American writer and political activist Susan Sontag was born on 16 January 1933 (see here) Her journals and notebooks, which totalled close to one hundred by the time of her death, at age seventy-one in 2004 were edited and published by her son David Rieff.“My desire to write is connected with my homosexuality. I need… Read More Susan Sontag’s Diaries
Speriamo sia giunto il momentodi accantonare le tristezze del passatoper iniziare un nuovo periodo beatoPossa il mio augurio portarvi amore, felicitàe molta gioia in quest’anno che verrà! I hope the time has arrivedto put the past asideand start a new rideMay my wish bring you love, cheerand bliss in this coming year!
“The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?” Pablo Casals (29 December 1876 –1973), Spanish cellist, conductor, and composer.He was awarded the U.N. Peace Medal in recognition of his stance for peace, justice and freedom on 24 October 1971, two months before his 95th birthday. Here… Read More Pablo Casals 🎻
Here you can read the previous parts:Shakespeare’s two Annes: 1. Anne Hathaway & Daughters (first part)Shakespeare’s two Annes: 1. Anne Hathaway & Daughters (second part)Shakespeare’s two Annes: 1. Anne Hathaway & Sonnet 145 (third part) Anne Hathaway ‘Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed…’(from Shakespeare’s will) The bed we loved in was… Read More Shakespeare’s two Annes: 1. Carol Ann Duffy’s Anne Hathaway (fourth part)
Sonnet 145 One of Shakespeare’s sonnets, number 145, has been claimed to refer to Anne Hathaway through the words “hate away”, which may be a pun (in Elizabethan pronunciation) on “Hathaway”. Also the following words, “And saved my life”, would have been indistinguishable in pronunciation from “Anne saved my life”. This sonnet, which is placed… Read More Shakespeare’s two Annes: 1. Anne Hathaway & Sonnet 145 (third part)
There are two documents that record the marriage of William Shakespeare and Anne but they are dissimilar. On 28 November 1582 a 40-pound bond was paid to the Bishop of Worcester to obtain William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s marriage license (see here). It was a sworn statement which confirmed that there were were no impediments… Read More The Confusion about Shakespeare’s Marriage
Two Lovers Two lovers by a moss-grown spring:They leaned soft cheeks together there,Mingled the dark and sunny hair,And heard the wooing thrushes sing.O budding time!O love’s blest prime! Two wedded from the portal stept:The bells made happy carolings,The air was soft as fanning wings,White petals on the pathway slept.O pure-eyed bride!O tender pride! Two faces… Read More True Love
Shel Silverstein (author of The Father of a Boy Named Sue and Zebra Question) wrote this lovely poem, based on a play on words, promoting friendship and peace. I will not play at tug o’ war.I’d rather play at hug o’ war,Where everyone hugsInstead of tugs,Where everyone gigglesAnd rolls on the rug,Where everyone kisses,And everyone… Read More Friendship: “Tug O’War”
In his Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman (1774), and Letters to His Godson (1890), Lord Chesterfield (see here) gave also the following advice on love and marriage: Love has been not unaptly compared to the small-pox, which most people have sooner or later.… Read More Lord Chesterfield’s Advice (part 2)
Yesterday’s full moon, the closest to the September equinox, was the Harvest Moon. Our friend Pat / e-Quips published a wonderful post about it: you can read it here , and also Lara Ferri wrote about it in the post you can find here In the Northern Hemisphere the Harvest Moon is astronomically significant because… Read More Under the Harvest Moon
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