Comtemporary Poems

"The value of reading contemporary poems,
apart from the considerable pleasure
of thinking about what they're up to,
is that it gets us to focus our attention
and sharpen our critical skills,
things we need more than ever
in an age, like ours,
of distraction."

(Don Share)

Scientific Revolution

The Scientific Revolution was fundamentally intellectual revolution. Prior to it, Europeans had held a set of beliefs derived from the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, modified and give sanction by Christians theologians of the Middle Ages, particularly Saint Thomas Aquinas. This system of thought embraced the Earth and the Universe, the nature of matter, the laws of motion and change, the nature of human beings, and the relationship of God of creation. This comprehensive world view was based primarily on tradition and authority and was universally accepted.

By the time the Revolution was over, a whole new set of theories had been established, the result of vast amounts of experimental data, new methods of obtaining and explaining the data, and a changed attitude regarding the place of human beings in the universe. As the new explanations clashed with older theological truths, science was to acquire an altogether different meaning. It was the tumultuous time in Western intellectual history. The historic paintings and prints as well as original graphics left their trace in history.

Autumn Flowers: poem

Those few pale Autumn flowers,
How beautiful they are!
Than all that went before,
Than all the Summer store,
How lovelier far!

And why? - They are the last!
The last! the last! the last!
Oh! by that little word
How many thoughts are stirred
That whisper of the past!

Pale flowers! pale perishing flowers!
Ye 're types of precious things;
Types of those bitter moments,
That like, like life's enjoyments,
On rapid, rapid wings:

Last hours with parting dear ones,
(That Time the fastest spends)
Last tears in silence shed,
Last words half uttered,
Last looks of dying friends.

Who but would fain compress
A life into a day, -
The last day spent with one
Who, ere the morrow's sun,
Must leave us, and for aye?

O precious, precious moments!
Pale flowers! ya 're types of those;
The saddest, sweetest, dearest,
Because, like those, the nearest
To an eternal close.

pale flowers! pale perishing flowers!
I woo your gentle breath -
I leave the Summer rose
For younger, blither blows;
Tell me of change and death.

(Caroline Bowles Southey)

October Thoughts

The life stage is set for a powerful and provocative fall. Everything from business ventures to style choices emerged from last year's tumultuous political season that empowered in all fronts.
As the summer winds turn cooler, women empowered to be both strong and sexy. Do not shake the sand from your shoes just yet. Embrace the fall season, and if you can allow yourself the last escape. In Miami, new exhibitions at The Bass, Basel arts are coming soon, and the International Book-fair at Miami Community College in Downtown are calling. The body and mind will thank you for it. Until the holidays...