Quintus: Lesson 1

Member since 2002 · Posted 22 Apr 2004 · Edited 22 Apr 2004 · 6 comments

His mind withdraws, like the tongue, too far back to swallow the water of a lake, green as moss. 'What colour would you prefer, you must drink' says the tutor. 'Make it the pale blue I know as water' 'but pale blue is the sky; the green is the eye of the sycamore that looks down on your lake. Drink, for you can see the fishes.'

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6 comments

[10] zodiac 22-Apr-04/6:22 AM Reply

Some of the punctuation is a little awry. For what it's worth:

His mind withdraws, like the tongue,
too far back to swallow
the water of a lake, green as moss.

'What colour would you prefer,
you must drink' says the tutor.

'make it the pale blue I know as water.'

'but pale blue is the sky;

green is the eye of the sycamore
that looks down on your lake.

Drink, for you can see the fishes.'

Otherwise, ace.

[n/a] richa › zodiac 22-Apr-04/6:37 AM Reply

thanks,

[10] zodiac › richa 22-Apr-04/6:58 AM Reply

Hey, thanks for listening.

[10] Shuushin 22-Apr-04/7:02 AM Reply

Tasty. Tasty like delicous little fishes.

[9] Fear of Garbage 22-Apr-04/7:33 AM Reply

nice. are there going to be more lessons or is this a one time thing?

[10] deleted user 22-Apr-04/11:52 AM Reply

This may be the first time I think I understand a poem of yours.
The lesson of the tutor is repugnant green.
The student wants cushy blue.
But the icky green is just a reflection from the sycamore.
But what are the fishes - reflections of sycamore leaves, maybe.
All sorts of nice implications here.
Love it.