's Love
I liked the hymnal tone of Nick's poem:Quote:
Originally Posted by symphony
Quote:
Originally Posted by NickAdams
So the winner by just barely a nose is Symphony.
I liked the opposition Symph created between the two characters. Plus I really liked the last line "I have loved."Quote:
Originally Posted by symphony
Congratulations, symphony! Very lush tones, which somehow reminded me of California. Heh.
Wow and yay! :D
Thanks Uncle Virg! Its these things that'll inspire me to write more. :)
And thanks auto!
I'll post a picture as soon as I find something good. :)
oh and by the way, i was wondering if paintings will qualify as pictures too....
Congratulations Steph! Good job.
A well deserved win, congratulations Symphony
thanks fifth. and where's ur mm?!
and thanks amp, i hope u meant symph, but thats okay too. :p
Yes they do. I have used them.Quote:
Originally Posted by symphony
Well done Symphony! Certainly deserving of a win. I especially liked the passage Virg. excerpted in his comments and these lines too, in which you describe a kind of metamorphosis from paper to life:
Looking forward to the next picture. And yes, paintings definitely qualify as pictures too.Quote:
And it was then that I
Felt her existence,
Not in the yellowed parchments,
But in the golden sun
And in the golden sand…
Edit: Oh, I see Virg. just answered that too.
Congratulations Symphony, it was a beautiful poem. Can't wait to see the picture!
Thanks Virg. I don't know if it was obvious that the images came from the hieroglyphs or not. I had recently been reading some 15th century Italian Neoplatonists who were fascinated with the subject of hieroglyphs. They thought of them as a spiritual pictorial language based on a connection between the things of this world and their higher essential forms, which in turn leads to God. Anyway, all that philosophy got me thinking about the hieroglyphs in this picture and the way they might connect with both life and afterlife.Quote:
A fascinating poem by Petrarch. I loved this list of images
Congratulations Symphony! It is a beautiful poem. What picture do you have for us?
Thanks everyone.
And the picture for this round will be the following painting, by a renowned Bangladeshi artist- late Zainul Abedin.
http://www.banglagallery.com/gallery...ainting-09.jpg
I dont want to set a deadline right now. Why not have a few entries first? :) I'll set a date once we have some.
But you probably have a whole healthy month. So take your time. ;)
I hope you find it inspiring.
Congrates Symphany.:D
Worn Sole ... Worn Soul ... Poor So-!
Perched fowl, guard of this blanked rest.
What of our weather'd tenant, who dines on a pavement blessed?
Worn sole ... worn soul ... poor so-!
Perched fowl, who obliges companion rest.
Below: prone and equal upon a concrete nest.
Worn sole ... worn soul ... poor so-!
Perched fowl ... pursed foul?
Who transcribed
These line
Differ both ... sight, sound.
Man-o-post,
Remove your post.
For traffic goes not far.
When vessels rest,
and companions nest,
whose weather'd soles are worn.
Congratulations, Symphony! It is indeed a great poem. You should be very proud.
Diogenes: Looking For An Honest Man
He had very little in this life beyond his lantern, his blanket, and his dog—
But inside the beggar’s clothing lived one whose eyes could really see
While all the world around him moved as if their very minds were in a fog…
He must have seemed a fool walking through the streets with lighted lantern after dawn,
Asked what he thought what he was doing he proclaimed: “An honest man I seek!”
He had very little in this life beyond his lantern, his blanket, and his dog—
But when asked by a ruler what he could do for him, he told the Ruler “Move along,
You are blocking my light.” What a caustic reply to one who aspired to royalty!
While all the world around him moved as if their very minds were in a fog;
He could look up from his blanket and see the things in life that were really going on.
His philosophy would be remembered and taught down through the course of history.
He had very little in this life beyond his lantern, his blanket, and his dog—
Just a person living on the streets, having to depend on others’ generosity if he ate at all.
Sometimes I wonder if the ones who passed him by ever knew how famous he would be?
While all the world around him moved as if their very minds were in a fog;
His declarations and his statements were being copied down so they would not be lost.
He made a major influence on the way of thinking in those times and modern philosophy.
He had very little in this life beyond his lantern, his blanket, and his dog—
While all the world around him moved as if their very minds were in a fog…
Pendragon
© 10/8/07
Way to go, Nick & Uncle Pen! :thumbs_up
I'm looking forward to what the others come out with. :)
And thanks again to Nick, Fire, Pen for all the kudos. ;)
Sleeping in the feild.
Come, come.
A story to tell.
Share with family,
Share with friends.
Good-bye.
