bLOGOS/HA HA: Bridge of Sighs

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.

05 January 2021

Bridge of Sighs

then

if shit

then mud

if the reflecting under-can of Manzoni

then the bog-free aspiration of Rengetsu

The Buddhist nun, poet and potter Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875),
her chosen name Rengetsu translates as Lotus Moon.
The lotus begins life in the dark settlement of obscuration, in mud,
then grows towards the clearer water realm above,
and, beyond that, reaches and opens for the bright moon of the enlightened mind.
Her name reflects her aspiration, so too her vessels formed of mud

and fire.