"with delicatesse" [rubai]
(i)
Glorious rubies might be persuaded out of a stone
shimmering smiles could grow elated out of a groan
those who persuade with delicatesse find happiness
many a freshet's joy has cascaded from the unknown
(ii)
by the sweat of one's brow one can work for good or ill
by one's skill at the prow one can sail to all or nill
it takes labor to live! & even more work to expire!
by the strength of one's vow one either can cure or kill
Glorious rubies might be persuaded out of a stone
shimmering smiles could grow elated out of a groan
those who persuade with delicatesse find happiness
many a freshet's joy has cascaded from the unknown
(ii)
by the sweat of one's brow one can work for good or ill
by one's skill at the prow one can sail to all or nill
it takes labor to live! & even more work to expire!
by the strength of one's vow one either can cure or kill
posted by david raphael israel at 5:20 PM
8 Comments:
Delicacy, surely? Or are you claiming poetic license?
ah Mr. Tree, glad you asked.
No, in fact, I feel no need to (in this instance) and hence I vigorously decline a claim of poetic license here. Mind you, it is a thing I should be happy to claim & rely on, when needed; but it is in no wise necessary for the situation of this poem. Rather, what I claim is Merriam-Webster [unabridged]. I hope this clarifies the matter. ;-)
cheers,
d.i.
ps: on the other hand, it might well be possible for some to find happiness through persuasion by means of epicure fineries afforded by a particularly exquisite delicatessen. That is an idea that was not in the forefront of my thoughts when composing the verse. It yet remains a perhaps evocative (howsoever tangential), and furthermore verbally cognate, culinaristic afterthought.
It spoke so much of the culinary ( and even the 'Deli')that delicateness and delicacy seemed to recede...
May I remind you that I am Ms.Tree and not Mr. Tree?
Ms. Tree! profuse apologies for the mixup on my part. When you say that "it" spoke of such-and-such, I must confess ignorance regarding what this "it" is intended to point to. If to my poem, -- well surely not. If to the dictionary definition, I daresay it seems (to my sensibility) so horribly terse and concise, as to not allow for much of any such "much"ness. I'm afraid that might then leave the "it" as my 2nd of two posts above (which does, as a tangential afterthought, indeed make mention of a Deli). I remain confused as to your thought here, but I will accept anyway the fact you may not so much care for the word delicatesse. It would indeed be a dereliction, and a poor showing of delicatesse on my part, should I fail to affirm your sovereign right to prefer and admire some words and to disfavor others. For my poem here, I will nonetheless confess some personal happiness with regard to that particular word-choice.
The sense in which you use the term 'delicatesse'( it!)is something I am enlightened about AFTER your responses.I was merely trying to provide the context of my first comment.
ah Ms Tree, thanks -- I now see your meaning; pardon my slowness. The word itself spoke to you of the culinary, and even -- in its syllables -- made mention of the deli. Quite so! Yes, that is an association we naturally jump to. Somehow or other I lately stumbled on this word, and was pleased to discover (contrary to some expectations) what it does in fact mean. No doubt one way our vocabularies expand sometimes, is through these surprises.
Thanks as always for the visit & remarks.
obliged, d.i.
i'm no expert commentor. but i especially like 'delicatesse'... and there is a gentle flow and rythm in the lines
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