Delmore Schwartz: To Helen (After Valéry)

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FRANCE - A woman approaches a swan at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. By @MartinBureau1 #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

 
Delmore Schwartz: To Helen

                  (After Valéry)

O Sea! … ’Tis I, risen from death once more
To hear the waves’ harmonious roar
And see the galleys, sharp, in dawn’s great awe
Raised from the dark by the rising and gold oar.

My fickle hands sufficed to summon kings
Their salt beards amused my fingers, deft and pure.
I wept. They sang of triumphs now obscure:
And the first abyss flooded the hull as if with falling wings.

I hear the profound horns and trumpets of war
Matching the rhythm, swinging of the flying oars:
The galleys’ chant enchains the foam of sound;
And the gods, exalted at the heroic prow,
E’en though the spit of spray insults each smiling brow,
Beckon to me, with arms indulgent, frozen, sculptured,
              and dead long long ago.

Delmore Schwartz (1913-1966): To Helen (after Valery), from The New York Times, 1962

#refugees and #migrants try to escape from a sinking boat off shore #Libya. 113 people rescued from this boat,15 missing, one baby 3yo: image via Aris Messinis @ArisMessinis, 25 October 2016

#refugees and #migrants try to escape from a sinking boat off shore #Libya. 113 people rescued from this boat,15 missing, one baby 3yo: image via Aris Messinis @ArisMessinis, 25 October 2016

Rescue operation of a sinking boat as #refugees and #migrants try to cross to Europe, off shore Libya.113 rescued,15 missing and one baby 3yo: image via Aris Messinis @ArisMessinis, 25 October 2016

FRANCE - Fire to keep migrants warm at night burns as a French officer stands on guard at the #CalaisJungle camp By François Nascimbeni #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016
 

GAZA CITY - A Palestinian fisherman from Gaza releases his net off the coast of Gaza City. By @mohmdabed #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

YEMEN - 18-year-old woman sits in a wheelchair at the hospital where she is receiving treatment for malnutrition in Hodeida. By @AFPphoto: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016 

FRANCE - Migrants gather around a bonfire in the "Jungle" migrant camp at sunset in Calais. By Francois Lo Presti #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016 

Iraq: Coalition huddles as forces inch towards Mosul: image via Al Jazeera News @AJE News, 25 October 2016

France begins dismantling Calais 'Jungle' refugee camp as hundreds are evacuated: image via Al Jazeera News @AJE News, 25 October 2016

FRANCE - Partial view of the #CalaisJungle camp taken late during the demolition of the camp in Calais. By François Nascimbeni #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

FRANCE - A migrant walks past a shack set on fire during the demolition of the #CalaisJungle camp in Calais. By Philippe Huguen #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

Una estatua de bronce en homenaje al famoso gato Tombili, en el barrio de Ziverbey de Estambul #AFP @ozannkosee: image via Agence France-Presse @AFPespanol, 25 October 2016 

  displaced by the battle between Iraqi forces and #IslamicState in #Mosul #Iraq take refuge in #qayyarah @Kilicbil @AFPhoto: image via SundayTimesPictures @STPictures, 25 October 2016
 

#Iraq Families displaced by the battle between Iraqi forces and IS in #Mosul take refuge in #qayarrah #AFP Photo by #Kilicbil @AFPphoto: image via Aurelia BAILLY @Aurelia BAILLY, 25 October 2016

 

 La huida de Mosul, en fotos de @Kilicbil (Afp): image via ElMundoInter @ElMundoInter, 25 October 2016


Los civiles sufren la "guerra del humo" del grupo Estado Islámico alrededor de Mosul #AFP: image via Agence France-Presse @AFPespanol, 25 October 2016

Syrian government forces walk in the strategic area of the Bazo hilltop, north of Khan Tuman on the southern outskirts of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo as they advance in the ongoing offensive to the seize rebel-held eastern part of the city.: photo by Georges Ourfalian/AFP, 25 October 2016

Syrian government forces walk in the strategic area of the Bazo hilltop, north of Khan Tuman on the southern outskirts of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo as they advance in the ongoing offensive to the seize rebel-held eastern part of the city.: photo by Georges Ourfalian/AFP, 25 October 2016

SYRIA - Syrian government forces walk in the strategic area of the Bazo hilltop, north of Khan Tuman. By George Ourfalian #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard @fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

A police officer stands guard after migrants burn down a shelter as authorities move in to clear the Jungle migrant camp in Calais, France. Migrants are leaving the Jungle migrant and refugee camp by coach for a second day as French authorities clear the camp of an estimated 7000 people ahead of its demolition.: photo by Jack Taylor, 25 October 2016

 

A police officer stands guard after migrants burn down a shelter as authorities move in to clear the Jungle migrant camp in Calais, France. Migrants are leaving the Jungle migrant and refugee camp by coach for a second day as French authorities clear the camp of an estimated 7000 people ahead of its demolition.: photo by Jack Taylor, 25 October 2016

 

Migrants queue to board buses and leave the notorious “Jungle” camp before authorities demolish the site in Calais, France. Many migrants have left by coach to be relocated at centres across France as Police and officials in France begin to clear the ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in Calais. Some 7,000 people are estimated to be living in the camp in squalid conditions.: photo Christopher Furlong, 25 October 2016

Migrants queue to board buses and leave the notorious “Jungle” camp before authorities demolish the site in Calais, France. Many migrants have left by coach to be relocated at centres across France as Police and officials in France begin to clear the ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in Calais. Some 7,000 people are estimated to be living in the camp in squalid conditions.: photo Christopher Furlong, 25 October 2016

hepimiz tombili nin göbeğiyiz ölmekle bitmeyiz. @kadikoybelediye: image via ateshirsizi @atesinhirsizi, 3 October 2016 

Tombili: Istanbul cat and worldwide meme honoured with statue: Kadıköy's deputy mayor said in the inauguration ceremony that 17,000 people had demanded a memorial sculpture: Bethan McKernan, The Independent, 4 October 2016

‘Tombili’, a rotund cat beloved by Istanbul’s Ziverbey neighbourhood, has been commemorated by the city authorities after local demand for a tribute to his memory. 

