"The House by the Side of the Road" may not be up to our critical standards of greatness in poetry, but it does express rather well Charles Peirce's idea of Arisbe, and by extention, the idea of philosophy as musement rather than argumnet.
A somewhat better poem by Catskill naturalist John Burroughs, whose grave at Woodchuck Lodge I visited some time ago, expresses one aspect of the spirit of virtual community behind sites like Tribe and Tribes like Arisbe.
WAITING
John Burroughs
Serene, I fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for wind nor tide nor sea;
I rave no more 'gainst time or fate,
For lo! my own shall come to me.
I stay my haste, I make delays--
For what avails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways
And what is mine shall know my face.
Asleep, awake, by night or day,
The friends I seek are seeking me;
No wind can drive my bark astray
Nor change the tide of destiny.
What matter if I stand alone?
I wait with joy the coming years.
My heart shall reap where it has sown,
And garner up its fruit of tears.
The waters know their own, and draw
The brook that springs in yonder height;
So flows the good with equal law
Unto the soul of pure delight.
The stars come nightly to the sky;
The tidal wave unto the sea;
Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
Can keep my own away from me.
A somewhat better poem by Catskill naturalist John Burroughs, whose grave at Woodchuck Lodge I visited some time ago, expresses one aspect of the spirit of virtual community behind sites like Tribe and Tribes like Arisbe.
WAITING
John Burroughs
Serene, I fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for wind nor tide nor sea;
I rave no more 'gainst time or fate,
For lo! my own shall come to me.
I stay my haste, I make delays--
For what avails this eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways
And what is mine shall know my face.
Asleep, awake, by night or day,
The friends I seek are seeking me;
No wind can drive my bark astray
Nor change the tide of destiny.
What matter if I stand alone?
I wait with joy the coming years.
My heart shall reap where it has sown,
And garner up its fruit of tears.
The waters know their own, and draw
The brook that springs in yonder height;
So flows the good with equal law
Unto the soul of pure delight.
The stars come nightly to the sky;
The tidal wave unto the sea;
Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,
Can keep my own away from me.
posted by:
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New York City
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Unsu...
Re: "The friends I seek are seeking me."
Wed, January 7, 2004 - 3:47 PMI thought I had a lot of energy....but you take the cake. You're like the Energizer Bunny! May you never slow down. It's inspiring.
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Re: "The friends I seek are seeking me."
Thu, January 8, 2004 - 6:17 AMvery nice poem.
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Re:
Thu, January 8, 2004 - 2:03 PMYes!
By way of response, Tennyson, from "Ulysses", to wit:
"...Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield." -
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Unsu...
Re:
Wed, January 21, 2004 - 8:47 AMI want to say something literate right now, but I am just too damn tired. Still, it is so nice to meet people who have actually read something. -
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I know that feeling well...
Wed, January 21, 2004 - 1:33 PMIt is certainly not necessary that we always have something witty, literate, or intellectual to say, or post, rather. But, it is nice to know people who have been places, had interesting experiences, and read a book or two in their lives, who we can spend some time w/---whether in person (Allah willing) or online. And thanks to Frank (Arisbe) for providing this tribe for us!
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Re: "The friends I seek are seeking me."
Wed, January 21, 2004 - 1:33 PMIt is a nice poem .; the end of the road where beginnings and endings come together. So peaceful and yet invigorating. Nice to be with everyone here, this landing site for the weary soul.
