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Among the projects I'm doing this summer is a do-it-yourself paint job of the exterior of our house. On days when it isn't too hot or humid, I enjoy being out there, scraping paint and listening to an audiobook.
Today, I started listening to Julia Alvarez's Before We Were Free. Published in 2002 by Knopf Books for Young Readers, it won the Pura Belpre Award in 2004. Chapter one opens with this:
"May I have some volunteers?" Mrs. Brown is saying. We are preparing skits for Thanksgiving, two weeks away. Although the Pilgrims never came to the Dominican Republic, we are attending the American school, so we have to celebrate American holidays.
That opening was unexpected. But because I've read one of Alvarez's other books, my ears perked up. Where, I wondered, would this particular scene go in Alvarez's skilled hands! Mrs. Brown picks Anita (the protagonist) and her cousin, Carla, to play the parts of two Indians who will welcome the Pilgrims because,
Mrs. Brown gives the not-so-good parts to those of us in class who are Dominicans.
Mrs. Brown then gives the two girls a headband with a feather sticking up like one rabbit ear. She asks them to greet the Pilgrims, being played by two boys wearing Davy Crockett hats. Anita thinks
Even I know the pioneers come after the Pilgrims.
Mrs. Brown asks Anita/the Indian to welcome the pilgrims "to the United States" but Oscar raises his hand and asks:
"Why the Indians call it the United States when there was no United Estates back then, Mrs. Brown?"
Some kids make fun of him. Anita hates it when the Americans make fun of the way the Dominicans speak English. Mrs. Brown tells him that
"It's called poetic license. Something allowed in a story that isn't so in real life."
Beautifully done, Ms. Alvarez! I'm hooked.
0 Comments on BEFORE WE WERE FREE, by Julia Alvarez as of 1/1/1900
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a divison of the American Library Association, and REFORMA (the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate, ) hosted the Pura Belpré annual Celebración to honor the 2014 medal and honor winners on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at Las Vegas, Nevada. The Pura Belpré Award was established in 1996 and honors Latino writers and illustrators whose works of art best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in a book for children. It is named for the first Latina librarian who distinguished herself for her storytelling and outreach work with children and their families while working for the New York Public Library during the first decade of the twentieth century.
Los Ganadores
From left to right Meg Medina, Matt de la Peña, Margarita Engle, Yuyi Morales, Rafael López and Angela Dominguez
Palabras from Meg Medina winner of the 2014 Pura Belpré award from the novel, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass.
"Buenas tardes a todos. Good afternoon. I just love hearing you say the title. It’s funny how books come to be. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass wasn’t supposed to be a novel. In fact, if it had been left up to me, the very idea for this book would have been left alone, dried out and harmless. It would have stayed one of those memories from childhood that was better left buried."
Palabras from Yuyi Morales winner of the 2014 Pura Belpré award from the picture book, Niño Wrestles the World.
"I come from a great magnetic place of poetic beans, automatic cac- tuses, astral farmers, supersonic fire-eaters, cybernetic cowboy char- ros, and neon-colored serapes. It is actually called Mexico; I live there now. It is my great joy to come to my beloved country of work, from my beloved country of birth, to join this celebration of niños, niñas, reading, and books—this freedom to cross from one land to the other, I treasure in the name of all of those who don’t have it. And, yes, I would fly or walk or swim or cross a bridge to wherever a Pura Belpré celebration is happening, because what better company to have than you to celebrate not only this year’s awards, but also the 10th anniversary, diez años, of having received my first Pura Belpré Medal?"
I am so excited to have been able to interview Sonia Manzano! She’s the person we all feel like we know personally, but who has many larger than life accomplishments. In her role as Maria on Sesame Street, she has been named one of the 25 Greatest Latino TV Role Models Ever. Her first young adult novel, The revolution of Evelyn Serrano was a 2013 Pura Belpre Author Honor book and was selected for the CCBC Choices 2013 list. She is elegant, gracious and quite a role model for us all. I hope you’ll enjoy this interview as Sonia shares a little about what has inspired her to do all that she does.