This I posted under the charles bukowski thread, but it occurred to me that it fit the picture here. apologies that this is recycled, but appropriate.
late night tv
up again at 1am
flicking through
the channels on
tv
and there’s
celebrity so-and-so
moralising about
global warming
and carbon footprints (etc)
whilst simultaneously
advertising their latest
designer-brand
perfume
and I think
of the pikeys and tramps and bums
huddled outside in
their recycled shoes
and newspaper
blankets
and I
drink
to the
future.
Wow! Pen, you have incorporated a huge interest of mine. Why didn't I think of it. Diogenes is the SN prefix for both my Yahoo and AOL account.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendragon
You've expanded on one of the most interesting stories: the lantern.
It would have been interesting if you would have used the dog and cynic (Greek for canine) as a metaphor ... or did you and I missed it?
Two other interesting stories:
The only item Diogenes carried was a cup for water, until he saw a child using his hands to hold the drinking water. He threw away the cup after that.
Once, Diogenes was kidnapped by pirates and made a slave. When asked his trade, he said that he knew no trade but that of governing men, and that he wished to be sold to a man who needed a master.
Thanks, Nick. Diogenes is a favorite character of mine, and the picture just screamed his name to me! Cave Canium!Quote:
Originally Posted by NickAdams
I have a question- I have an idea for a poem but I wasn't sure if it would be alright- is a parody poem ok or does it have to be completely from your own mind?
A parody will also be welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by AdoreroDio
Oops posted in the wrong thread
This is my poem, a parody on Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven-
Once upon while I was teary, while I lay there thinned and weary,
Laying quiet, food and water by my side, laying quiet on the floor
There I lay head nodding slowly, napping when on my shoulder there was a knocking,
Like that of a person gently tapping, tapping like on a soft wood door
“Tis some beggar,” I whispered “wanting my small piece of floor
It’s just this and nothing more.”
Yes. It’s true I do remember it was in the hot September,
As I lay down under my worn blanket, upon the heated floor.
Eagerly I wished for tomorrow or to eat food that I didn’t ‘borrow’
or even better to forget my lost years with riches like those from days of lore-
I longed for money as I had when in my mansion from those days of lore
forgotten here for evermore.
Soon I finally turned over, mumbling ‘bout lost sleep and hunger
“Mr.,”I said with eyes still closed, “or Mrs., your exit I do now implore;
the fact is that I was napping, and now so slightly you came tapping,
indeed bothering me with you tapping ,tapping on my shoulder more
That I am now quiet annoyed' - here I opened wide my eyes so sore; -
My dog was there, and nothing more.
Back down I lay slowly turning, my bones and muscles from weakness burning,
But sadly again I felt a tapping somewhat harder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something truly in my mind purely
If not let me see, what the source is, and this mystery explore -
Let my fist be still no longer and this mystery explore; -
It’s my dog’s tail and nothing more!'
Turning here curses I did mutter until I saw feathers flutter,
From the street stepped a starving raven bigger than those I’d seen before.
On the street indeed he did not stay; instead upon my blanket his claws did he lay;
Caring not about this raven I lay my head back on the floor -
He perched on me for a few more seconds until slowly hopping to the floor -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this black bird stood in front of my drawn face,
Making my attempt at sleep even harder more,
`Even though you look quite handsome' I said, `you are bothersome.
Ghastly trouble maker who now comes from some distant shore-
Tell me what your awful name is on that cursed shore!'
Then said the raven, `Nevermore.'
My chin dropped to the ground in marvel to hear the raven speak so plainly,
Though its answer had little meaning, indeed little meaning it did bore;
For noone could be disagreeing that no living human being
Has ever heard a raven speaking on their piece of floor-
Bird or beast indeed speaking at all on any floor,
With a weird name like `Nevermore.'
Pretty soon I started guessing, what this bird could be expressing
by that word which he speaks which on this hot day chills my core;
This and more I sat finding, that even as my thoughts were winding
That the word still haunted me as nothing more than taunting,
But the bird said nothing to help only saying the word that was daunting
for the raven said “nevermore!”
`Are you a gypsy?' said I, `a thing of evil!? - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Even if you’re tempter sent, or if something worse tossed you here ashore,
alone yet scary , on this desolate street you’re found enchanted -
On this spot by horror haunted - tell me no lies I beg you this for-
Is there - is there any happiness out there? - tell me - I beg you more!'
Said the raven, `Nevermore.'
`I say that word must be our word of goodbye!' I yelled upstarting -
`Go back to the place you come from, that place in hell I once called a shore!
Leave no feathers as a token of that lie your lips have spoken!
Leave my pennilessness unspoken! - quit the that part here on my floor!
Take your beak out of my heart, and take your shadow from of my floor!'
Then said the raven, `Nevermore.'
And the raven, never moving , still is sitting, still is sitting
Next to my dog upon that small piece of the hot street’s floor;
And his eyes have that look so steaming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the street light over him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that stays frozen on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!