D.H. Lawrence's Short Stories Thread

[Quark]

Good thing, because i was going to recommend we do a story without you.

Wow, who lit a fire under Virgil? Usually, he's telling us to go ahead of him.

I better get my books out and dust them off and review the stories and try to pick a good one.

Oh, good.

If I participate, I will probably be a little behind the rest of you since I don't have that much time to post right now. But, these discussion go for almost a month, so I should be able to catch up eventually.

[Janine]

Wow, who lit a fire under Virgil? Usually, he's telling us to go ahead of him.

Yeah really...he's usually 3 book reads behind, as well. I have a story in mind, but it's another long one, but excellent. I will review some more stories, before I make my final decision. It's good to see you here, Quark.

If I participate, I will probably be a little behind the rest of you since I don't have that much time to post right now. But, these discussion go for almost a month, so I should be able to catch up eventually.

That would be fine. I hope you can join in from time to time. They definitely go on at least a month if not longer...until we finish the discussion....no time limit really. If we do a longer story, might take two months.

Be back soon with the story introduction.

[Virgil]

Yeah really...he's usually 3 book reads behind, as well. I have a story in mind, but it's another long one, but excellent. I will review some more stories, before I make my final decision. It's good to see you here, Quark.

Boy, you guys are brutal.

I can't wait to see which one you pick.

[Virgil]

Just got a note from Janine. She is not feeling well, and may be away for a bit. But she will come back with a story to read.

Hope you feel better Janine.

[Quark]

If we do a longer story, might take two months.

No problem there. I heard you were think about England, My England. That's a good one, but I probably wouldn't be able to start reading until Wednesday. I'd want to get a book for that, and right now my library and I are like 50% of marriages: unhappily separated. I'm at my parents' house at the moment--looking after their animals--and I won't get back until late Tuesday. Even if I read it Wednesday, the earliest I could start posting is Thursday. So there's no rush to start the discussion now--at least for me.

Just got a note from Janine. She is not feeling well, and may be away for a bit.

Well that's no good. When she gets sick it's usually quite bad. I hope it gets better soon.

[Virgil]

Quark, somehow you screwed up your quoting. I didn't say that first quote.

[Quark]

Quark, somehow you screwed up your quoting. I didn't say that first quote.

True.

Originally, I was just going to respond to your post, but then I saw that Janine had posted something too. So I pulled some of her text into my post and copied the quote command from the part I quoted from your post. I meant to change the name in the quote command, but forgot. I'll correct the quote command now so that no one is confused. Thanks, Virgil.

[Janine]

Boy, you guys are brutal.

I can't wait to see which one you pick.

Sorry, Virgil, if I was brutal....but then again, I know you can take it. You're tough!

Quark, that would be fine. I am not dying, but I had a lot of pain which eased up some. I found some medication my dr prescribed in Sept and it might help until I call her on Tues. Another med she gave me made me sick so I stopped taking it....had bad side-effects. I am hoping to be better soon.

So you like that story, too? I guess it would be a good one to do. I seem to be in the mindset for war since I just watched a war miniseries "Band of Brothers"...it was quite good. The entire story doesn't deal with war but it's significant in the end.

I will be back soon with an introduction and photo. It won't matter if you have the book right away; I plan to post the beginning text, which I got easily on this site and copied into a offline file...so I am semi-prepared. I will skim the story and then go find an appropriate picture and a little background on the time when L wrote this one. That always makes it interesting.

[Virgil]

Sorry, Virgil, if I was brutal....but then again, I know you can take it. You're tough!

That's just my exterior. Inside I'm as mushy as rice pudding.

[Quark]

Quark,[/B] that would be fine. I am not dying, but I had a lot of pain which eased up some. I found some medication my dr prescribed in Sept and it might help until I call her on Tues. Another med she gave me made me sick so I stopped taking it....had bad side-effects. I am hoping to be better soon.

Well that's good--the part about not dying.