Congratulations on being named a Pura Belpre Author Honor book!
Thank you so much for agreeing to an interview! I hope it helps a few more readers find your book.
Let’s start with a few short questions to get things started.
Hello and thank you so much. Here goes!
Where did you grow up?
The South Bronx
Do you have any pets?
Never as a kid but as an adult I had a black lab. But it really belonged to my husband.
What do you enjoy watching on television?
I mostly watch movies and a show called Girls on cable. I love British dramas on PBS, and admit that I am slightly addicted to old films on Turner Classic Movies. I guess I prefer cable and PBS because I hate commercials!
Meat or vegetables?
I love both and mostly stick to chicken.
Are there any books that stand out in your memory from your childhood?
Fifteen by Beverly Cleary, Charlottes Web, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
What book(s) are you in the middle of reading right now?
I read a lot. Just finished Pinned by Sharon G. Flake. A book called The Street by Ann Petry. Rita Moreno: A Memoir, My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. I’m re-reading Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt.
1969. Spanish Harlem. To what music would Evelyn be listening?
How did you develop an interest in Puerto Rican history? Was it taught in schools? At home?
No, no, no! Puerto Rican history was never taught in school and though my parents had some rudimentary education in Puerto Rico in the 30’s and 40’s, I don’t think Puerto Rican history was taught there either. I must say it was The Young Lords and all the progressive groups of the Civil Rights era that bought Puerto Rican history to my attention.
How do you think things have changed from the 60s to today for young girls growing up in Spanish Harlem?
Can’t really say because I don’t live there. But what I noticed as I strolled the streets doing research for The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, was that there were many South and Central Americans living in El Barrio as well as Puerto Ricans.
I heard you speak at the Joint Conference of Librarians Conference in Kansas City this past summer and remember you speaking about the inequity in the schools in New York and how much catching up you had to do to reach your full potential. I cannot imagine the emotions you felt when The revolution of Evelyn Serrano was named a Pura Belpre Honor book. Can you describe any of the emotions you felt?
Pura Belpre was such an icon even I knew of her in my un-literary household. Her stories with their Caribbean /Spanish sensibility intrigued me. I felt the tales had something to do with me but I wasn’t sure what. Surely, the Perez y Martina stories planted seeds of curiosity in me.
Needless to say I am thrilled to have been honored and feel I’ve somehow come full circle.
Will you write another teen book?
There is another teen book rumbling around in my head. I am working on a memoir for Scholastic now!
What does diversity mean to you?
To me diversity means many kinds of people (including young and old) solving problems together.
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate. 2012 Author Award Winner
Under the Mesquite, by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, published by Lee and Low Books Inc. In “Under the Mesquite,” Garcia McCall, writing in emotionally riveting free verse, gracefully manages to convey the experience of growing up in a bicultural community in Texas with geographical accuracy and a radiating authentic voice for its main protagonist fourteen-year-old Lupita, the oldest of eight children who is dealing with her mother’s terminal illness. “Garcia McCall deftly communicates not only the experience of a youth losing her mother to cancer but that of a child surrounded by siblings embracing and discarding their Mexican roots in various degrees,” said Naidoo. 2012 Illustrator Award Winner
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS Diego Rivera: His World and Ours highlights the accomplishments of Mexican painter, activist, and muralist Diego Rivera. Tonatiuh’s stylized illustrations include elements of Mayan artwork and represent his interpretation of Diego’s original artwork, answering the question: what would Diego paint today? Through eye-catching digital collage, Tonatiuh juxtaposes contemporary Mexican life with the past. “Tonatiuh’s visually appealing, layered artwork rendered in a mural style pays homage to Diego’s paintings while balancing traditional images with modern twists,”
0 Comments on 2012 Pura Belpré Award Winners as of 1/1/1900
This morning I got up at 5 a.m. to see (via webcast) the 2012 winners of the biggest awards in children's publishing--the American Library Association (ALA) awards. The film industry has their Golden Globes® and their Oscars®, and we have the Caldecott and Newbery Medals, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Michael J. Printz Award. Unlike most other book awards, the major children's book awards given by the ALA have no lists of finalists or nominees. It's a surprise every single year (with plenty of speculation beforehand) and I kind of love the secrecy. This year's announcement had both the unexpected and the "ah, of course" books on the lists (including some 2011 Best of the Month titles)--you just never know who is going to win what. Congratulations to this year's winning and honored authors and illustrators:
2012 Caldecott Medalfor the most distinguished American picture book for children:
