In Walden, Thoreau remarks that “there is an incessant influx of novelty into the world, and yet we tolerate incredible dulness.” And so we do, whether from simple preoccupation, sloth, cynicism or just being overwhelmed. I hope, occasionally, this very newsletter helps shine a light on some of the novelty that might otherwise go unnoticed.

WORK

"I see life as a roadside inn where I have to stay until the coach from the abyss pulls up. I don’t know where it will take me, because I don’t know anything. I could see this inn as a prison, for I’m compelled to wait in it; I could see it as a social centre, for it’s here that I meet others. But I’m neither impatient nor common. I leave who will to stay shut up in their rooms, sprawled out on beds where they sleeplessly wait, and I leave who will to chat in the parlours, from where their songs and voices conveniently drift out here to me. I’m sitting at the door, feasting my eyes and ears on the colours and sounds of the landscape, and I softly sing — for myself alone — wispy songs I compose while waiting.

Night will fall on us all and the coach will pull up. I enjoy the breeze I’m given and the soul I was given to enjoy it with, and I no longer question or seek. If what I write in the book of travellers can, when read by others at some future date, also entertain them on their journey, then fine. If they don’t read it, or are not entertained, that’s fine too."

—Fernando Pessoa
—from The Book of Disquiet

WORD(S)

syzygy /SIZ-i-jee/. syzygy. The conjunction or opposition of two astronomical bodies, particularly involving the Sun, so usually the Sun and the moon (new moon and full moon). A pair of connected or correlative things. The combination of two feet in one meter, such as iamb (du-DUM), trochee (DUM-du), and spondee (DUM-DUM). In biology, the conjunction of two organisms without either losing their identity. Also, a mathematical concept I can’t really understand, much less explain plainly. From the Greek syzygia: a pair of yoked animals, a union of two.

“…the Gallian moon rose upon the western horizon, it was observed that she had entered upon her last quarter. She had taken only four days to pass from syzygy to quadrature” (Jules Verne)

“…for no one who has once appreciated Coleridge’s command of vowel-syzygy and the velvet-like texture of his blank verse can refuse him…” (A. H. Cruickshank)

“That the confluence of perihelion and syzygy would levitate the oceans. That the sky was falling—” (Martin Amis)

WEB

1. Kate Gavino’s illustrated quotations — particularly her pairings of philosophers and rappers, such as Honore & Kanye and Victor Hugo & Jay-Z.

2. A Singaporean theme park designed to illustrate Chinese myth and history, begun in 1937 and interrupted—permanently—by the Japanese invasion and ethnic cleansing of 25,000 Chinese remains in a curious, compelling, occasionally disturbing form.

3. The strange true story of the first atlas, with plenty of pictures.

4. ▶ Ex Libris: Bookplates from the Libraries of the Rich and Famous.

5. Today in 1854, Henry David Thoreau publishes Walden, describing his retreat to Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Watch a short “kinetic typography” rendition of Thoreau’s poem “Epitaph on the World”. Or read about how Thoreau started a forest fire, was labelled the “woods burner” and might have fled to Walden out of guilt and to escape ignominy.

REPRISES/RESPONSES/REJOINDERS/RIPOSTES

• Reader A. writes to thank me for the Larry Eigner poem and request “more of whatever that kind of poetry is.” Well, A., the older I get the less useful I find categorization of poems, so I don’t know what to call “that kind” of poetry either. But I will share more concrete/visual/etc. poems in the future. I’m trying to strike a balance between many genres so no one gets (too) bored!

I welcome comments, suggestions, thoughts, feedback and all manner of what-have-you. Just press ‘Reply’ or email to: clippings@katexic.com.

And please feel free to share anything here as far and wide as you want! If you want to give a shout-out, please link to: http://katexic.com/clippings/.