Welcome To Carmel's Journal

For this week’s entry I would like to do a summary for Blake and what I have learnt this semester, and share a number of quotes from the semester which I feel are very important or have left some kind of mark on me. I also have two more Blake-inspired poems to share.

"it was a sudden awakening into a totally deeper real universe than I'd been existing in" (Ginsberg)
To me this quote sums up the affect Blake has on people, particularly after looking closely at his works and ideas.
As we all know Blake was a social activist who challenged his society. I think he is challenging all of us (and it still speaks to us today). I don’t think he is necessarily challenging us to believe what he does, but I think he is challenging us to use our own minds and imaginations to come up with our own ideas and beliefs of the world, not those that are forced upon us. By showing a different view of the world, he is showing that we can view the world however we want. He wants us to look deeper into the world and not be limited by what we know; we need to be more open to things that can’t be proved by science… we need to be more open to the unknown and not be wrapped up in our materialistic world. I think this concept is very important in today’s society as people are very often not themselves and don’t use their own minds. While I’m on the path to being more myself and using my own mind, rather than just agreeing with what other’s try to force on you, Blake has inspired me more along this pathway.

The following is a general list of ideas and beliefs of Blake which I have learnt this semester (I could go on for ages talking about all his ideas and beliefs so I decided to pick out a few of the main ones).

• God is within us (“God is Man”)
• The importance of contraries
• The importance of the imagination: seeing through the eye not with the eye and not being limited by our senses.
• The importance of childhood innocence
• Seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary
• He was against any institutions (religious, school, etc) and their restrictions on the mind/imagination
• The importance of poetry and art in general

Here is a list of quotes:

"I've no wish to chisel things into new shapes/ The remnant of a mountain has its own meaning..." (Judith Wright)

“The desires & perceptions of man untaught by any thing but organs of sense, must be limited to objects of sense”.

“He who sees the Infinite in all things sees God”

“To see a World in a Grain of Sand/ And a Heaven in a Wild Flower/ Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand/ And Eternity in an hour”

“A truth that’s told with bad intent/ Beats all the Lies you can invent”

“How can the bird that is born for joy,/ Sit in a cage and sing”

“We are led to Believe a Lie/ When we see not Thro the Eye”

“Without Contraries is no progression”

“I must create a system, or be enslav’d by another Man’s”

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern”

To end my last entry for the semester I have two poems I have written which are inspired by Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience. I have written one for Innocence and one for Experience, both relating to childhood and based on my own experiences of childhood. These have to be my favourite of all the Blake-inspired poems I have written.

Childhood

I wish I could be young again,
I miss the days of youth.
The long, joyful summers
spent playing outside.

We would spend the days
trekking through the bush
on many adventures,
as explorers, discoverers. 

We would ride our bikes
through the streets,
up to the corner shop
for a much needed ice-cream.

We would play sports
til the sun went down
late in the evening:
cricket, tennis, soccer.

We would cool ourselves down
with water-bombs,
sprinklers, water-pistols,
and that long waterslide.

We would make cubbyhouses
and climb high in the trees
where no one could see us,
our own little escape.

We would have bonfires
long after the sun went down,
dancing happily
and roasting marshmallows.

Oh how I miss those days
of being young, innocent and happy.
Wild animals, we roamed free
and never stopped playing.

Winter

The street is deserted.
Quiet.
Grey sky, icy wind.
A newspaper floating gracefully
suddenly drops,
caught in a bare tree.
A rusted bicycle\
lies on the moist lawn.
Shards of glass fall
violently from the sky.
Where have all the children
of summer gone?
Their laughter echoing in the wind,
disappearing into the
dark abyss.
The power of winter
forcing them to take refuge.
Prisoners in houses.
Bored.
A chorus of sighs.
The pain of winter,
desperate yearning for summer
to return,
so children can be free
once more.

For the next two weeks my entries are going to be poetry which has been inspired by Blake… just as something a bit different. This week there are three, and I have two in the making for next week.

The first poem is based on the quote: “He who sees the Infinite in all things sees God” from There Is No Natural Religion (pg 7).

I saw God today

I saw God today,
as I looked into the bright eyes
of a little child,
his joyous laughter
ringing through the air.

