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.
.
Dream of some weeks ago
standing
on sand
at sea's edge
watching
waves of script
rolling in
from the horizon
wondering
what they say
who writes them
who might translate them to me
A week ago
8.9 earthquake under the sea off NE Japan
terrible tsunami smashes coast - tens of thousands dead
6 Fukushima uranium/plutonium plants in increasing crisis
Today
with snow falling and the overnight temp at -5 degrees
with relief teams from abroad joining those from Japan
this old trade card tableau of regard reads anew
detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...
LOGOS/HA HA