So you like that story, too? I guess it would be a good one to do. I seem to be in the mindset for war since I just watched a war miniseries "Band of Brothers"...it was quite good. The entire story doesn't deal with war but it's significant in the end.

It was one of the first Lawrence stories I read, but I don't remember much about it--other than I appreciated it. It'll be good to look at it again and see if I still like it.

I will be back soon with an introduction and photo.

Okay, but nothing too fancy. We're all regulars here. No need to impress.

[Sapphire]

*peeks in*

Hi you all, just wondering whether we might get this show on the road this month? No worries if not, just checking.

BTW, I've been reading Lawrence's poetry lately. I am quite enjoying it actually My favourite line (today ) is

And oh, behind the cloud-sheaves, like yellow autumn dapples,
Did you see the wicked sun that winked!

And it made me wonder: might Lawrence have ever written a short story inspired by one of Shakespeare's plays? Or is there a story with a reference to a character from Shakespeare in it - as in this poem? As you might have guessed I'm currently reading some Shakespeare and it's always fun to combine It also makes you find connections that aren't there at all though

Sorry, I'm rambling. I hope everybody is doing well and we'll soon find the time to do a short story! Really looking forward to it.

[Virgil]

*peeks in*

Hi you all, just wondering whether we might get this show on the road this month? No worries if not, just checking.

BTW, I've been reading Lawrence's poetry lately. I am quite enjoying it actually My favourite line (today ) is

And it made me wonder: might Lawrence have ever written a short story inspired by one of Shakespeare's plays? Or is there a story with a reference to a character from Shakespeare in it - as in this poem? As you might have guessed I'm currently reading some Shakespeare and it's always fun to combine It also makes you find connections that aren't there at all though

Sorry, I'm rambling. I hope everybody is doing well and we'll soon find the time to do a short story! Really looking forward to it.

Haha, I don't know Sapphire. I will shortly be going away for at least a month, and I'm not sure i'll have easy access to the internet. But you can start the story without me if everyone wishes.

As to the Shakespeare question, I'm not aware of such a story.

That is a cool two lines. I'm going to have to look up that poem.


Edit. I found the poem on line. Here:

Ballad Of Another Ophelia
By D. H. Lawrence

OH the green glimmer of apples in the orchard,
Lamps in a wash of rain!
Oh the wet walk of my brown hen through the stack-yard,
Oh tears on the window pane!

Nothing now will ripen the bright green apples,
Full of disappointment and of rain,
Brackish they will taste, of tears, when the yellow dapples
Of autumn tell the withered tale again.

All round the yard it is cluck, my brown hen,
Cluck, and the rain-wet wings,
Cluck, my marigold bird, and again
Cluck for your yellow darlings.

For the grey rat found the gold thirteen
Huddled away in the dark,
Flutter for a moment, oh the beast is quick and keen,
Extinct one yellow-fluffy spark.

Once I had a lover bright like running water,
Once his face was laughing like the sky;
Open like the sky looking down in all its laughter
On the buttercups, and the buttercups was I.

What, then, is there hidden in the skirts of all the blossom?
What is peeping from your wings, oh mother hen?
'Tis the sun who asks the question, in a lovely haste for wisdom;
What a lovely haste for wisdom is in men!

Yea, but it is cruel when undressed is all the blossom,
And her shift is lying white upon the floor,
That a grey one, like a shadow, like a rat, a thief, a rain-storm,
Creeps upon her then and gathers in his store.

Oh the grey garner that is full of half-grown apples,
Oh the golden sparkles laid extinct!
And oh, behind the cloud-sheaves, like yellow autumn dapples,
Did you see the wicked sun that winked!

[Janine]

Wow, that poem is powerful and beautiful as well....I wonder when he wrote this. I pick up on several lines the significance of the sun. I can fully relate to the natural elements in the poem and the way the cat finds the yellow chicks. I live on a lake and that is nearly the same scenerio often with new born ducklings. Immediately they head for the lake and one day there are 17 and next 12 and next 8 and so on and sometimes none survive...it saddens me. I find that stark imagery fascinating in this poem. The yellow would also relate to the sun which he can't seem to percieve now because of his state of mind and emoticons. I must read the poem over again and again before I post anymore ideas on it. I hope others post about it as well. It could provide a short break till we start a new story.

