Glittering Idly in the Moon

I loved this image from Book One. Young Wordsworth sneaks out one night and steals a skiff:

...It was an act of stealth
And troubled pleasure, nor without the voice
Of mountain echoes did my boat move on,
Leaving behind her still on either side
Small circles glittering idly in the moon
Until they melted all into one track
Of sparkling light.

Here's to troubled pleasure and secret midnight adventure!

Comments

[Eiron Page]

Nothing beats the innocent pleasure of moonlight joyriding. Do that sort of thing today and you get to write your poetry from behind bars.

[Greer]

No, no, no! We just have to return the boats exactly as we found them before sunrise. And, you know, hope that they don't have an alarm system.

[Eiron Page]

Does that work with cars too?

Father got told off for leaning on Wordsworth's writing desk. His cottage "beside the springs of Dove" is a good place to visit. It was just before reading The Prelude that I took a visit. I was in the midst of Danielewski's Only Revolutions at the time.

Ulysses update: another chapter down and really enjoying these last few. Still wishing I understood all the classical allusions.

[Greer]

Well, it's hard to imagine having the same kind of one-with-nature experience in a car. Though one can certainly have other kinds of romantic experiences in them ;).

I would love to see Wordsworth's cottage someday. My list of places to visit is always growing.

I had the same problem with the classical allusions when I was reading Keats (and of course also when I attempted Ulysses) so I feel for you. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Good that you're enjoying the last parts anyway though.

[adam]

That's Huck and Tom on the raft!! I read the first five pages of Huckleberry Finn when I was starting to think about what to do at university and decided then and there I was doing American Studies.

[adam]

Your spam checker thing just came up with Mr Knob. I am offended.

[Greer]

I'll have a word with the spam checker before I light out for the Territory.

[jc]

"Here's to troubled pleasure and secret midnight adventure"

I'll certainly drink to that.......although I'm finding it more and more difficult to stay awake beyond midnight without some sort of stimulant.....

[jc]

Oh and spam checker came up with 5x8bqp which could well be some sort of code among swingers....

[Greer]

JC, I agree about the staying up late, it's not getting any easier :). Maybe the code is a secret password so someday we can all get into a special elderly care facility with a really good sound system.