TOM CLARK: Andrew Marvell: The Definition of Love (Impossible Geometries) / Haruspex (Out there)

Albuquerque, New Mexico: photo by Jorge Guadalupe Lizárraga, March 2017

Andrew Marvell: The Definition of Love

Multi-faceted mirror, Kibble palace, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Scotland: photo by Roger Griffith, 2008

My Love is of a birth as rare

As 'tis for object strange and high:

It was begotten by despair

Upon Impossibility.

II.

Magnanimous Despair alone

Could show me so divine a thing,

Where feeble Hope could ne'r have flown

But vainly flapt its Tinsel Wing.

III.

And yet I quickly might arrive

Where my extended Soul is fixt,

But Fate does Iron wedges drive,

And alwaies crouds it self betwixt.

IV.

For Fate with jealous Eye does see

Two perfect Loves; nor lets them close:

Their union would her ruine be,

And her Tyrannick pow'r depose.

And therefore her Decrees of Steel

Us as the distant Poles have plac'd,

(Though Loves whole World on us doth wheel)

Not by themselves to be embrac'd.

VI.

Unless the giddy Heaven fall,

And Earth some new Convulsion tear:

And, us to joyn, the World should all

Be cramp'd into a Planisphere.

VII.

As Lines so Loves oblique may well

Themselves in every Angle greet:

But ours so truly Paralel,

Though infinite can never meet.

VIII.

Therefore the Love which us doth bind,

But Fate so enviously debarrs,

Is the Conjunction of the Mind,

And Opposition of the Stars.

Andrew Marvell (1621-1678): The Definition of Love, from Miscellaneous Poems, 1681

[Untitled]: photo by Lyd.ium, 2014

Close-down [Larvik]: photo by astrid westvang, 22 May 2016

Prague: photo by Lyd.ium, 2016

Berlin, Niederschöneweide: photo by Lyd.ium, January 2017

nowhere: photo by Lyd.ium, 2015

[Untitled]: photo by Lyd.ium, January 2017

Untitled | by Lyd.ium

[Untitled]: photo by Lyd.ium, December 2014

[Untitled]: photo by Lyd.ium, 6 February 2014

[Untitled]: photo by Lyd.ium, April 2014

Five elements. The Statoil building, Fornebu, Oslo (architects: A-lab): photo by astrid westvang, 1 July 2015

Five elements

Abandoned smelting plant | by AstridWestvang

Abandoned smelting plant, Odda, West Norway: photo by astrid westvang, 29 August 2009

Cement factory. Heidelberg Cement / Norcem, Brevik.: photo by astrid westvang, 30 November 2014

Industrial detail [Aalborg]: photo by astrid westvang, 17 May 2010

Detail [Larvik]: photo by astrid westvang, 12 January 2011

Street

Bullring [Mallorca]: photo by astrid westvang, 7 April 2017

Corner [Manacor, Mallorca]: photo by astrid westvang, 31 March 2017

Red light Ektar [Beverly, LA]: photo by Andrew Murr, 11 April 2017

Custom draped [south LA]: photo by Andrew Murr, 12 April 2017

Docks at night: photo by Andrew Murr, 11 April 2017

Ratana Church, Raetihi, NZ | by bobsan88

Ratana Church, Raetihi, NZ: photo by bobsan88, 13 April 2017

Collingwood, Golden Bay: photo by bobsan88, 23 February 2017

Puponga, Golden Bay: photo by bobsan88, 12 April 2017

Westport, NZ: photo by bobsan88, 8 April 2017

Westport, NZ: photo by bobsan88, 1 March 2017

Street [Mallorca]: photo by astrid westvang, 7 April 2017

Presage

Spotted in a #Pyongyang orphanage; the slogan says nothing to envy in the world #Dprk: image via Jeremy Koh @JeremyKohCNA, 13 April 2017

Seen today in an Iraqi Army vehicle. #Iraq #Mosul @EmergencyKittens: image via Bradley Brincka @Bradley_Brincka, 13 April 2017

