Good day, readers. Today is June 11th, the 163rd day of the year 2024, with 203 days remaining.
Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
Carl Sandburg
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1955, Thomas Pynchon, renowned for his complex and dense novels, was awarded the National Book Award for Gravity’s Rainbow. Pynchon’s work, known for its deep interplay of themes and genres, exemplifies the possibilities of modern narrative structure and is celebrated for its innovation and challenge to traditional storytelling.
Notable Birthdays:
Yasunari Kawabata, born on June 11, 1899, was a Japanese novelist and the first Japanese author to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. His novels, such as Snow Country and Thousand Cranes, are known for their lyrical and understated style that beautifully captures the essence of Japanese aesthetics and the subtleties of human emotions.
Today’s Readings:
From To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf: “What is the meaning of life? That was all — a simple question; one that tended to close in on one with years, the great revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On June 11th, 1982, the groundbreaking science fiction film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, this film not only captivated audiences worldwide but also deeply influenced narrative cinema and literature, inspiring a plethora of works exploring themes of friendship, alienation, and compassion.
Poem of the Day:
“Morning at the Window” by T.S. Eliot:
They are rattling breakfast plates in basement kitchens,
And along the trampled edges of the street
I am aware of the damp souls of housemaids
Sprouting despondently at area gates.
The brown waves of fog toss up to me
Twisted faces from the bottom of the street,
And tear from a passer-by with muddy skirts
An aimless smile that hovers in the air
And vanishes along the level of the roofs.
This poem, through its concise imagery and momentary glimpses into everyday scenes, reflects Eliot’s ability to capture the transient yet profound experiences of urban life, evoking a sense of melancholy and introspection.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by Carl Sandburg’s metaphor of poetry as an interactive dance of echoes and shadows, consider how your own writing can evoke the intangible or the ineffable in the reader’s mind. Think about the ways language can reflect not just direct experiences but also the echoes of thoughts and emotions, inviting readers into a dance of interpretation and meaning.
May your day be filled with literary echoes and insightful dances, dear readers. Until tomorrow, explore the shadows and lights in your own writing journeys.