Pound
What to say about Ezra Pound? A fascist he was. Broadcasting his anti-semitic views to the world on the Italian radio, when Mussolini still reigned.
Yet, a poet he was as well before all this. And an influential one for that. It took me years to acknowledge great poems doesn’t necessarily have to be written by great men. But, there you have it.
All the recordings of his work can be found here. Like that hypnotic 45th Canto.
Canto XLV
With usura hath no man a house of good stone
each block cut smooth and well fitting
that design might cover their face,with usura
hath no man a painted paradise on his church wall
harpes et luthes
or where virgin receiveth message
and halo projects from incision,with usura
seeth no man Gonzaga his heirs and his concubines
no picture is made to endure nor to live with
but it is made to sell and sell quicklywith usura, sin against nature,
is thy bread ever more of stale rags
is thy bread dry as paper,
with no mountain wheat, no strong flourwith usura the line grows thick
with usura is no clear demarcation
and no man can find site for his dwelling
Stone cutter is kept from his stone
weaver is kept from his loomWITH USURA
wool comes not to market
sheep bringeth no grain with usura
Usura is a murrain, usura
blunteth the needle in the the maid’s hand
and stoppeth the spinner’s cunning. Pietro Lombardo
came not by usura
Duccio came not by usura
nor Pier della Francesca; Zuan Bellin’ not by usura
nor was “La Callunia” painted.
Came not by usura Angelico; came not Ambrogio Praedis,
Came no church of cut stone signed: Adamo me fecit.Not by usura St. Trophime
Not by usura St. Hilaire,
Usura rusteth the chisel
It rusteth the craft and the craftsman
It gnaweth the thread in the loom
None learneth to weave gold in her pattern;
Azure hath a canker by usura; cramoisi is unbroidered
Emerald findeth no MemlingUsura slayeth the child in the womb
It stayeth the young man’s courting
It hath brought palsey to bed, lyeth
between the young bride and her bridegroomCONTRA NATURAM
They have brought whores for Eleusis
Corpses are set to banquetat behest of usura.
[x]#2660 fan dinsdag 10 april 2007 @ 21:33:24
Jan Marien op 11 april 2007 @ 17:54:03
In één van de afleveringen van Inspector Morse is de chief inspector ontgoocheld over het karakter van een operazangeres die hij zo bewonderde.
Sergeant Lewis zegt hem:
“My dad used to love football, but he didn’t like footballers. You have to keep the people who do things apart from what they do; that’s what he said.”