This morning I got up at 5 a.m. to see (via webcast) the 2012 winners of the biggest awards in children's publishing--the American Library Association (ALA) awards. The film industry has their Golden Globes® and their Oscars®, and we have the Caldecott and Newbery Medals, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Michael J. Printz Award. Unlike most other book awards, the major children's book awards given by the ALA have no lists of finalists or nominees. It's a surprise every single year (with plenty of speculation beforehand) and I kind of love the secrecy. This year's announcement had both the unexpected and the "ah, of course" books on the lists (including some 2011 Best of the Month titles)--you just never know who is going to win what. Congratulations to this year's winning and honored authors and illustrators:
2012 Caldecott Medalfor the most distinguished American picture book for children:
It is only a few hours before I fly to New Orleans for an grand ALA celebration. If you are around, here are a few places where you will find me:
Saturday, June 25 9:30-11 am, Maya Soetoro-Ng and I will be signing Ladder to the Moon in the Candlewick booth #1023 12:00-1:30pm, Maya and I will be speaking at Many Voices, One Nation, at the Hotel Monteleone --Queen Anne Br. 3:00-4:00pm. Signing in the HMH booth #1539-1540
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
Winner for Illustration "Grandma's Gift" illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez, published by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
Honor Books for Illustration "Fiesta Babies" illustrated by Amy Córdova, written by Carmen Tafolla, published by Tricycle Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
"Me, Frida" illustrated by David Diaz, written by Amy Novesky, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Abrams.
"Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin" illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Abrams.
Author Book Winner "The Dreamer" written by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Peter Sis, published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Author Honor books "Ole! Flamenco" written by George Ancona, photographs by George Ancona, published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
"The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba" written by Margarita Engle, published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
"90 Miles to Havana" written by Enrique Flores-Galbis, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Winner "Moon Over Manifest," written by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Honor Books "Turtle in Paradise" written by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
"Heart of a Samurai" written by Margi Preus, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams.
"Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night" written by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
"One Crazy Summer" written by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
While I am sure that everybody is celebrating the ALA award winners already, I am having my own, very early (5;57 am) beautiful moment her with my cat and my sleeping family. The Pura Belpre Awards were announced this morning as well, and now I can tell who the winners are. Yesterday night it was still a secret!:
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience
“Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros,” illustrated by Rafael López, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Pat Mora and published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Three BelpréIllustrator Honor Books were selected: “Diego: Bigger Than Life,” illustrated by David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and published by Marshall Cavendish Children.
“My Abuelita,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Tony Johnston and published by Harcourt Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
“Gracias Thanks,” illustrated by John Parra, written by Pat Mora and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Pura Belpré (Author) Award “Return to Sender,” written by Julia Alvarez, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.
Two B
1 Comments on Celebracion! ALA Awards anounced, last added: 1/18/2010
Yeah!!! Let the party begin. We love celebrating Yuyi’s books. There is the saying, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” Yuyi creates her books with love. They are works of art and gifts. When she receives awards it feels like we are all winning. We are lucky to be friends with the clan in the purple house and see creativity come to life. This book is extra special because of Yuyi’s collaborator. Yes, the father of the skyscraper is a creative photographer, supportive husband, wonderful neighbor and marvelous friend. Tim, congratulations on the first of many recognitions! Abrazos, Rose
Two days before the ALA conference I found out that I didn’t have a plane ticket, uh-oh! The most important event of year for me, and I wasn’t going to make it. The traveling agent said I didn’t make it clear I wanted to have a ticket to Chicago, even though I bought the tickets for my husband and my son so that they will sit next to me on the plane and be with me when I received my award. Oh, well. Fortunately, the gods of the airplanes came to my rescue and got me to ALA just in time for the celebrations.
