tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post1875912919921888057..comments2024-03-23T20:37:37.891-07:00Comments on First Known When Lost: LittoralStephen Pentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-65240424965610178652016-07-18T00:19:35.526-07:002016-07-18T00:19:35.526-07:00Mr. Sweeney: Yes, I am familiar with Gordon Hempt...Mr. Sweeney: Yes, I am familiar with Gordon Hempton, although I have not read One Square Inch of Silence. Based on your comments here, and on your fine discussion of the book on your site, I will track the book down. Thank you for mentioning it. <br /><br />I was intrigued by this comment in your piece on the book: "Flight noise is one of Hempton's bete noires -- in fact his main bete noire." I was immediately reminded of the days after the 9/11 terror attacks, when all air traffic was suspended over here: the silence was striking. Of course, the events of that day were uppermost in my mind at that time, but when I went outside I could not help but notice the silence.<br /><br />As ever, thank you very much for stopping by. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-71423149857670904392016-07-16T16:07:56.908-07:002016-07-16T16:07:56.908-07:00Your mention of the Olympic Mountains leads me to ...Your mention of the Olympic Mountains leads me to wonder are you familiar with Gordon Hempton, the "sound tracker" behind the One Square Inch of Silence project in Olympic National Park? www.onesquareinch.org<br /><br />I think you would enjoy Gordon's book also called One Square Inch of Silence. It is much the best of the various search-for-silence books that have come out in recent years. It is also all the richer for a trait I normally deplore - a certain digressive over-inclusiveness. I write a little more about it here https://seamussweeney.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/gordon-hempton-one-square-inch-of-silence-and-the-philosophy-of-silence/<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02689338260991810541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-4306268204282079922016-07-15T11:47:36.168-07:002016-07-15T11:47:36.168-07:00Half-heard in the Stillness: Thank you very much ...Half-heard in the Stillness: Thank you very much for your kind words about the blog. And thank you as well for adding me to your blog list. I'm delighted that you found your way here, and I hope that you will return. Again, thank you.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-73768397997883516322016-07-15T08:34:41.337-07:002016-07-15T08:34:41.337-07:00I only just stumbled upon your blog via a painting...I only just stumbled upon your blog via a painting I found on Pinterest. I really like the poetry you choose...I shall be reading more of your lovely blog in due course, and am adding you to my blog-list.<br />Half-heard in the Stillnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01840301617199033576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-42317531240778688492016-07-12T10:05:30.304-07:002016-07-12T10:05:30.304-07:00Ms. Aykroyd: I agree with you about "The Chi...Ms. Aykroyd: I agree with you about "The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush": it is one of my favorite Mahon poems as well. As you know, his poetry is filled with poems set by the sea. Another favorite of mine along these lines is "Kinsale": ". . . our sky-blue slates are steaming in the sun,/our yachts tinkling and dancing in the bay/like race-horses. We contemplate at last/shining windows, a future forbidden to no-one." I suspect you know it well.<br /><br />Yes, I recall that you are from this part of the world. Having spent time on Vancouver Island over the years on vacations, I fully understand why you miss it. The combination of sea, sky, mountains, and forests out here is hard to beat. (Despite the rain and mist!)<br /><br />It is a pleasure to hear from you again. As ever, thank you very much for visiting.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-37457215808001618332016-07-12T03:19:42.185-07:002016-07-12T03:19:42.185-07:00I *love* The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush by Der...I *love* The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush by Derek Mahon. One of his best, I think. <br /><br />Thanks for your insights as always. I have lived in London for many many years and I notice more and more that the lack of, and desire for, the presence of nature in my life does certain types of damage. I feel healthier even when I can walk more and spend more time in parks, but it's not the same. This may indicate how I need to think about my life and where I need to be in years to come. You know, I'm originally from almost the same part of the world as where you live (the West Coast - Vancouver Island for me) and I miss it.Clarissa Aykroydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08571136118573329263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-32850693861404355852016-07-10T22:32:01.653-07:002016-07-10T22:32:01.653-07:00sunt_lacrimae_rerum: I greatly appreciate your ki...sunt_lacrimae_rerum: I greatly appreciate your kind words about the blog. Thank you very much.<br /><br />Yes, "Dover Beach" fits well in this context, doesn't it? Your mentioning it brings to mind the opening lines of Arnold's "To Marguerite: Continued": <br /><br />Yes! in the sea of life enisled,<br />With echoing straits between us thrown,<br />Dotting the shoreless watery wild,<br />We mortal millions live alone.<br /><br />Thank you for the recommendation of Swinburne's "By the North Sea," which I have not read. I did find it on the internet: 524 lines! It will take some time to digest.<br /><br />Thank you for visiting and for sharing your thoughts. I hope you'll return soon.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-64004308654700415312016-07-10T22:20:46.842-07:002016-07-10T22:20:46.842-07:00Ms. Reyes: Thank you very much for your kind word...Ms. Reyes: Thank you very much for your kind words about the post and the blog. <br /><br />Your thought about the alternatives that are available to us in our lives is a good one. I didn't intend to -- and would never -- limit our options to one or the other, of course. It is entirely possible -- if one is fortunate -- to have both. Or to have neither. But, however things work out, we live our lives as best we can.<br /><br />Thank you again.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-87683590878050724432016-07-10T19:43:08.600-07:002016-07-10T19:43:08.600-07:00I think of "Dover Beach" where the sea i...I think of "Dover Beach" where the sea is reduced to the sound of the receding waves. It's elegiac sadness uses the sounds of the sea to connect us back to ancient times. Do you know "By the North Sea" by Swinburne?<br /><br />You have a very impressive blog and your quotations are lovely and powerful. Thank you.sunt_lacrimae_rerumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05659053841051896981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-57785177703678018622016-07-10T16:21:38.153-07:002016-07-10T16:21:38.153-07:00Lovely post. I enjoy your blog.
But one thing: As...Lovely post. I enjoy your blog.<br /><br />But one thing: As an old lady, could I suggest living in a beautiful area might not be as good as living with beautiful people who love you. Nancy Reyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14910134058143426327noreply@blogger.com