Ok, how about this for a starter? I recently learned that there is a newly
designated 'eighth level of intelligence' (and I don't have my list handy
of the first seven - it's offsite at the moment). Anyway, the eighth level
is ascribed to those who come to understand 'life' by closely viewing
Nature. Examples would probably be Thoreau, Joseph Wood Krutch, Aldo
Leopold, Edward Abbey, John Muir, and Emily Dickinson, to name a few.
Dickinson in rather select company! It seems to me that, if one reads and
enjoys her 'nature' and 'garden' poems, one is eventually guided to the
conclusion that she gained a tremendous amount of insight simply by
watching flowers grow, listen to the breeze whisper in the trees, etc. etc.
-- insights which she used as metaphors to describe the heights of her
perception of the human condition, as she observed it in her rather limited
community.
Circumference at its best, or so it would seem.
She was obviously intensely intelligent in many other ways, but I can't
help but feel that, in this eighth level, her 'peers' are far more
recognized by those who tend to devour Muir, Thoreau, and company.
Dickinson belongs with them, imho.
Any comments? I don't have any poems at my fingertips to demonstrate just
now, but I'd bet that most Dickinson devotees have favorites. In how many
directions did her close observation of nature lead her?
More later when time permits, if the interest is out there.
Perry
At 06:01 PM 2/22/00 GMT, you wrote:
>
>Now that I have your attention...!! Quite a few folks have subscribed but
>few have posted anything. I know I'm not an expert at this yet, but I need
>practice! So come on, y'all, let's get some discussion going. Paul,
>Christopher, make up something, anything, about you or talk about the DEA
>and what you think about it so far.
>
>Come on, guys, let's give this majordomo a run for his money!! ;)
>
>
>Dr. Marcy Tanter
>Department of English and Languages
>Box T-0300
>Tarleton State University
>Stephenville, TX 76401
>
>254 968-9892
>
>"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it's [sic]
>most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people
>who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another
>hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither.
>This piratical warfare, the opprobium of INFIDEL powers, is the warfare of
>the CHRISTIAN king of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market
>where MEN should be bought & sold, he has prostituted his negative for
>suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or to restrain this
>execrable commerce."
>
>--Thomas Jefferson, rough draft of The Declaration of Independence, 1776
>
>
PLN
----------------
"Ecrasez l'infame" (Voltaire)
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