tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post7232216380040440685..comments2024-03-26T11:33:59.219-06:00Comments on Religion in American History: Hearing ThingsPaul Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881964303772343114noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-74700011015701863052008-05-19T11:57:00.000-06:002008-05-19T11:57:00.000-06:00Paul, I am so sorry for your grief. Your post and...Paul, I am so sorry for your grief. Your post and your review put me in mind of a favorite poem by Denise Levertov that I came across again yesterday:<BR/><BR/><BR/>Human being - walking<BR/>in doubt from childhood on: walking<BR/><BR/>a ledge of slippery stone in the world's woods<BR/>deep-layered with wet leaves - rich or sad: on one<BR/>side of the path, ecstasy, on the other<BR/>dull grief. Walking<BR/><BR/>the mind's imperial cities, roofed-over alleys,<BR/>thoroughfares, wide boulevards<BR/>that hold evening primrose of sky in steady calipers.<BR/><BR/>Always the mind<BR/>walking, working, stopping sometimes to kneel<BR/>in awe of beauty, sometimes leaping, filled with the energy<BR/>of delight, but never able to pass<BR/>the wall, the wall<BR/>of brick that crumbles and is replaced,<BR/>of twisted iron,<BR/>of rock,<BR/>the wall that speaks, saying monotonously:<BR/><BR/>Children and animals<BR/>who cannot learn<BR/>anything from suffering,<BR/>suffer, are tortured, die<BR/>in incomprehension.<BR/><BR/>This human being, each night nevertheless<BR/>summoning - with a breath blown at a flame,<BR/>or hand's touch<BR/>on the lamp-switch - darkness,<BR/>silently utters,<BR/>impelled as if by a need to cup the palms<BR/>and drink from a river,<BR/>the words, "Thanks.<BR/>Thanks for this day, a day of my life.'<BR/>And wonders.<BR/>Pulls up the blankets, looking<BR/>into nowhere, always in doubt.<BR/>And takes strange pleasure<BR/>in having repeated once more the childish formula,<BR/>a pleasure in what is seemly.<BR/>And drifts to sleep, downstream<BR/>on murmuring currents of doubt and praise,<BR/>the wall shadowy, that tomorrow<BR/>will cast its own familiar, chill, clear-cut shadow<BR/>into the day's brilliance.<BR/><BR/>Denise Levertov <BR/><BR/><BR/>Hang in there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-42580961137607007732008-05-19T11:47:00.000-06:002008-05-19T11:47:00.000-06:00Excellent. Thanks, Paul. Reviewing older books is ...Excellent. Thanks, Paul. Reviewing older books is helpful for young grad students who either haven't read them or haven't read reviews that critically engage them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-13564390768778123942008-05-19T11:28:00.000-06:002008-05-19T11:28:00.000-06:00now that's a book review!now that's a book review!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-2787831527979775642008-05-19T09:31:00.000-06:002008-05-19T09:31:00.000-06:00Paul,This a wonderful review of one of my favorite...Paul,<BR/><BR/>This a wonderful review of one of my favorite books. The auditory still proves fascinating in the realm of religion as well as the American fascination with the supernatural. Thanks for posting it here.Kelly J. Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328894784072518452noreply@blogger.com