 I saw God today,
when I was sitting on the bus
watching a stranger
giving away his seat
to an elderly lady.

 I saw God today,
when I watched I shop assistant
help a distressed mother,
find her lost and scared child,
both forever grateful.

 I saw God today,
as I sat in the park
I observed a newly wed couple
in each others loving arms,
blissful smiles on their faces.

 I saw God today,
while observing a garden,
full of colour and life,
and two birds playing happily
together in the shrubs.

 I saw God today,
when I looked at myself
in the mirror,
God was smiling
back at me.

The next one is a very simple poem based on the idea of finding beauty in something simple… it is about a Jacaranda tree (which is actually out the front of my house) and shows that there is more to it than being just a nice tree. 

Jacaranda

Standing tall and wide
in the front garden.
Providing relief from the
scorching sun,
shading the whole lawn.
A purple sky above,
purple carpet beneath.
The small flowers, silky soft.
White milk spurts out
when the bottom is squeezed.
A slight breeze,
a gentle shower of violet.
Branches for climbing,
exploring.
Easy to grip, easy to graze.
A home for birds,
new life.
Stretched out high above the world,
cool, fresh air,
leaves rustling,
flying free.

 The last one for this week is based on Blake’s poem “On Another’s Sorrow” (which I have also called it) which is about feeling another persons pain.

 On Another’s Sorrow

 I sit and watch,
useless.
You’re sitting on the end
of the bed,
slumped over,
head in hands.
You look at me.
Your eyes are wet and bloodshot,
streaks of tears running down
your pale and blotchy face.
Liquid dripping from your nose.
Your sorrow is my sorrow.
The hurt in your eyes,
a knife piercing my heart.
I put my comforting arms
around you.
You squeeze me tight,
your sadness releasing through
your arms into me
til it overcomes me.
I kiss your wet cheek,
you attempt a smile,
which quickly fades.
You sink back into my arms
and never let go.
I feel your pain.

 That is all the Blake-inspired poetry for this week… there’s more to come next week.
 

Without You…

The TV is blaring,

Yet I can’t hear a thing.

There’s a good movie on,

But I’ve no idea what’s happening.

My forehead is sweating,

Yet I feel no heat.

I’m eating chocolate,

But it doesn’t taste sweet.

My mouth is dry,

Yet I cannot drink.

My eyes are tired,

But I cannot blink.

People are talking,

Yet there’s nobody here.

The feeling of emptiness,

Leads to a tear.

My head is aching,

But I feel no pain.

What is happening to me?

I am going insane.

Something’s been missing,

Since you left me.

I know you’ll return,

I wish you would hurry.

I’m lost without you,

I do not feel whole.

It’s like I have lost,

My mind, heart and soul.

By Carmel Dobson

I was reading through some other people’s livejournals and came across this poem you wrote.

I think I like the simplicity of your poem. You manage to make something so simple sound so beautiful, and I particularly like the rhyming pattern and the beat of the poem; it gives it a nice flow and puts the reader in the situation… I was able to clearly see or actually experience being on that boat and seeing those dolphins. I also like the last line of the poem… it’s amazing that nature can have such an affect on people, and I can also feel what you are feeling here, I can just imagine being at peace at the sight of these beautiful creatures while out in the middle of a calm ocean. Your choice of language captures the moment perfectly. I’m the type of person who likes simple and beautiful poems, being a bit of a romantic, so that’s another reason why this poem stood out to me.

Another reason why this poem stood out to me is because it reminds me a little of what our class has been studying. We have been looking at William Blake’s works, and one idea that comes across in his works is being able to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, the importance of making something simple seem beautiful. To quote Blake: “To see a World in a Grain of Sand/ And a Heaven in a Wild Flower/ Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand/ And Eternity in an hour” (Auguries of Innocence). And this is what you have done here… you have taken something simple and ordinary and made it meaningful and beautiful, and I think that’s great.

I also just noticed another poem you wrote: “Beast”, which also stood out a little for me because I wrote something that sounds similar, only they probably relate to different issues. I get the impression (and feel free to correct me) that, based on other entries and poems of yours, it’s in relation to drugs. Mine is actually in relation to a person, but just the imagery you used sounded very familiar and quite similar to what I used in mine, titled “My Nightmare”, so it’s almost as if we are both trying to capture the same pain and fear. Anyway, I think this is a good poem full of emotion and great imagery.

