Tuesday, December 23, 2008

beloved Other

I've always enjoyed artistic works where the first persons point of view is stunned w/amazement (if they notice)when they encounter their own reflections. This might take the form of an alter ego, or maybe a doppelganger (or double, we all have 'em they say), or maybe just an illusion, a phantom, or a dream (or is it?)
Brilliant Argentinian tale teller Borges is so good at this smokemaking where truth may or may not be glimpsed.(and "the Other" is there) Someone who I think of as a classical romanticist, late Polish film maker,Kieslowski ,though offering more well known fine films, he has me spellbound with "The Double Life of Veronique". Someone who I think of as a classic romanticist is Robert Smith and his band The Cure.Many of his songs will take you to the middle,between the lines, to the unexplainable ("This Is A Lie" reflects on reflection for me)
Years ago, a love gave me Shakespeare's Love Sonnets. I tried to rouse & then maintain enthusiasm about them but their foreignness did not rhyme with my world, I abandoned them quickly.
Recently, I took immediately to the beautiful riddle-ishness in loving praise & passion of the spectre of the beloved Other.

Sonnet XLIII
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see
For all the day they view things unrespected.
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day.
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

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