Piece inspired by Josie's 'writing in puzzles'.
" Colourless
green ideas sleep furiously",
So the
great Chomsky wrote.
To
illustrate pure nonsense.
Word order
and inflection
Are worth
nothing without content.
Metaphor
upon metaphor,
As empty as
the linguist's quote.
Syntax
without semantics,
Naught but
a difficult word.
|
Absolutely
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
| How right you are! Thanks also for your review. |
the trouble is....
Written by patterjack (1159 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
... that you are in danger of dismissing the Metaphysical school of poets as well -- baby and bathwater criticism .
Refer Andrrew Marvell:
Annihilating all that's made
To a green thought in a green shade .
patterjack |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
Thanks Josie.
Heheh and now I also quoted the most quoted living person on earth...  |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
Thanks patterjack,
No idea what metaphysical poetry is. But then I seem to have a different definition of metaphysics than most people, more like in meta-language etc.
Seems philosophers like the colour green :-) Allthough white snow (what other colour?) is favourite as well. |
Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
I agree with both reviewers - and there's the difficulty. Still, well put.
Phil. |
metaphysical poets
Written by fellpony (1580 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
according to Wikipedia:
a group of British lyric poets of the 17th century, with an interest in metaphysical concerns. The label "metaphysical" was given much later by Samuel Johnson. These poets did not form a school or start a movement; most of them did not even know or read each other. Their style was characterized by wit, subtle argumentations, "metaphysical conceits", and/or an unusual simile or metaphor.
Notably:
John Donne
George Herbert
Andrew Marvell
"busy old fool, unruly sun..." |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 20th November 2007 |
Thanks Phil and fellpony,
Interesting. Well, according to Plato "all poets are liars", so I think what Josie and I just wrote is still gentle  |
HI Fledermaus
Written by jean.day (2257 comments posted) 25th November 2007 |
I really like this (allmost embarrassed to use those words in a review now) and it isn't the content so much as the flow of words that I find pleasing. I can't imagine what colourless green looks like. It is my favourite colour.
I especially like syntax without semantics. |
Written by Fledermaus (3238 comments posted) 25th November 2007 |
Thanks Jean,
The first line is a famous example by Noam Chomsky, who laid the foundations for modern syntax (and who's also the most quoted living person on earth). He used it to show we can have ideas about grammaticality even about meaningless sentences  |
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