“Black-eyed Susan” and “Sweet William” are not only the protagonists of Gay’s ballad, but the also the names given to two flowering plants.It is said if they are sown together, they will bloom at the same time to celebrate their eternal love for each other. And they look lovely together, combining her golden yellow and… Read More Black-Eyed Susan & Sweet William/2 (wildflowers)
William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, was born at Sandymount (near Dublin, Ireland) on 13 June 1865. In 1923 received the Nobel Prize for Literature. “Brown Penny” 🪙 I whispered, “I am too young,”And then, “I am old enough”;Wherefore I threw a pennyTo find out if I might love.“Go… Read More Brown Penny
Cassandro, whom some of you know, sent me this beautiful poem to translate into English. As you know, it is easier for me to translate from English, which is not my mother tongue, into Italian. I have had problems with the rhymes and the form, so I’m asking you for help . Do you have… Read More Asking for help
Margaret Fuller – born on 23rd of May 1810 – was an American writer and critic one of the earliest supporters of the women’s rights movement.She was the first professional woman journalist of note in America and wrote influential essays on various social issues some of which were collected in the book “Papers on Literature… Read More Margaret Fuller: an American in Rome
In addition to the legend of Cupid, (see here) there are other myths related pansies and violetsAccording to Greek mythology, Zeus, the king of the gods, fell in love with a beautiful young woman named Io, who lived in Argos, in central Greece.In order not to be discovered by his wife Hera while he was… Read More Violets/2 – Other myths: Zeus and Io (first part)
The pansy, botanically known as viola tricolor, is one of the many plants that William Shakespeare references in his plays.It is a flower that has inspired a variety of legends, one of which is mentioned in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, a play set in Athens, full of amorous intrigues, a fairy wood and various whimsical… Read More Violets and Pansies/1 (Love-in-idleness)
“The darling buds of May” mentioned in one of Shakespeare’s sonnet refer to the blooming flowers that begin to grow after winter has ended. SONNET 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer’s lease hath all too short a… Read More The Darling Buds of May
Today is Stevie Wonder’s birthday: American singer-songwriter and musician Stevland Hardaway Morris was born on 13 May 1950 in Michigan.He became blind shortly after his birth, because, having been born six weeks premature, he was placed in an incubator which contained too much oxygen , resulting in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an eye disorder caused… Read More Stevie Wonder’s Sunshine ☀️🎶
In November 1545, Pietro Aretino wrote another letter to Michelangelo expressing his admiration for the Last Judgment, but later accusing him of being irreligious and indecent because “You, on the contrary, presenting so awful a subject, exhibit saints and angels, these without earthly decency, and those without celestial honours.” The letter continued disapproving of Michelangelo’s… Read More Pietro Aretino & Michelangelo/3
Louise Glück, born on 22 April 1943, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2020. “First Memory” Long ago, I was wounded. I livedto revenge myselfagainst my father, notfor what he was—for what I was: from the beginning of time,in childhood, I thoughtthat pain meantI was not loved.It meant I loved. “First Memory” is… Read More Happy Birthday, Louise Glück!
words and music and stories 