Monitoring service 38 North says North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear site is "primed and ready" for a 6th nuclear test: image via CNN @CNN, 13 April 2017

North Korea may have the capability to deliver missiles equipped with sarin nerve gas, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says: image via CNN @CNN, 13 April 2017

"Dont Come Any Closer" Warns Kim Jong-un Orders IMMEDIATE EVACUATION of #Pyongyang as Tensions with US Escalate $ Dollar Plunges: image via Nardeep Pujji @AWAKEALERT, 13 April 2017

A North Korean military soldier peeps through his country's ruling party flags decorating the Ryomyong residential area, a collection of more than a dozen apartment buildings, ahead of its official opening ceremony on Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea.: photo by Wong Maye-E/AP, 13 April 2017

North Korean men push their bicycles along Ryomyong residential area, a collection of more than a dozen apartment buildings, on Thursday, April 13, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea.: photo by Wong Maye-E/AP, 13 April 2017

There's been a construction boom (somewhat) in Pyongyang in recent years; my minder says to expect more projects next year #DPRK: image via Jeremy Koh @JeremyKohCNA, 13 April 2017

Military images at an orphanage in #Pyongyang #DPRK: image via Jeremy Koh @JeremyKohCNA, 13 April 2017

Mountains and dams at Pyongyang bus stops @edwardesjones: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, , 13 April 2017

Mountains and dams at Pyongyang bus stops @edwardesjones: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

#North Korea Attendees wait for the opening ceremony for the Ryomyong Street housing development in Pyongyang. Photo @edwardesjones #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

The opening ceremony for the Ryomyong Street housing development in Pyongyang. Photo @edwardesjones #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

Scream

A man screams during an anti-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Venezuela officials are confirming that a fifth person has died in a two-week old anti-government protest movement.: photo by Ariana Cubillos/AP, 13 April 2017

A demonstrator wearing a home made teddy bear gasmask to protect himself from tear gas participates in an anti-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Venezuela officials are confirming that a fifth person has died in a two-week old anti-government protest movement.: photo by Ariana Cubillos/AP, 13 April 2017

#Venezuela Demonstrators throw teargas canisters back at riot police during a protest in #Caracas. By @JFernandoLlano @AP_Images: image via Photojournalism @photojournalink, 12 April 2017

Ethiopian Orthodox Christian woman prays during washing of the feet ceremony at Deir El Sultan monastery on top of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem, Thursday, April 13, 2017: photo by Dan Balilty/AP, 13 April 2017

Covered in prayer shawls, Jewish men of the Cohanim priestly caste participate in a blessing during the Passover holiday, in front of the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's Old City, Thursday, April 13, 2017. The Cohanim, believed to be descendants of priests who served God in the Jewish Temple before it was destroyed, perform a blessing ceremony of the Jewish people three times a year during the festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.: photo by Ariel Schalit/AP, 13 April 2017

Ultra-Orthodox Jews burn leavened items in final preparation for the Passover holiday in Jerusalem, Monday, April 10, 2017. Jews are forbidden to eat leavened foodstuffs during the Passover holiday that celebrates the biblical story of the Israelites' escape from slavery and exodus from Egypt.: photo by Oded Balilty/AP, 10 April 2017

#Lebanon A member of the joint Palestinian security takes position in Ain al-Hilweh camp after clashes that took place earlier in the week.: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

JERUSALEM - Thousands of Jews make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the eight-day Pesach holiday. Photo @TomCoex: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

GAZA CITY - Palestinian children play amidst the ruins of a building destroyed during the 50-day war in 2014. @mohmdabed #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

A penitent holds a rosary while taking part in the procession of the "Exaltacion de La Santa Cruz" brotherhood, during Holy Week in Zaragoza, northern Spain, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.: photo by Alvaro Barrientos/AP, 13 April 2017

Two female penitents take their coffees in a bar during the procession of the "Exaltacion de La Santa Cruz" brotherhood, during Holy Week in Zaragoza, northern Spain, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.: photo by Alvaro Barrientos/AP, 13 April 2017