The poem also seems to point to his mother's death but then he mentions a male who is the lost lover so I am not sure about the connections to his own life. I can easily see the meaning of the title and comparisons to Hamlet and his mother in Lawrence's own life. The title would definitely appeal to Lawrence, don't you think, Virgil?

Saphire, I am so sorry I have not started up a new Lawrence story. I have not felt well and then with Virgil soon going away I put it on the back burner. I will try to review the stories and pick a shorter one than I originally suggested. I am some better now but I can't overdo my time sitting at the computer. I will definitely make an effort soon concerning the story. I so miss this thread and our lively discussions. I am very happy, Saphire that you didn't forget and you posted yesterday and still have the interest in Lawrence.

I read all the short stories and I don't believe any have references to Shakespeare - one of my own passions. Perhaps the plays do but the stories I doubt. His poetry is quite beautiful and amazing to me. I love the visual aspects of it and the way he describes nature so precisely. Thanks for posting that poem, Virgil. I really need to get reading my Complete Poems of D.H.Lawrence soon. It sits here begging to be read; all my fine books do. I had become quite winter lazy but I am hoping to revive my interests as days are longer with sunlight and spring is more inspiring.

[Virgil]

Wow, that poem is powerful and beautiful as well....I wonder when he wrote this. I pick up on several lines the significance of the sun. I can fully relate to the natural elements in the poem and the way the cat finds the yellow chicks. I live on a lake and that is nearly the same scenerio often with new born ducklings. Immediately they head for the lake and one day there are 17 and next 12 and next 8 and so on and sometimes none survive...it saddens me. I find that stark imagery fascinating in this poem. The yellow would also relate to the sun which he can't seem to percieve now because of his state of mind and emoticons. I must read the poem over again and again before I post anymore ideas on it. I hope others post about it as well. It could provide a short break till we start a new story.

It is beautiful. Lawrence is so under rated as a poet. What do you suppose the significance of the sun is? It is certainly critical to understanding the poem. The poem starts with the rain and ends with the sun peeking through. I think it's just the callusness of nature at the face of everyday tragedies. The tragedies all fit within nature. At least that's how I see it. Colors are also important here. Green apples, yellow chick, brown hen, grey rat. Nice contrasts. Almost like a painting. But I'm not sure if there is any significance in the colors.

The poem also seems to point to his mother's death but then he mentions a male who is the lost lover so I am not sure about the connections to his own life. I can easily see the meaning of the title and comparisons to Hamlet and his mother in Lawrence's own life. The title would definitely appeal to Lawrence, don't you think, Virgil?

I don't know when it was written. I don't see his mother's death in here. There is an extensive note on this poem in the Complete Poems book. This is an early poem, written before July 1914. I would date it even earlier judging by the style and theme. The note says that he wrote to someone that he was very proud of this poem and that it's some sort of dream symbollism. That dream symbolism recalls one of Chaucer's Canterbury's tales, the Nun's Priest Tale with Chanticleer.

[Sapphire]

I had totally forgotten about this poem I just came across it again and thought "that would be good to post in the short story tread". Obviously, I'm slowly loosing my mind

How about a song about Ophelia, to see another artists view on things?
Nathalie Merchant - Ophelia
Way more upbeat than the Lawrence poem, and I can't find any relation but the title character

As for the short stories: I've recently read England My England and I would like to talk about one of the stories in there, but I really don't know where to start... I mean: we do not really seem to get around to picking a new story, so maybe there could be just a part from an older story somebody would like to go a bit deeper into?

Maybe for now I should just catch up with the older posts in this thread - the ones before I got around I'll just have to figure out a way to download this thread so I don't keep the internet occupied all week

I really hope everybody is having fun things which keep them away from reading Lawrence. Take care you all, greetings Sapphire