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Tamoghna Biswas's Reviews > Song of Myself
Song of Myself
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“You mean you're comparing our lives to a sonnet? A strict form, but freedom within it? Yes. Mrs. Whatsit said. You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you.�
� Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time: With Related Readings
Take one:
Do you guess I have some intricate purpose?
Well I have, for the Fourth-month showers have, and the mica on the side of a rock has.
Do you take it I would astonish?
Does the daylight astonish? does the early redstart twittering through the woods?
Do I astonish more than they?
This hour I tell things in confidence,
I might not tell everybody, but I will tell you.
Or,
I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul,
The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me,
The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into new tongue.
I am the poet of the woman the same as the man,
And it is as great to be a woman as to be a man,
And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of men.
I chant the chant of dilation or pride,
We have had ducking or deprecating about enough,
I show that size is only development.
Have you outstript the rest? are you the President?
It is a trifle, they will more than arrive there every one, and still pass on.
I better stop before I write down the entire book in quotes. Fabulous as it is, it still has more nagging questions than the most. I read it the first time around 15, still a lavish and luscious treat for the day. I will read and reread even on my deathbed (if possible).
� Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time: With Related Readings
Take one:
Do you guess I have some intricate purpose?
Well I have, for the Fourth-month showers have, and the mica on the side of a rock has.
Do you take it I would astonish?
Does the daylight astonish? does the early redstart twittering through the woods?
Do I astonish more than they?
This hour I tell things in confidence,
I might not tell everybody, but I will tell you.
Or,
I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul,
The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me,
The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into new tongue.
I am the poet of the woman the same as the man,
And it is as great to be a woman as to be a man,
And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of men.
I chant the chant of dilation or pride,
We have had ducking or deprecating about enough,
I show that size is only development.
Have you outstript the rest? are you the President?
It is a trifle, they will more than arrive there every one, and still pass on.
I better stop before I write down the entire book in quotes. Fabulous as it is, it still has more nagging questions than the most. I read it the first time around 15, still a lavish and luscious treat for the day. I will read and reread even on my deathbed (if possible).
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Song of Myself.
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Reading Progress
February 9, 2021
–
Started Reading
February 9, 2021
– Shelved
February 10, 2021
– Shelved as:
poetry
February 10, 2021
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
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message 1:
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Anne
(new)
Feb 10, 2021 04:36AM
Beautiful.
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Anne wrote: "Beautiful."Yeah, it is, Anne :)
If I had to choose, I'd select the first but they're both beautiful. I'm curious, Tamoghna, why you aren't giving books stars anymore?
Jenna wrote: "If I had to choose, I'd select the first but they're both beautiful. I'm curious, Tamoghna, why you aren't giving books stars anymore?"
Thanks Jenna, the first one is also more favorite of mine. I do feel Whitman has some of the best free verses ever written.
About the rating. I just feel a bit burdened with the task of rating...for most of the times I end up unable to create sharp distinction between 2 books, like if I rate a classic 3 and a relatively lesser known work 3, they hardly can mean the same to me but anyone else may sense a bit of empathy. So, why not allow the words to speak for themselves? It does sound convenient.., :)
"I will read and reread even on my deathbed (if possible)." You should put this on your Favorites bookshelf, Tamoghna, if you have one! No stars??
Tamoghna wrote: "Jenna wrote: "If I had to choose, I'd select the first but they're both beautiful. I'm curious, Tamoghna, why you aren't giving books stars anymore?"
Thanks Jenna, the first one is also more fav..."
I have just read your reply to Jenna re: ratings. Try not to compare books. Rather, think of the rating like a rubric based on ŷ (or your own) criteria for each book alone. That's how I would rate a student's work - I based it on how they met the requirements of the curriculum, not on a fellow student's work.