I did not exercise, I did not tour the city, I did not shop for souvenirs; instead I ate lots of dinners with librarians, signed books at the exhibit, and found new treasures among new books.
Some incredible books I saw at the exhibit: Stitches, by David Small. What a book! This graphic novel (not exactly for little kids) is a masterpiece. Not only David has an incredible life story to tell, but he is a master at telling it with pictures. Chicken Dance, by Tammi Sauer and Dan Santa is a visual riot! Then for something softer there was Henry’s Night by D. B Johnson and Linda Michelin, with its soft and luminous illustrations. Looked at it for hours. The book I can’t wait for? The Dreamer, by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by Peter Sis. Could there be a most perfect match? this book isn't coming out until Spring next year. Too long to wait. I also saw my sister Magaly’s two new books, What Can You Do with a Paleta? and A Piñata in a Pine Tree.
But, of course, my day was Sunday. The Pura Belpre Award Celebration started at 1:30. Me? I Started with a signing at 11 am, and ended up signing books after the ceremony at about 5 pm, with only a short time to get ready for attending the Caldecott and Newberry banquet that evening.
But it was all so joyful! At the Pura Belpre Ceremony I finally met Rudy Gutierrez, who not only creates striking art, but who gave a much felt acceptance speech for his Pura Belpre honor book, Papa and Me. I also met Francisco Jiménez for the first time, and people were right. He is so gentle and noble. Amazing just like his books.
Have you ever been at a Pura Belpre celebration? If you haven’t you are missing a great fiesta. There were multicolored ornaments hanging from the ceiling, Latino books on the tables, presenters and award winners—some dressed on rebosos, Virgin of Guadalupe printed dresses; I wore huge red dangling earrings to go with the merriment. Of course there were also speeches, tears (muchas lagrimas, many of them mine), singing, and little girls dressed as Jarochas (a traditional dress from Veracruz, my state) dancing to the son Jarocho tunes.
I created the artwork for the program. This is what the art looked like:
I was the last one to receive my medal and give my acceptance speech (here you can find the list on winners). A few minutes before I also received an honor award for the narrative on my book Just in Case, but they put me at the end of the speaker’s lineup so that I could give thanks for both awards. Except my speech was a trick! Instead of giving only a speech, this year I brought an extra present for everybody; something I made with the help of friends and with mucho corazón. If you were at the ceremony you received it. If you weren’t there, you can still have it here (or here):
I'm so glad to watch this marvelous video again, Yuyi. Your speech and then your movie at the celebration was spectacular. I remain a huge fan of you and your work. My best to you and your family. Nick
I am in my way to ALA in Chicago this year. I'll be having a a couple of book signing on Saturday and Sunday morning, and then the big Pura Bepre celebration on Sunday afternoon (right before heading to the Caldecolt and Neberry banquet). If you are there, come to the Puira Belpre Award cerebaration! the event is free and the it is a fiesta like no other. Here is the scoop:
2009 Award Ceremony Sunday, July 12, 1:30 -3:30p.m. Hilton chicago Hotel, continental Ballroom A/B 720 Michigan avenue, chicago, IL 60605
We ate great food with family and friend, had tres leches cake, flan Napolitano and we toasted with champagne last night. There was so much in my list much to celebrate!:
1. I love my work 2. My friends surround me 3. My editor rocks 4. My agent believes in me with fury 5. My son inspires me 6. My husband cheers for me 7. When the ALA book award announcements were made, I a got a flurry of emails from people all over the websphere (and Facebook) 8. Margarita Engle won the Pura Belpre medal for narrative AND a Caldecott Honor for her book THE SURRENDER TREE; POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM. Viva las Latinas! 9. I adored THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, absolutely my kind of story—dead people, witches, ghouls and a boy raised by all of them. 10. The celebrations have just begun
On Sunday morning we went to the movies. And an s a good patron I turned off the ring of my cell phone. Mesmerized my son and I watched Slumdog Millionairie and took on its terror and its incredible beauty. Then, of course, I proceeded to forget to turn back on the ring of my phone. And that is why, when the ALA Pura Belpre Committee called me that night with the news that my book, JUST IN CASE, was the winner of their prestigious medal and an honor, instead of receiving the call, I continued knitting my last winter hat. Second year in a row that I miss their call. Would they ever give me another opportunity?