A security guard walks up a ramp leading to the Brazilian National Congress, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht paid millions in bribes to President Michel Temer's party and another party, to ensure a contract with the state oil company, according to plea bargain testimony from a former executive at the company, released Wednesday, as part of the biggest corruption probe in Brazil's history.: photo by Eraldo Peres/AP, 13 April 2017

A presidential guard walks past a window that allows a view into the Planalto presidential palace's main lounge, decorated with an image of a Brazilian national flag, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 13, 2017. Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht paid millions in bribes to President Michel Temer's party and another party, to ensure a contract with the state oil company, according to plea bargain testimony from a former executive at the company, released Wednesday, as part of the biggest corruption probe in Brazil's history.: photo by Eraldo Peres/AP, 13 April 2017

A sniper from the Iraqi federal police unit fires a rocket towards IS group positions during #MosulOffensive Photo @tofsimon #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

#Iraq A man walks amid the rubble of the destroyed buildings of Mosul's University as he looks for documents that may have survived. Photo @tofsimon: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

#Iraq Civilians pass through a safe passage in between houses as they flee the al-Abar neighbourhood during #MosulOffensive. Photo Ahmad Al-Rubaye: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

#Iraq Iraqi children ride donkeys east of Mosul Photo @tofsimon: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 13 April 2017

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart, right, tags out Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts while trying to score on a hit by Hanley Ramirez during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, April 13, 2017.: photo byCharles Krupa/AP, 13 April 2017

Chicago Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. (5) leaps to make a catch of the ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, on Thursday, April 13, 2017.: photo by Jeff Haynes/AP, 13 April 2017

#Iran A woman looks out over Tehran on Sizdeh Bedar, an annual public picnic day on the 13th day of the Iranian new year By @EbrahimNoroozi1: image via Photojournalism @photojournalink, 12 April 2017

Haruspex (Out there)

#Spain A man wears the traditional ‘Tora’ outfit used during a medieval carnival of masks and characters in Casavieja By @dochoadeolza AP: image via Photojouournalism @photojournalink, 13 April 2017

A cave bear head in the Alcove of the Lions at Chauvet. This wonderful image was created about 30,000 years ago #IceAgeArt: image via Jamie Woodward @Jamie_Woodward_, 13 April 2017

Out there

The voices of children

outside the cave

in the post-dusk half-light

pretending to be dogs

crying out in the half-light

so that the grownups

will let them get a look

at the mother of all bombs

and this is not normal

Dhaka, Bangladesh.: photo by Md. Enamul Kabir, 20 February 2015

Gallery #14: photo by Md. Enamul Kabir, 21 August 2015

Untitled: photo by Md. Enamul Kabir, 7 April 2017

Untitled. Dhaka, Bangladesh.: photo by Md. Enamul Kabir, 5 March 2014

4 comments:

Sandra14 April 2017 at 06:38
Therefore the Love which us doth bind,
But Fate so enviously debarrs,
Is the Conjunction of the Mind,
And Opposition of the Stars.

love that poem....thanks !
kent14 April 2017 at 10:36
Showin' Mookie kinda kookie.

ps - back to Mower for a moment: If Blake hates nature, and nature abhors a vacuum, would WB be the perfect spokesman for a brand of lawn vac?
Unknown14 April 2017 at 13:22
"I love that little donkey. Hell, I love everybody." -- James Tate. That image is perfect!
TC14 April 2017 at 20:13
Thanks to all.

By the by, about that extremely affecting (for me anyway) Bangladeshi street dog, seen under the designer bag with the lion's face -- in the penultimate photo -- the photographer's site includes this comment exchange:

--I hope he is alive.

--Yes He was Alive

--he looks ill.

--I think yes but he walk around the street beside my house and every night he come and sleep at the ground of my house

--He needs water and food. Maybe you can help him.

--Yes we did

--I think his dream is to become a lion one day.

Friday, 14 April 2017

Andrew Marvell: The Definition of Love (Impossible Geometries) / Haruspex (Out there)

4 comments: