“History is more my quarry, or poetry, which I love with particular affection. For as Cleanthes said, just as sound, when pent up in the narrow channel of a trumpet, comes out sharper or stronger, so it seems to me that a thought, when compressed into the numbered feet of poetry, springs forth much more violently and strikes me a much stiffer jolt.”
Still, in the little note I found, this quote is handwritten and signed ‘MWC.’ I still think it’s Billy Collins’s handwriting. Well, why not? Anything else is less interesting!
And I’m still hunting for my tapestry notes!
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3 comments:
You know, the name Cleanthes just sounds like someone sent along to nag one about spring cleaning. Even tho' (s)he does say pretty words about poetry.
Cleanthes: one of the reasons I love Billy Collins's poem "Forgetfulness" is that it describes me so well (and don't we all feel that?). Not only have I forgotten books I've read, but as a student of Classics, someone who loves the muses, I am rather quickly forgetting everything I ever knew about them....including their names!
So I thought Cleanthes was one of the muses, which made me love the name...didn't I even realize it is not a female name? NO! It turns out HE was a philosopher from the early 3rd century.
Forgetfulness must someday become rather pleasant when you no longer remember how much you've forgotten!
What a fabulous gift of poetry you're sharing with us! I am not very good at reading poetry - I am lazy and like best to have it read to me. I'm a great fan of Montaigne too. I wish I could sit in my room and write pungent essays... well, I guess that's what blogs are for.
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