Defenseless under the night
Our world in a stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.
If you can, watch this video full screen, it is so very magical.
painting by clinock / poem: From Another Time by W. H. Auden.
Poem and painting both magic, John
May your darkest nights always carry the light of hope!
And may you always find the light that hides in the Darkest places
I will Gary, I do know I will…and thank you for your wishes and thoughts…
Despair, the worst emotion. Your posting shines a bit of light for me, somewhere deep inside. x
You were in my thoughts Ina when I made this post…xox
Thank you. It speaks so much to me. xx
Wow John. If only Auden were still around and he could see your painting.
If he were still around I wonder what he would make of who we are now? He would probably say “plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose”. Thanks Mark…
A stunning painting and poem John with a big affirming message….
reinforced with a perfectly selected video to accompany them both.
Your caring artistic soul burns blightly to illuminate the crazyiness of this world!
Your generosity touches me deeply Robert. ‘Thank you’ never seems enough, but, thank you…
Reblogged this on Ina and commented:
Another beautiful posting (he always has beautiful postings! This one speaks very much to me though) by my dear friend John Clinock
That it spoke to you Ina means so much to me. Thank you for your kind words and for the reblog, I am honoured xox
Coming so close on the heels to your last “Ghost” sharing, John, these words have a deeper impact on me perhaps. It’s a melancholy affirmation, as I read it, but an affirmation that means more because with the tinges of sadness– the “ironic points of light” stand out as hope–in potential if not yet met. The Adagio, one of my favorites, and this gorgeous video, are the perfect muscial punctuation for your piece, John. I think the first time I ever heard this work was in “Apocalypse Now” and the music haunted me for days–it still does. Your writing stirs me similarly. You have the ability to write about raw emotions with a finesse that is deeply moving, and creates a place to pause and ponder. That’s a gift, my friend.
Thank you Debra for your very lovely and sensitive response. You do me great honour with your words but just to clarify, the poem extract here is by W.H. Auden and I credited him at the end. The music stirs me too, deeply. I am rewarded by the impact this post had on you…
I see that now, John. But nonetheless, very powerful! Thank you for clarifying. 🙂
A luminous painting John…
mythic figures looking upon
engaged points of light
in the distance
fragile wonder and
meandering memory
carry their own flames
slowly warming
knowing
“it’s hot down there”
too long in darkness
solitary confinement
births consuming fire
The image is fantastic. Seeing it in the light of ‘exchanged messages’ gives me an organic/science fiction feel somehow. The blue figure on the right seems to have stepped out of art history. Very personal up close and seen from a distance at the same time. Very compelling!
Always fascinating to me what others see in my paintings, often quite different than my own perceptions. This is the magic that adds so many dimensions to my creative life. Thank you as ever Steven for the time you take to look and share.