fictionadventurer

The Lord of the Rings is so full of goodness. It's good on a literary quality level, but it's also just crammed full of good things written by a guy who understands goodness. It's good on a literary level, good on a moral level, good in its appreciation of so many different kinds of good things. You've got the vastness of ancient myths and the homely coziness of small towns and casual heroism from the most ordinary people. It knows a hot bath is good, an ancient legend is good, giving up everything and everyone you've known in a desperate attempt to save the world is good. So many different layers of what good is, and it understands and appreciates all of them. Very few books are to-the-core Good the way that this one is.

Last night I dreamed that you did not return. Today is fair. The little maid filled a silver bowl shaped like a swan with roses for my bedside, with the dark red they call Brennende Liebe, which I find so beautiful.

Louise Glück, from “Brennende Liebe” in Poems 1962-2012

podcastwizard

sorry boss can't come in today i was on my way to work and then a gentle spring breeze kissed my cheek and reminded me it is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world

And always on the tray a rose, and always the sun branded on the river and the men in summer suits, in linen, and the girls, their skirts circled in shadow…

Louise Glück, from “Brennende Liebe” in Poems 1962-2012