Friday, January 30, 2009

celtic knots

Celtic knots are a variety of (mostly endless) knots and stylized graphical representations of knots used for decoration, adopted by the ancient Celts. These knots are most known for their adaptation for use in the ornamentation of Christian monuments and manuscripts like the 8th century Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

 






"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Athens, a poem by Kostas Karyiotakis


Athens
A sweet hour. Athens sprawls like a hetaira
offering herself to April.
Sensuous scents are in the air,
the spirit waits for nothing any more.
The silver of the evening's eyelids
droops, grows heavy up above the houses.
Queenlike the Acropolis puts on
the sunset's crimson like a robe.
The first star rises with a kiss of light.
A zephyr by Ilissus falls in love with
quivering laurels, rosy nymphs.
A sweet hour of delight and love, when
small birds chasing one another raise a wind
that beats upon a column of Olympian Zeus...

a marvelous poem by K. Karyiotakis
and
a vivid photo by Italida


which i dedicate to Athens my birthplace which wounded lately



"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Santorini - The naked child

ÖåããáñïðáñìÝíç  (Spellbound by the moon)

Bend if you can to the dark sea forgetting
the flute's sound on naked feet
that trod your sleep in the other, the sunken life.

Write if you can on your last shell
the day the place the name
and fling it into the sea so that it sinks.

We found ourselves naked on the pumice stone
watching the rising islands
watching the red islands sink
into their sleep, into our sleep.
Here we found ourselves naked, holding
the scales that tipped toward injustice.

Instep of power, unshadowed will, considered love,
projects that ripen in th emidday sun,
course of fate with a young hand
slapping the shoulder;
in the land that was scattered, that can't resist,
in the land that was once our land
the islands, -rust and ash- are sinking.

Altars destroyed
and friends forgotten
leaves of the palm tree in mud.

Let your hands go traveling if you can
here on time's curve wtih the ship
that touched the horizon.
When the dice struck the flagstone
when the lance struck the breast-plate
when the eye recognized the stranger
and love went dry
in punctured souls;
when looking round you see
feet harvested everywhere
dead hands everywhere
eyes darkened everywhere;
when you can't any longer choose
even the death you wanted as your own-
hearing a cry,
even the wolf's cry,
your due:
let your hands go traveling if you can
free yourself from unfaithful time
and sink-
So sinks whoever raises the great stones.

Giorgos Seferis

"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Friday, January 16, 2009

A big Darwinian event




"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Droplet

Safely nestled
Like a crystal ball
On a baize surface,
It gleams, invitingly.

Sunlight catches its surface
And it winks back at me
As if to say:

“Study me closer
For a little while
And you won’t
Be disappointed.”




"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


so say we all......

so say we all .......yes it's true!


"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tales on an Inauguration Day

A Tale of Two Citis

By Daniel Politi
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at 7:03 AM ET
The Washington Post

leads with the Bush administration official in charge of deciding which detainees at Guantanamo Bay will go to trial declaring that the U.S. military tortured Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Saudi who allegedly intended to be a part of the Sept. 11 attacks. "We tortured Qathani," Susan Crawford, the convening authority of military commissions, said. Crawford has now become "the first senior Bush administration official responsible for reviewing practices at Guantanamo to publicly state that a detainee was tortured," declares the WP's Bob Woodward. The Wall Street Journal banners word that Citigroup will soon announce a plan to get rid of several of its businesses and shrink the giant company by one-third. Executives say the move "will essentially dismantle the financial colossus built by legendary deal maker Sanford Weill," reports the WSJ.

The New York Times
leads with Sen. Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing, where she vowed that the new administration would put diplomacy front-and-center, and hinted there would be a tougher stance on Israel. Although the former first lady faced some tough questions over her husband's fund-raising, she received lots of praise from lawmakers and no one doubts that she will be confirmed as the next secretary of state. The Los Angeles Times leads with a look at how hospitals are feeling the effects of the economic downturn as more patients are choosing to postpone medical care and are foregoing elective procedures. The story focuses on California but points out hospitals across the country are hurting due to the "the financial, economic and government crises" that are "hitting at once." USA Today leads an interview with President Bush, who said President-elect Barack Obama's biggest challenge will be to "protect the American people" from "an enemy attack."

To continue reading, click here.

Daniel Politi writes "Today's Papers" for Slate. He can be reached at todayspapers@slate.com.



"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

an aesopian fable

A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it.
He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair.
Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into
the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.

At last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.



