Neither plenitude nor vacancy. Only a flicker
The first of T. S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets,” Burnt Norton.
Over the strained time-ridden faces
Distracted from distraction by distraction
Filled with fancies and empty of meaning
Tumid apathy with no concentration
Men and bits of paper, whirled by the cold wind
That blows before and after time,
Wind in and out of unwholesome lungs
Time before time and after.
A forum for discussing matters of moment, from a curmudgeonly perspective. (The ideas posted here do not necessarily represent those of any organization with which I am a part). Rude and insulting remarks will not be published, but civil disagreement is welcome.
Fellow Curmudgeons,
ReplyDeleteI read Four Quartets while cleaning up a meatpacking plant in Iowa, along with cutting hams up.
The despair and ache for something else facinated me. The poem brought more puzzaling than enlightenment. A great post!
I had an idea about the calminian debate. Couldn't a God's eye view of our future earthly and heavenly co-concide with an open view of a humanly apprehension of either heaven or hell? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Doug a great post! I read Four Quartets whil working in a meatpacking plant 30 years ago. Didn' make much sense.. Sure does now.
ReplyDeleteI have and idea about calminianism, it might be that
god has an God's eye view of our destiny but we humans only an open theology view. We, then might have a apprehension of heaven or hell that is yet to be decided.