Mary

In the tutorial this week we looked at the poem Mary.

This poem is showing a woman who is being victimised by society, which emphasises Blake’s belief that women are victims in society, which is also evident in The Vision of the Daughters of Albion. The poem follows the story of a woman, who starts off being admired by society, as someone who is beautiful, “Mary moves in soft beauty & conscious delight”. This tone changes, as society starts to look down on her. It is suggested that Mary has her first sexual experience, with reference to being deflowered, “Her lilies & roses are blighted and shed”. It is because of this experience that society turns their back on her and starts to call her a “whore”.

After this, there is a shift in voice in the poem, where it changes to first person, and Mary is giving her perspective, questioning why she is different from society and stands on the outside, “O why was I born with a different Face”. This also relates to Blake, who also feels like he stands on the outside of society and is being persecuted.

When the poem shifts back to the third person, Mary decides to change who she is on the outside, to try and gain society’s acceptance, only to be further abused and harassed, “She went out in the morning in plain neat attire/ And came home in the evening bespattered with mire.”  

Towards the end of the poem, I feel that Blake gives his opinion of Mary. He presents his view of her value as a human, despite what others think, “All faces have Envy sweet Mary but thine”. Blake doesn’t side with the majority here; he is against society and still sees her as a valuable and beautiful person.

This poem shows that, for women, there are only two positions to be in; there are those that appear the way society wants them to, and there are those who are on the outside (in other words, individuals) who society never accept.

This idea is still true for women today (only not quite as extreme). This is mainly in relation to the idea of sexual encounters, not individuality. These days, women are looked down on if they have had what society deems as “too many” sexual partners, whereas for men it is the opposite; men can have as many as they want, and they are seen as heroes. It shows the pressure put on women… everything is about how women look and act, whereas men, who are still the dominant sex in today’s society, seem to be able to behave how they want with little ridicule. I know it’s not as big a deal these days, but it is still evident in society, and I still believe women are victims in a male-dominated society.

This poem is very powerful in conveying the ideas of women as victims in society, and I have to admit I am on Blake’s side with this one. I also think “Daughters of Albion” conveys similar ideas by showing Oothoon as a victim in society. She is victimised and controlled by men.

We also discussed in class, which Mary this poem is referring to, whether it is Mary Wollstonecraft or Mary Magdalene. Knowing little about either of these women, I can’t really make a sound judgment. I know a little bit about Mary Magdalene, who was victimised and scorned in society, so I can see where people are coming from here, but like I said, I’m not really sure.

I have chosen "Literature entry week 5" as my best entry:

http://carmel-dobson.livejournal.com/2008/08/29/

8/29/08 04:38 pm - Literature entry week 5

I was very happy to finally start looking at Blake’s works, particularly his poems. We got to look at the Songs of Innocence and Experience this week, comparing The Nurses Song from each. I found it quite fascinating, the way he used the same poem but adapted it for each context: innocence and experience. I also like how he illustrates his poems to give them more meaning.

 

The Nurse’s Song: Innocence 

I have to admit this was my favourite of the two; I just love the imagery, and the carefree feel of it. It truly conveys how free it is to be a child.

In this poem, the nurse is at peace watching the children play joyfully and freely, without any cares, “My heart is at rest within my breast”. Also, while she is experiencing these feelings, she becomes more aware of the nature around her and it becomes more alive; she starts to feel at one with nature. What’s great is that you can feel that same comforting feeling that the nurse experiences at this moment; you can hear the children laughing, and see the children playing (even without the illustration). The action comes alive on the page! Plus the rhythm of the poem reflects the play of children.

This poem is conveying the idea of childhood innocence, how children are free to play and not worry about any issues in the world; they are at one with nature: “the little birds fly/ And the hills are all covered with sheep”. They associate themselves with nature. The nurse understands this notion, which is why she lets them continue playing: children should be children while they still can. The idea that this childhood innocence will not last forever is also portrayed in the poem; that one day it will end: “Well well go and play till the light fades away”.

