Contd. Ellipsis

[saparris]

They also serve who only stand and wait.

I think we could adapt this last line to "they also serve who only sit and parse."

[LukeJavan8]

How about a little John Milton? It's not Old English, but it's old.

On His Blindness

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.

WOW!
I had almost forgotten that one.
I had to memorize it back in high school.
Remember memorizing????
Does any school have their kids do that anymore??

[LukeJavan8]

They also serve who only stand and wait.

I think we could adapt this last line to "they also serve who only sit and parse."

Don't know why it is there twice, another computer
thingie I guess.

But thank the stars I don't sit and parse, my life is free
of that constriction on my lifestyle.

[saparris]

WOW!
I had almost forgotten that one.

Milton is one of my favorite poets of that era, along with John Donne.

It's amazing to me that Milton wrote Paradise Lose while blind (dictated it, actually). All 10,576 lines!

[Enigma]

It's amazing to me that Milton wrote Paradise Lose while blind (dictated it, actually). All 10,576 lines

Why is it amazing? He is free from all distractions.

[saparris]

Why is it amazing? He is free from all distractions.

Could you write 10,000+ lines of iambic pentameter in the dark?

[LukeJavan8]

Who'd want to?
You live in the dark and look at what you produce !

[Enigma]

Why is it amazing? He is free from all distractions.

Could you write 10,000+ lines of iambic pentameter in the dark?

I could dictate 10,000+ lines, not of lambic pentameter though. But I don't know if his being blind makes it that much more impressive. Maybe I'm wrong--I don't know, because I'm not blind myself. Are you?

[saparris]

I could dictate 10,000+ lines, not of lambic pentameter though.

Could you dictate 10,000+ complex sentences, then go back and reduce them all? That's what I imagine writing poetry blind would be like.

I'm not blind myself. Are you?

Yes, but I have a good flashlight.

[Enigma]

Could you dictate 10,000+ complex sentences, then go back and reduce them all? That's what I imagine writing poetry blind would be like.

I could. But that doesn't mean that I would or that the 'complex' sentences would be any good.

[LukeJavan8]

You should both try: Find a thread, and each contribute
a line in iambic pentameter. Don't have a theme: just
contribute a line and see where it goes.

At least it would keep you busy.

[saparris]

Iamb personally not up for such a project, not am I well versed in co-authorship.

[LukeJavan8]

Ah, well, I tried. Our loss.

[saparris]

But I might change my mind if we made it all inclusive. Everyone plays according to some set of rules.

[Enigma]

But I might change my mind if we made it all inclusive. Everyone plays according to some set of rules.

What are you responding to here?