Baffling Combustions

Here we discuss by turns St. Francis of Assisi's "Canticle to the Sun," most of which was composed in late 1224 while recovering from an illness. according to tradition. Further, the first time it was sung in its entirety was by Francis and Brothers Angelo and Leo, two of his original companions, on Francis' deathbed, the final verse praising "Sister Death" having been added only a few minutes before. From there to here, the Sun and all its raiments, rises here. This sessions ends with a reading of the song read in the native Unbrian language by Tony Cataldo of the All Souls Ecumenical Catholic Church. For more and the text of the Song we use (so you can read along):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canticle_of_the_Sun

In this fast-paced, spontaneous, testy analysis, we examine the poem "Without" by Jo Harjo, published in the New Yorker magazine. This session includes Harjo reading the poem, courtesy of the magazine, the link to which (and its text) is here:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/11/without

In this fast-paced, spontaneous, testy analysis, we examine the poem "Half-Life in Exile" by Hala Alyan, published in the September 20, 2021 edition of the New Yorker magazine. This session includes the background tuning of Steve Cohn and Carl Baugher's "Heliotropism" and Alyan reading the poem, courtesy of the magazine, the link to which (and its text) is here:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/27/half-life-in-exile

Here's the second part of our far ranging and fetching session on the term "swerve," and here attempts to speak of and into its application to Lucretius and his brand of Epicurean thought. This was recorded in October of 2019 - a throwback to the dawn of Baffling Combustions, and no. 11 on our chronology. To connect with the first part, Swerve I, here's link (or use whatever accustomed podcast platform):

https://soundcloud.com/bafflingcombustions/swerve-1?si=564c31d32ec24549ba4af32f598a162c

In this fast-paced, spontaneous, testy analysis, we examine the poem "Tin" by Jane Hirshfield, published in the September 13, 2021 edition of the New Yorker magazine. This session includes Hirshfield reading the poem, courtesy of the magazine, the link to which (and its text) is here:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/09/13/tin

Here is another installment (no. 7) in our on-going examination of the poet, printer and radical William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell," a prose poem first published in THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, written between the years 1798 and 1803. We look at the proverbs: "The fox condemns the trap, not himself"; and "Joys impregnate. Sorrows bring forth." To note, in these sessions, we do a granular - and maybe even (in keeping with Blake) infinitely so - reading of this perfect articulation of things we're still working out.

Ending in Howlin' Wolf's "If You Hear Me Howlin'" not-to-be-missed soundtrack from the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival, here is another installment in our on-going examination of the poet, printer and radical William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell," a prose poem first published in THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, written between the years 1798 and 1803. We look at the proverb, "The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea, and the destructive sword, are portions of eternity too great for the eye of man." To note, in these sessions, we do a granular - and maybe even (in keeping with Blake) infinitely so - reading of this perfect articulation of things we're still working out.

Here again, installment in on-going examination of the poet, printer and radical William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell," a prose poem first published in THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, written between the years 1798 and 1803. We look at the proverbs "The nakedness of woman is the work of God"; and "Excess of sorrow laughs. Excess of joy weeps." To note, in these sessions, we do a granular - and maybe even (in keeping with Blake) infinitely so - reading of this perfect articulation of things we're still working out.

In this fourth part of an ongoing session, we look at the poet, printer and radical William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell," a prose poem first published in THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, arguable his first attempt - written between the years 1798 and 1803, coincident with the start and subsequent bending of the French Revolution - to articulate a personal philosophy. Here we spend all to puzzle out the proverb, among others, "Prisons are built of stones of Law, Brothels by bricks of Religion." In these sessions, we do a granular - and maybe even (in keeping with Blake) infinitely so - reading of this perfect articulation of things were still working out.

In this third part of an ongoing session, we look at the poet, printer and radical William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell," a prose poem first published in THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, arguable his first attempt - written between the years 1798 and 1803, coincident with the start and subsequent bending of the French Revolution - to articulate a personal philosophy. In these sessions, we do a granular - and maybe even (in keeping with Blake) infinitely so - reading of this perfect articulation of things were still working out.