~ crow fable ~

"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Like a bird

"I'm Like A Bird"

You're beautiful, that's for sure
You'll never ever fade
You're lovely but it's not for sure
That I won't ever change
And though my love is rare
Though my love is true

I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away
I don't know where my soul is, I don't know where my home is
(and baby all I need for you to know is)
I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away
I don't know where my soul is , I don't know where my home is
All I need for you to know is

Your faith in me brings me to tears
Even after all these years
And it pains me so much to tell
That you don't know me that well
And though my love is rare
Though my love is true

It's not that I wanna say goodbye
It's just that every time you try to tell me that you love me
Each and every single day I know
I'm going to have to eventually give you away
And though my love is rare
And though my love is true
Hey I'm just scared
That we may fall through
 

a fabulous song by Nelly Furtado 






"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler

Sunday, January 11, 2009

crane haiku

Slowly, graceful wings
Softly touch the still water.
Peace on quiet lake.







"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Homo Homini Lupus

homo homini lupus


"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Friday, January 9, 2009

Leaf of Gold and Green (Cyprus)

Mikis Theodorakis & Giorgos Dalaras

Composed by Mikis Theodorakis,
poetry by Leonidas Malenis for CyBC's documentary "To Nisi Tis Afroditis"
(The Island of Aphrodite) in 1964.


The leaf of gold and green in the song is not by chance.
There is a species of oak that grows only in Cyprus.
One side of the leaf is gold and the other is green.
The "Golden Oak" is the national tree of Cyprus.


"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


lusty

fire + woman = lust



"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Thursday, January 8, 2009

Ithaca - Penelope

Penelope
In the pathway of the sun,
In the footsteps of the breeze,
Where the world and sky are one,
He shall ride the silver seas,
He shall cut the glittering wave.
I shall sit at home, and rock;
Rise, to heed a neighbor's knock;
Brew my tea, and snip my thread;
Bleach the linen for my bed.
They will call him brave.

Dorothy Parker



Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema,
(January 8, 1836, Dronrijp, the Netherlands.- June 25, 1912 Wiesbaden, Germany)
was one of the most renowned painters of late nineteenth-century Britain.

Born in Dronrijp, the Netherlands, and trained
at the Academy of Antwerp, Belgium, he settled in England
in 1870 and spent the rest of his life there.
A classical-subject painter, he became famous for
his depictions of the luxury and decadence of the
Roman Empire, with languorous figures set in
fabulous marbled interiors or against a backdrop of dazzling blue Mediterranean sea and sky.



"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Wolf Moon

Moon bathed land,
Silver-kissed, luna sea:
Wolf moon, hunting moon -
Satellite no more, but
Heart of the wild,
Expressed in fur emerging from human skin,
Ephemeral transformation electric
Under me.




"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


steady pace

When I go walking on the ice,
My feet slip here and there.
But ice walking is no problem for
the furry bison.
Its ... just a staedy pace




"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler


Monday, January 5, 2009

my holy bible








"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."
Heraclitus the Riddler

Friday, January 2, 2009

Nude Descending
by Alicia Ostriker


Like a bowerbird trailing a beakful of weeds
Like prize ribbons for the very best

The lover, producer
Of another's pleasure

He whom her swollen lips await
Might wing through any day of the decade

A form of health insurance
For which it is never too late

Titanic, silver brush
Hindenburg, of exploding cigars a climax

The watery below, the fiery above
Ashes of print between--pigment between

If the crippled woman were to descend
From her bed, her fortress beyond midnight

Downstairs (nude/staircase) to the kitchen
Naked to sit at the table (writing/thinking)

She might hear the washer spin like a full orchestra
Complete a cycle like a train crash

Before the fiend would stare through the window
Step smoothly into the kitchen, stop some clocks.

Envy shapes a fig tree in one's breast,
That is, bluntly to say, a cancer,

That is to say
In a mind, a fertile windy field. A murdered child.

Well then, fear, primarily of falling.
Ebony surf toils on the beach, a glaze

At the same moment I am (from a cliff) falling
The kitchen fiend removes his Dior tie

Places his hand over the woman's
And softly says: I am the lover.

Now if the crippled woman began to dance
To pirouette, to rumba

Growling for her child
Her burning page, the devil would be shamed

(Materialism is not for everyone / Religion is
The extension of politics by other means)

Would disembody like a wicked smoke
Back to the status of myth

Away he'd streak, blue, into the--
O faun, we would finally call, farewell

O faun, we would faintly faintly call
O faun, we would, we would fondly--

She does not dance. She does not wish
To produce another's pleasure.

They have torn her apart
Into beige rectangles.
 


thanks jasper

"Ποταμοῖς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ἐμβαίνομέν τε καὶ οὐκ ἐμβαίνομεν, εἶμέν τε καὶ οὐκ εἶμεν."

"We both step and do not step in the same rivers. We are and are not."

Heraclitus the Riddler