A late poem by Auden written in response to the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the ending of the “Prague Spring,” a turn shorter than most of even that most quicksilver season.

WORK

“August 1968”

The Ogre does what ogres can,
Deeds quite impossible for Man,
But one prize is beyond his reach,
The Ogre cannot master Speech.

About a subjugated plain,
Among its desperate and slain,
The Ogre stalks with hands on hips
While drivel gushes from his lips.

—W. H. Auden
—from Selected Poems

WORD(S)

flimmer. verb. To flicker or burn unsteadily. Origin: onomatopoeic; see glimmer, flicker and German flimmern.

“Upwards the lamp’s eternal light doth flimmer.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, trans. Webb)

“The shafts across her bed are flimmering.” (Carl Sandburg)

WEB

1. If you’ve read any classic Russian novels in English, you’ve probably read some of Constance Garnett’s translations. An interesting article on the history of Tolstoy in translation that centers on Garnett. As of 2005, the translation wars raged on. Hint: they still do, despite the incredible work of Pevear and Volokhonsky.

2. Watching Seyit Uygur practice the art of Turkish paper marbling is spellbinding.

3. More panoramic photos gone wrong…this time an even more disturbing selection.

4. Following the book I will always now think of as the “beshytten” book, another interesting volume: the Corruptae Latinitatis Index: Or, a Collection of Barbarous Words and Phrases, which are Found in the Works of the Most Celebrated Modern Writers in Latin. With an Alphabetical Table, Shewing, what Words and Phrases, Taken from the Classics, Would Have Clearly and Fully Answered Their Purpose.

5. Today in 1968, 5000,000 troops from the Soviet Union, East Germany and other members of the Warsaw Pact (except, notably, Romania) invade Czechoslovakia, ending the “Prague Spring” of liberalization started by Alexander Dubček earlier that year.

REPRISES/RESPONSES/REJOINDERS/RIPOSTES

Reader F. writes re: the Groucho Marx line “Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light”:

I’m sure you know the Leonard Cohen lyric that ends “There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” I don’t know which came first, not that it matters. Louise Penny has played on that line in a couple of her wonderful Inspector Gamache books, most clearly in the last one, titled How the Light Gets In. An earlier one is titled A Trick of the Light. For her devoted fans (count me in), there is a new Gamache coming out next week! She is a treasure, whether you are a mystery reader or not.

Reader B. muses: “Grock… I wonder if that’s the first time for that joke.” I don’t know. I also wondered if Heinlein heard the joke using that particular name…

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/.