The Italian nature artist Angela Maria Russo http://angelamariarusso.blogspot.com/ commented on one of my previous posts quoting the words written by the American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892). I think his words, intentionally provoking, give food for thought and deserve to be shared.
'I think I could turn and live with animals,
They are so placid and self contained,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respected or unhappy over the whole earth'.
Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass
Until next time! Matteo
Nice picture, please keep it going.
ReplyDeletecaro Matteo, grazie per la citazione e per aver scritto di nuovo il pensiero di Withman
ReplyDeletedi questi tempi sembra sempre più difficile non invidiare gli animali.
ciao
That is a beautiful poem. Thank you, Matteo, for posting it.
ReplyDeleteVery nice.
ReplyDeleteWhitman changed his posture after the war years and pondered numerous subjects.
Hi Matteo, Your sketches are delightful and the layout of the blog very impressive too. Whitman's poem rings so true for me. