This old postcard is in honor of my most loyal Old Postcard Wednesday reader, author of the unique blog Don't Feed the Pixies, and his lady love, Herself -- two of the finest ever citizens of England, whether England of Old or the modern U.K. Thank you for another year of your warm friendship.
A new book I ordered just arrived in the mail on Tuesday. It is titled Poetry for the Spirit--Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty, edited by Alan Jacobs. From the back cover:
This is the greatest anthology of spiritual poetry that has ever been collected. The sheer range of the source material is extraordinary: it spans all ages from the very early mystics more than 4,000 years ago right through to the 20th century and includes contributions from every spiritual tradition - from every age.I began paging through the book in hopes of finding a poem written around the time of the scene pictured in this postcard (1475). I found this one that resonated for me in Part 3: Fourteenth Century to Fifteenth Century.
See what you think.....
'Arrival to the Oxford market': Anonymous (XIII century--a bit ahead
of the postcard scene)
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10 comments:
The postcard seems as though they could be singing! that is a great way to blend with ones fellows-
The book sounds great- let us know!
Hey :)
Well thanks for the shout out and the fab postcard - it makes me think of all that funny language that you always hear in historical movies - phrases like i'faith and mine n'uncle and people being hit on the head with a bladder on a stick (that's what jesters used to use)
And of course some quotes:
Blackadder II: "And no saying gadzooks. It's only a small step from gadzooks to Hey Nonny Nonny, and then i'm afraid i shall have to call the guards"
And the hilarious minstrels in Monty Python's Holy Grail:
Brave Sir Robin ran away, bravely ran away away. He's chickening out and buggering off...
always a pleasure reading OPW
i'm struck by the vibrant color in the postcard, lydia. wow. i can so easily imagine being there...
i am not at a place to resonate with the poem, and i'm surprised to say that! this way of writing about nature to reflect universal feelings makes me question either the age (when life was truly not so complicated?) or the person (really?!)
thoughtful interesting post ms lydia. happy holidays. i hope all is well.
♥
kj
Wow, what a neat postcard. The poem is wonderful, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more from your new book :)
That books sounds amazing!
oh, it sounds like a great book! and what a beautiful poem :)
I spent a few days in England when I was sixteen, and have been longing to go back ever since!
izzy~ ". . .a great way to blend with ones fellows-" is how it struck me too. The book looks like a good one. :) Mysticism interests me, so there's lots there to delve into.
Pixies~ And, I must add, always a pleasure reading your comments on these OPW posts. They serve to enhance the cards in so many ways. You have a very esoteric knowledge and present it in such delightful ways.:)
kj~ That is perfectly fine for you to not care for the poem and even finer for you to share your opinions! That whole "Gee!Golly!" sense is found in lots of mystical poetry. I noticed there are some poems by Ted Hughes in the 20th century part. I just wouldn't expect his work to have that same gushing sense. :)
Looking to the Stars~ So fun to have you here! Glad you enjoyed the postcard. As for the book, I'll probably share more down the line. This is one, btw, that I cannot imagine reading on a tablet!
Mama Zen~ It is quite a compilation. I read too late last night...it's one of those.
Amber Lee~ Thanks for commenting on the poem. It just quietly appealed to my party side, if that makes any sense at all!
What a great trip you had as a young girl; no doubt you will be back in your adulthood...I hope so!
What a very cool post--from postcard to music. I enjoyed it very much, Lydia, especially the mystical poem--it seemed a bit Sufi-like to me, and that whole idea, of being in society even when you seem alone, is a very comforting one. Thanks also for your kind and thoughtful comment at my place today.
huh intriguing poem...so the book is good? you have had a chance to go through it a bit more?
hedgewitch~ Sorry to miss your comment when it first came through. You have been in my thoughts, most definitely.
Thanks for your comment.
Brian~ Yes, the book is good. I've been reading a random bit each night. There is poetry in there that I certainly never heard of before, some of it very beautiful, some of it puzzling. I definitely am learning about some new poets down through the ages, and reading heartfelt expressions from religious traditions I might never have read.
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