I realized I had a message before going to bed as I took my phone to be recharged. The good thing about missing the call is that now I have the “secret” announcement recorded in my messages, and I can hear it again, and again—as I did that night—and dream of my work being cherished by librarians yelling in unison, “Just in Case!”
Of course I didn’t sleep that night! If, in its kindness, the Pura Belpre committee believes that they spare me sleep by not calling me on Monday mornings as is costmary, they are very wrong (they do this when the conference is taking place in a time zone ahead of mine, given that the official award announcements happen very early in the morning). Who could sleep with such news! Instead I spend my nigh jumping around the house, brewing a new Señor Calavera video, and anticipating the excitement and the surprises of the official announcements of all the awards in just a few hours.
There is much more to come; the planning for ALA in Chicago, the ironing of my best tie, the putting on cologne, the pumping the tires of my bike. But for now, it is time to get my butt back on the chair, my hand on the pencil, and continue dreaming books.
First a definition/description: "The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth." --from ALA website
And now my report.
At my signings, during the days before the award ceremony last week, I handed out a lot these printed invitations:
Then on Sunday afternoon I combed my hair (which I rarely do otherwise), "ironed my best tie, and pumped the tires of my bike," and the celebration began!
Here is…
...what I saw at the Pura Belpre: -The California Pavilion in all colors with mexican sarapes adorning the tables and balloons crowning the stage.
-Gorgeous Irania all the way from North Carolina libraries, the Fresno gang, the San Francisco public library—present, Jackie Woodson and her baby, the Harcourt family, my agent Ms. Sheedy, Maria van Lieshout and Jim Averbeck representing my writer’s group, Lisa Brown, the South Carolina gang, my father and mother in law, my editor Reka Simonsen and the Holt group, Suzy from Nevada, Rene Colato and his stories, Visalia—present, the Pura Belpre committee, Fuse#8, my husband, my son and his guitar…I don’t have enough air to name everybody who was in the audience and all of those who helped put this fiesta together.
…what I heard at the Pura Belpre: -Suni Paz opening the celebration with her guitar, and her songs old and sweet like the ones my mother always sings.
-My son’s guitar, strumming solemnly the love-declaration song to a ghost, la Llorona.
-A lullaby.
…what was said at the Pura Belpre:
-“When I started submitting my story (Los Gatos Black on Halloween) to publishers, editors would ask me, ‘but what does Spanish have to do with Halloween?’” –Marisa Montes, Pura Belpre text honor speech.
-“I would ask my mother, “mom, would you rather be right or be happy?”, and she would answer, “honey, it makes me very HAPPY to be RIGHT!” “Una cucaracha!”—Carmen Agra Deedy, text honor speech.
-“If only there were words I didn’t have to say, Like Juan Francisco Manzano, and Cuba, I could do my speech with out crying.”—Margarita Engle, the night before her Pura Belpre speech.
-“De colores, de colores se visten los campos de la primavera…” Audience singing accompanied by the music of the children mariachi band.
...what I brought to give away: -I had a chance to share my Gatos Black in Halloween bookmarks I designed. They looked like this on each side:
..what I learned at the Pura Belpre: -Margarita Engle has heard la Llorona cry. After my speech and my mention of the ancient Mexican ghost of the weeping woman, she told me how in the mountains she had heard a female mountain lion's cry, warning against anybody coming closer to her babies, “And you don’t know,” Margarita said, “whether it is a mother lion or la Llorona—the cry so much like a woman weeping.”
-Hope, Esperanza, is a beautiful name for beautiful women. Gracias, Hope for taking care of me that day.
0 Comments on More ALA Views: Pura Belpre Award Ceremony as of 1/1/1900
A few hours have past now after the ALA awards have been announced, and I have spend half my day sending and responding emails while squealing by my desk.
