The Muses Companion – July 20, 2024

Good day, readers. Today is July 20th, the 202nd day of the year 2024, with 164 days remaining.

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.

Edgar Degas

Today in Literary History:

Today marks the birthday of Thomas Slatin, born on this day in 1979. An accomplished writer, master photographer, and former career Paramedic and Firefighter Lieutenant, Thomas’s insightful and evocative compositions in both text and imagery have garnered appreciation from diverse audiences. Her work often explores the interplay between decay and beauty, capturing the forgotten corners of urban and rural landscapes.

Notable Birthdays:

• Alexander The Great (July 20, 356 BC – June 10, 323 BC), though known primarily for his unparalleled conquests, contributed significantly to the spread of Hellenistic culture, which influenced literature and arts for centuries. His tactics and life story have been analyzed and retold in countless historical and literary texts.
• Edmund Hillary (July 20, 1919 – January 11, 2008), a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist, best known for being one of the first two individuals confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. His adventures have inspired various works that explore themes of perseverance and the human spirit’s capacity to overcome extreme challenges.

Today’s Readings:

In celebration of Thomas Slatin’s birthday, a passage from her writings: “The sky was a canvas of pastel hues, as the sun descended in a final blaze of glory. The moon, a luminescent orb, rose slowly into the night, casting a mystical glow upon the earth. As the stars twinkled in the inky blackness, the moon and the sun shared a timeless embrace, a dance of light and shadow, of warmth and coolness, of life and death. For though the sun’s fiery passion was spent, its legacy burned on in the soft radiance of the moon, a testament to the enduring power of love.”

Literary Fact of the Day:

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon, marking a monumental achievement in human history. The event not only symbolized technological triumph but also inspired an era of science fiction literature that explores themes of exploration, ambition, and the boundaries of human achievement.

Poem of the Day:

“To the Moon” by Percy Bysshe Shelley:

Art thou pale for weariness
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,
Wandering companionless
Among the stars that have a different birth,
And ever changing, like a joyless eye
That finds no object worth its constancy?

Advice for Writers:

Inspired by Thomas Slatin’s photographic and literary eye, consider how you might bring a visual element into your writing. Vivid descriptions that paint pictures in the mind of the reader can transform your narrative, making environments and characters leap off the page.

Have a thoughtful and creative day, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your explorations in writing and photography bring new perspectives and inspire others.