Tombili -- a Turkish word often used for chubby pets -- was known by residents of Ziverbey, part of the district of Kadıköy, for his nonchalant demeanour towards people who wanted to play with him. The cat became world famous earlier this year after a photo of him reclining in one of his favourite spots on the pavement was shared thousands of times on social media.

Many users edited the image with jokey captions or Photoshopped glasses of alcohol or other vices in front of him. 

The cat found fame late in life, dying in August after a mystery month-long illness, Hurriyet News reported his owners as saying.

Flyers around the neighbourhood mourning his loss reading, “You will live on in our hearts, mascot of our street” appeared before the idea for a more permanent tribute took hold. 

A change dot org petition which gathered 17,000 signatures asked for Kadıköy Municipality to officially commemorate Tombili’s contribution to public life, and local sculptor Seval 
Şahin agreed to make a bronze sculpture recreating the cat’s famous pose.  

The statue was inaugurated on October 4, World Animal Day. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects, leaving candles, cat food and flowers. The event was covered by Turkish TV. 

At the ceremony, Kadıköy deputy mayor Başar Necipoğlu thanked the animal lovers of the area for making the memorial possible. 

Istanbul’s love affair with cats is well documented: the city is home to hundreds of thousands of strays which are well looked after by locals.

“If you kill a cat, you need to build a mosque to gain God’s forgiveness,” is how one Turkish saying goes. It is thought to originate from a folktale about the Prophet Mohammed’s favourite pet, a cat called Muezza.

Rather than disturb the cat sleeping on the sleeve of his prayer robe, Mohammed used scissors to cut the sleeve off and leave her undisturbed. 

In another version of the story, Muezza saved the prophet from a deadly snake. When he stroked her back in thanks, cats earned their ability to always land on their feet.

Bir Tombili kac yılda yetişiyor farkında mısınız? Teşekkürler @kadikoybelediye si: image via ateshirsizi @atesinhirsizi, 3 October 2016

TURKEY - The silhouettes of Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) and Hagia Sophia at sunset in Istanbul. By @ozannkosee #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

TURKEY - The Suleymaniye Mosque lit up at sunset in Istanbul. By @ozannkosee #AFP: image via Frédérique Geffard ‏@fgeffardAFP, 25 October 2016

Supplies were set out Monday near Qaiyara, south of Mosul, for Iraqis expected to be displaced by the government operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State: photo by Bulent Kilic/Agence France-Presse, 24 October 2016

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Supplies were set out Monday near Qaiyara, south of Mosul, for Iraqis expected to be displaced by the government operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State: photo by Bulent Kilic/Agence France-Presse, 24 October 2016



 Families who were displaced by the operation to retake Mosul, on Monday near Qayyarah, Iraq: photo by Bulent Kilic/Agence France-Presse, 24 October 2016

 

Families who were displaced by the operation to retake Mosul, on Monday near Qayyarah, Iraq: photo by Bulent Kilic/Agence France-Presse, 24 October 2016

A model presents a creation by K Fashion Project during the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week in Beijing: photo by Andy Wong/AP, 26 October 2016
 


A model presents a creation by K Fashion Project during the Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week in Beijing: photo by Andy Wong/AP, 26 October 2016

A man applies paint on a tomb at the Barangka Cemetery in Marikina, east of Manila days ahead of the traditional All Souls’ Day. Millions across the Philippines will visit cemeteries to pay their respects to their dead, in an annual tradition that combines catholic religious rites with the country’s penchant for festivity.: photo by Noel Celis/AFP, 26 October 2016

A man applies paint on a tomb at the Barangka Cemetery in Marikina, east of Manila days ahead of the traditional All Souls’ Day. Millions across the Philippines will visit cemeteries to pay their respects to their dead, in an annual tradition that combines catholic religious rites with the country’s penchant for festivity.: photo by Noel Celis/AFP, 26 October 2016

Clouds float above the Castle of Somosko near Salgotarjan, 109 kms northeast of Budapest, Hungary: photo by Peter Komka/MTI/AP, 26 October 2016



Clouds float above the Castle of Somosko near Salgotarjan, 109 kms northeast of Budapest, Hungary: photo by Peter Komka/MTI/AP, 26 October 2016

 

The installation ‘Zeitfeld’ by Klaus Rinke in Duesseldorf, Germany. The European Summer Time ends on October 30 when clocks will be set back one hour during the night.: photo by Maja Hitij/EPA, 26 October 2016 



The installation ‘Zeitfeld’ by Klaus Rinke in Duesseldorf, Germany. The European Summer Time ends on October 30 when clocks will be set back one hour during the night.: photo by Maja Hitij/EPA, 26 October 2016