A few things seem to happen when I get great news like winning an ALA award. For instance, I forget about everything else that I am supposed to be doing instead of squealing. This is the second time a Pura Belpre Medal is given to one of my books, and the first time I reported to have been so entranced in jumping and hugging my son and my husband that morning of 2004, that I practically forgot that my son was supposed to be at school already.
Today Son got to school in time; he is older, he can call his own shots. But once more, I forgot to make him his lunch (one of the few things I still do for him, part of my last kicks at trying to be a caring mother to a teenager). No big deal. He likes cafeteria food and by chance I had change in my pajama pocket.
Another effect of being slammed with great news is that I write with more typos and English grammatical mistakes than ever. That is when you know for sure that Yuyi speaks Spanish because her English is…well...still in process. The good news is that if you heard me speak in person that is exactly how I sound; in process. And that is truly me.
The other thing that is happening to me today is that the news start settling down and in their place come the feelings. I watched the Webcast award announcements, and more than anything else I was deeply touched by people’s reaction at hearing the names of each of the winners in the different categories. I am still carrying their cheering with me. Just thinking about it gives me emotional diarrhea. A couple of hour ago I finally got up my desk and I took my Luna Dog and Chacho Dog to run up the mountain. There was a little bit of sun shining through the fog, and the ground and the grass were still damp and soggy, but the three of us running up hill on the chill only intensified the explosion of this volcano of emotions that have been awaken in me by people’s reactions, their emails, and the sound of their squealing along me.
I'm back with Shakespeare again this week - just because his words buzz through my brain on a regular basis. It's interesting, I think, to compare these lines from Twelfth Night Act 1, Scene 1:
If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die. That strain again! it had a dying fall: O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound, That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more: 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou, That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there, Of what validity and pitch soe'er, But falls into abatement and low price, Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy That it alone is high fantastical.
with these by by Colonel Henry Heveningham, a poet born in the middle of the 17th century:
If music be the food of love, sing on till I am fill'd with joy; for then my list'ning soul you move with pleasures that can never cloy, your eyes, your mien, your tongue declare that you are music ev'rywhere.
Pleasures invade both eye and ear, so fierce the transports are, they wound, and all my senses feasted are, tho' yet the treat is only sound. Sure I must perish by our charms, unless you save me in your arms.
Many years ago my younger sister took part in a school version of Twelfth Night, and I conceived an instant dislike for the words "If music be the food of love, play on, give me in excess of it". I was very scornful of that "romance stuff" as a teenager. Now I'm older, wiser and better acquainted with the Bard, I actually like the concept of having a surfeit of music to get over one's lovelorn state (having been through a period of unrequited love in my 20s, I totally understand poor old Orsino's state.)
As for Heveningham's lines:
Pleasures invade both eye and ear, so fierce the transports are, they wound, and all my senses feasted are, tho' yet the treat is only sound.
I can completely understand that, too - leaving aside the metaphor of music as the food of love - I know several pieces of music that transport me and feast my senses until I'm sated.
2 Comments on Poetry Friday 51, last added: 5/25/2007
Of course, as soon as I started to type the above line, my mind slipped off to Eliot:
But O O O O that Shakespeherian Rag— It's so elegant So intelligent
I'm not sure I can ever tire of the Bard or Mr. E. Still, Hopkins was a nice find for me -- I've not read overly much of his stuff before (apart from Pied Beauty), and now I'm on a new kick. Gotta love new kicks.
And while I applaud Heveningham's attempt, it does come off as feeble when set beside/after Shakespeare. Nice sentiments, sentimental though they be. And I really do love seeing poems paired from time to time, to look at theme, form, etc.
Michele said, on 5/25/2007 10:55:00 AM
*giggles* I can just imagine you singing that in your head...
I do love new kicks - but there's something very pleasurable about coming back to old favourites too.
Yes Heveningham is somewhat sentimental, but I thought provided an interesting contrast to the immortal Bard.
Hope I get to see you! It is such a busy time!