David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


16 July 2010

Put your apple in the air

.
In the current edition of The Monthly there's another Woman with a Granny Smith story. But before that...

The Battle for Bennelong: Round Two
by NICK BRYANT
Begins thus :
The event is part of “Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea” and alongside the refreshment tables are stalls weighed down with embroidered cushions, fitted sheets, homemade cakes and back issues of Australian Country Craft magazine, as well as plenty of unwanted kitsch from the neighbouring cul-de-sacs and avenues, such as an empty picture frame, as yet unpurchased, emblazoned with the words “Gold Coast”.

Supreme Goddess as Void,
with projection-space for image


Opposite this opening sentence, this opening scene setter, The Monthly print version reproduces full page a familiar photo of 2007 Labor candidate Maxine McKew campaigning in enthusiastic dance extension. There's something I'd not noticed before...



♩♪♫
Put your apple in the air
like you just don't

care



detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

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