I liked the last 2 lines of the poem: “The little ones leaped & shouted &laugh’d/ And all the hills ecchoed”. This gives the idea that the joy and laughter of these children will continue to live through nature, as it is echoed by the hills.

 

NURSES Song: Experience

This poem comes across as more negative than the other, because of the negative language used. It seems to be from an adult perspective and therefore not a free and joyful one. There is no being at one with nature and being carefree without any worries in the world. If you look at the image, they are not associated with nature, like they were in the previous one, they seem to be oblivious to it, it’s unimportant. This poem (with the aid of the illustration) is based more on responsibility, the nurse seems more concerned with educating the children and making them grow up quicker than they should. It has a more egalitarian influence, where being carefree and playing is useless and “wasted” (everything should be useful); education is more productive than play.

The first time I read the poem, I thought that the lines, “The days of my youth rise fresh in my mind,/ My face turns green and pale”, were referring to the nurse remembering her own childhood. I first read it as her having experienced something bad as a child, and watching the children play made her think of it. I thought this because it comes under “experience”. Then there’s the idea that she is actually envious of the children because they can be carefree and she can’t, or maybe wasn’t able to when she was a child. Either way, I think it is the experiences of the nurse that have shaped her perspective.

 

So there is a comparison of the difference between being innocent and being influenced by experience. There is the freedom that comes with being innocent, and having no worries in the world, and being at one with nature; then there is experience which can shape who you are and the way you perceive things.

In this instance, The poem of experience comes across as being negative, as if Blake believes that being innocent is better than experiencing things, but is this always the case? Is experience always a bad thing? Can’t we also learn from experiences to further develop who we are in a positive way? Or does Blake believe that ignorance is bliss; that it's better not to know and experience things; is it better to be innocent always?

 

I’m not sure, because I haven’t read any more of the poems, but are all the songs of Innocence portrayed in a positive way and all the songs of experience portrayed in a negative way? I guess I’ll learn this as we go along, but it’s just something that sparked in my mind which I’m curious about

 
By Carmel Dobson

Well we started this week with a brief intro to William Blake.  I am not too familiar with his works, and to be honest I'm not really that interested in studying him, but we'll see how we go.

In the lecture we discussed Blake's major influences on the world, in particular on contemporary society, and looked at some of the key ideas that come through his works. Blake places great emphasis on the imagination and it's influence on the world. He has very strong views on God (which were opposed by most people). He rejected the idea that God is above us, looking down on us... He believed that God is within us. He also believes in finding the extraordinary in something ordinary, finding beauty in everyday life, finding the universe in something simple.

It is these ideas that come through in Allen Ginsberg's "My Vision of Blake". In this piece, Ginsberg describes the emotions and revelations he experienced when reading one of Blake's poems; he describes the imact this poem had on him and his life. 

Ginsberg talks about how reading this poem made him feel as if he could hear God's voice saying the words, emphasising the idea that God is with us; "God is Man" (From On Berkley's Siris, 466); "it was like God had a human voice, with all the infinite tenderness and anciency and mortal gravity of a living Creator speaking to his son" (519).

He then goes on to talk about Blake's ideas on finding beauty from something simple or something great from something ordinary. It is through reading Blake's poem that he was able to come to the realisation of this, "But the spirit of the universe was what I was born to realise". He makes a complete transformation, just from reading Blake's poem. People too often take things for granted and forget what is really important, and Ginsberg is challenging this problem, with the help of Blake's works, "it was a sudden awakening into a totally deeper real universe than I'd been existing in" (I really like this quote, I think it completely sums up his experience and transformation, and it is said so beautifully. I think other people, even these days, need to have a similar awakening and realise there is more to life than what they usually expereince in their materialistic lives. I suppose that's why Blake has had such a lasting affect). It is because of Blake's poems that he is able to reflect on everyday life and find the beauty and extraordinary in something simple/ordinary, that people take for granted. He makes a connection between everyday things and the divine, and he wants to experience the spiritual essence of everything. For example, he is now able to look at the cornices of an old building and admire the work, finding the beauty within it. This something that poeple would bypass in their everyday lives and not be able to reflect upon or see it as something more than what it seems to be.