The Lovers’ Chronicle 16 December – La Carrozzo dei Fantasmi – birth of Jane Austen – art by Wassily Kandinsky

16 December 2023 By Rhett 0 In Random

Dear Zazie, Here is today’s Lovers’ Chronicle from Mac Tag dedicated to his muse. Rhett

The Lovers’ Chronicle

Dear Muse,

give yourself wholly, seek solace

in every reflection, resolve against

ever settlin’ for ordinary

to hear those lines which drive,

pronounced with such clarity

i did not then know what it was to feel

had i really felt, could i have believed

givin’ ourselves wholly to this

from an unknown,
inexorable source
comes the need

color, splashes
leapin’ without plan
laid bare or concealed
silent, scrupulous
in fanfare or played
pianissimo on the keys
and verse serene, cradlin’

are those not the means
embark, while we still can

La Carrozzo dei Fantasmi

playin’ in the background
from whence no return
the drum bangs slowly
to let someone near
best leave that lie and
embark that carriage…

never cared for that
to be understood
never knew what it was
to need someone…

a wanderer
on the high plains
carin’ not
if anyone
understands

Today is the birthday of Jane Austen (Steventon, Hampshire, England; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817 Winchester, Hampshire); novelist known primarily for her six major novels, which interpret, critique and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage in the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her use of biting irony, along with her realism, humour, and social commentary, have long earned her acclaim among critics, scholars, and popular audiences alike.

With the publications of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816), she achieved success as a published writer. She wrote two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began another, eventually titled Sanditon, but died before its completion. She also left behind three volumes of juvenile writings in manuscript, a short epistolary novel Lady Susan, and another unfinished novel, The Watsons. Her six full-length novels have rarely been out of print, although they were published anonymously and brought her moderate success and little fame during her lifetime.

Austen has inspired a large number of critical essays and literary anthologies. Her novels have inspired many films, from 1940’s Pride and Prejudice to more recent productions like Sense and Sensibility (1995), Emma (1996), Mansfield Park (1999), Pride & Prejudice (2005), and Love & Friendship (2016).

Sense and Sensibility

They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in future.
- Chapter 1
To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference!
- Chapter 13
Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience; or give it a more fascinating name: call it hope.
- Chapter 19
Her mind did become settled, but it was settled in a gloomy dejection. She felt the loss of Willoughby’s character yet more heavily than she had felt the loss of his heart…
- Chapter 32
There was a kind of cold hearted selfishness on both sides, which mutually attracted them; and they sympathised with each other in an insipid propriety of demeanour, and a general want of understanding.
- Chapter 34
I did not then know what it was to love […] had I really loved, could I have sacrificed my feelings to vanity, to avarice?
- Chapter 44

Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky, c. 1913 or earlier

And today is the birthday of Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky (Moscow; 4 December (16 December by the Gregorian calendar) 1866 – 13 December 1944 Neuilly-sur-Seine); painter and art theorist. He is credited with painting one of the first purely abstract works.