Literature clue (9th May) - Solved

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

ncefafn	09 May 2004
It's Sunday, so we need an easy one. Here's one of the "Songs of Myself" from my favorite American poet, Walt Whitman: I do not snivel that snivel the world over, That months are vacuums and the ground but wallow and filth. Whimpering and truckling fold with powders for invalids, conformity goes to the fourth-remov'd, I wear my hat as I please indoors or out. Why should I pray? why should I venerate and be ceremonious? Having pried through the strata, analyzed to a hair, counsel'd with doctors and calculated close, I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones. In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barley-corn less, And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them. I know I am solid and sound, To me the converging objects of the universe perpetually flow, All are written to me, and I must get what the writing means. I know I am deathless, I know this orbit of mine cannot be swept by a carpenter's compass, I know I shall not pass like a child's carlacue cut with a burnt stick at night. I know I am august, I do not trouble my spirit to vindicate itself or be understood, I see that the elementary laws never apologize, (I reckon I behave no prouder than the level I plant my house by, after all.) I exist as I am, that is enough, If no other in the world be aware I sit content, And if each and all be aware I sit content. One world is aware and by far the largest to me, and that is myself, And whether I come to my own to-day or in ten thousand or ten million years, I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness I can wait. My foothold is tenon'd and mortis'd in granite, I laugh at what you call dissolution, And I know the amplitude of time.

Suriel	09 May 2004
The magician?

ncefafn	09 May 2004
Nope, not the Magician

gloria	09 May 2004
I'll try The Hanged Man.

ncefafn	09 May 2004
Nope, not him either. (The Hanged Man, that is.) Kim

Suriel	09 May 2004
The wheel of fortune?

jmd	09 May 2004
Hermit.

Dark Eyes	10 May 2004
Maybe "the Moon".. :cool:

gloria	10 May 2004
Having read this through a few more times I'm inclined to go with Debs and the Moon. :cool: However, I'll try the Sun.....:)

Dark Eyes	10 May 2004
Yes Kim, I have to second Gloria... I wasn't sure whether to admit that I found it ever so slightly difficult, for fear of being thought of as thick !! ...........................:confused: ..........D. p.s. Gloria, where did you go, I was feeling very secure because of your posting, but then it disappeared, and now I feel silly... :laugh: lmao

gloria	10 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dark Eyes Yes Kim, I have to second Gloria... p.s. Gloria, where did you go, I was feeling very secure because of your posting, but then it disappeared, and now I feel silly... :laugh: lmao :laugh::laugh: What I originally said was....If this is meant to be easy, thank god it wasn't Thursday, or words to that effect. Definitely a toughie.....:confused:

mercenary30	10 May 2004
Four of Swords?

ncefafn	10 May 2004
None of the above, although everyone but Merc is in the right ballpark, but I love Merc's new avatar. I think he changes them every two days now! :) Kim

mercenary30	10 May 2004
Well, I thought the Hermit might have been it, so I took an off the wall answer just because......... Let us see if this guess is closer...... I will say The Chariot as this person has the control and confidence needed to steer it well. (Thanks for the compliment on my avatar. I changed because I didn't like the last one so well.)

gloria	10 May 2004
Everytime I read these lines I change my mind....could it be The Emperor?

ncefafn	10 May 2004
Oh, golly, I guess I'm the idiot for thinking it was so obvious. No to the guesses so far, and look at the last two stanzas in particular. Kim

mercenary30	10 May 2004
The World?

ncefafn	10 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mercenary30 The World? YES!! Oh, thank goodness! For me the whole poem is about being satisfied and complete within yourself, regardless of external situations. Lines like "I know I am deathless, / I know this orbit of mine cannot be swept by a carpenter's compass" speak of the timelessness of the World. And lines like "One world is aware and by far the largest to me, and that is myself, / And whether I come to my own to-day or in ten thousand or ten million years, / I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness I can wait" speak of perfection, of the soul's existence outside of time. I do so love Walt Whitman, and I guess I'm so into him that I failed to see that others could take the poem differently. Sincere apologies! Kim

Dark Eyes	11 May 2004
Hey Gloria, Don't apologise, it was a great poem, and it does make sense as always, when one knows the answer. I loved the poem. Well done Gloria, and Merc !!! Regards... D. ;)

gloria	11 May 2004
I second what Dark Eyes has said....except that credits go to Kim. Kim...they are all toughies as far as I am concerned when on the thinking end.....hope you didn't take offence at my comments, because I can assure you none was intended. :) Gloria.

ncefafn	11 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by gloria .hope you didn't take offence at my comments, because I can assure you none was intended. :) Gloria. Not at all. :) I like playing much more than leading, so I always angst when someone doesn't guess my clue right off. Kim

gloria	11 May 2004
Kim...can you explain your 'new' signature? I don't understand it. G.

OakDragon	11 May 2004
I sure hope she will explain it! I'm offended by it! ;)

ncefafn	11 May 2004
Well, the sig line used to read, "Death to Martians," but then some Martian complained to one of the moderators, and you know the rest of the story . . .

mercenary30	11 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ncefafn Well, the sig line used to read, "Death to Martians," but then some Martian complained to one of the moderators, and you know the rest of the story . . . hehHHEHEHEhehahhahahah! I wonder if my sig is insulting to scientists?

OakDragon	11 May 2004
"Scientific study proves there is no certainty..."? I tell ya, if I was a scientist, I'd be offended by that! (It's an unscientific statement). ;)

Dark Eyes	11 May 2004
OOps. Sorry Kim, and Gloria. Was so tired last night that I got everybody confused and credited the wrong person. What a dunce I am. :( Anyway, I like all your poems, passages and challenges both kim and Gloria, maybe that is why. p.s Love the signiature Kim, no offence is good offence...? :D

The Literature clue (9th May) - Solved thread was originally posted on 09 May 2004 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.