I've drafted a book in verse I'm calling "The
Apology Box." As I finish polishing the parts, I plan to insert them
here. The book sets out pages from a box that fell from the sky.
The pages turn out to be judgment day speeches of various historical characters.
In addition to any merits the book may have as verse, I hope the book can (1)
prod the reader to survey the humanities to the extent required to understand
what the characters are discussing, (2) provide examples of what does and does
not work rhetorically, (3) explore how people were trapped by (or tried to use
and trap others with) the frameworks, prejudices, and commonplaces of their
times, and (4) help rekindle more interest in formalist verse. The speeches will vary in "quality" given the limitations of their authors and given such other accidents such as whether or not authors may have had assistance in their speeches (the box does not indicate who may or may not have had counsel or other assistance). My
original plan was to start with Adam and bring the book up to recent
decades. However, that project has proven too long which means the book may end up slanted purely by accident
toward more ancient figures including many Biblical ones. By omitting
more recent figures I don't mean to suggest they do not interest me. I am
just being realistic about time. To help balance this out, I've changed the book at points from a purely chronological order. I've posted a few of the finished speeches in other blogs and am
repeating them here where I feel they best fall. The book will grow from here as I add other
finished speeches in no particular order--the box was jumbled after all.
In addition to law and language generally, this blog explores philosophy, translation, poetry (including my own poetry and translations), legal education reform, genealogy, rhetoric, politics, and other things that interest me from time to time. I consider all my poems and translations flawed works in progress, tweak them unpredictably, and consider the latest-posted versions the latest "final" forms. I'd enjoy others' thoughts on anything posted. © Harold Anthony Lloyd 2024
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Razing Babel: Two Sonnets For Too Xenophobic Times
In
these Xenophobic times, we should recognize that Razing Babel
was a blessing not a curse. The
punishment of imprisonment within a single, narrow tongue proves much, much worse
than the inconvenience of dealing with others who don’t speak our native
language. Here’s why:
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The Old Testament & Same-Sex Separation Anxiety
The Old Testament contains powerful examples of deep affection
between those of the same sex. David
tells Jonathan: “very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of women.” (2 Samuel 1:26). Ruth tells Naomi: “whither thou goest, I will
go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God.” (Ruth 1:16). As the
halves of each pair would enter Heaven at different times, I wondered how they
might address the separation and the fear that one or both might not be
admitted. Of course, these sonnets are
my words, not theirs. As such, and being
a Wildcat, I couldn’t avoid language suggesting joinder of #DavidsonCollege and
light. Alenda Lux Ubi Orta Libertas!
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