East of Eden

And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years and begat a son in his own likeness and called him Seth: And Seth lived a hundred and five years and begat Enos: And Enos lived ninety years and begat Ca-i…

Source: East of Eden

Don’t you just hate it when

Don’t you just hate it When that cheeky Chirpy little guest Uninvited but tolerated Lodging in your attic Weaving his nest Hibernating the winter Harmlessly slumbering Unobtrusive Unassuming Unnoti…

Source: Don’t you just hate it when

My moment of Zen

My first day as Director of Studies of our school in Porto. … By 6.00 o’clock I was feeling rather weary and the confident, alert but friendly expression I’d been wearing all day was beginning to s…

Source: My moment of Zen

My Lyre of David

I have occasionally wondered about the relationship between Psalter, Lyre and Music. (Get a life, will ya!) The word psalms is derived from the Greek Ψαλμοί (Psalmoi), perhaps originally meaning mu…

Source: My Lyre of David

Mr, Eliot’s peaceful Xmas

I woke one morning last month with the memory that I was in possession of a Christmas card from T.S. Eliot, in his capacity as director of the Publishing house of Faber & Faber, to my aunt Mary…

Source: Mr, Eliot’s peaceful Xmas

My Delphin Virgil

Another old family book is the OPERA of P. VIRGILII MARONIS published in London 1759 (a reprint of 1722 folio edition). It is dedicated to Serenissimi DELPHINI My father writes The original Delphin…

Source: My Delphin Virgil

Alexander Pope & Co.

Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744) is generally considered as the greatest English poet of the eighteenth century. He is chiefly celebrated for his satires and translations of the ancient Greek poet Home…

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I hear voices

I hear voices which caress Like a breeze whispering Across a field of lavender In fragrant Provence   Alluring voices inviting me To dally in shaded gardens Being served chilled sherbet On the bank…

Source: I hear voices

Dover Beach

During the early sixties the Port of Dover still had medium-priced respectable hotels with names like The White Cliffs with potted plants in the lounge and middle-aged bow-tied pianists playing sub…

Source: Dover Beach

Rage against the dying of the light

I am out of sorts, out of countenance, pissed off, seriously displeased, seething with anger, incandescent with rage. (I’m rather annoyed today). So I take up my pencil, switch on the automatic pil…

Source: Rage against the dying of the light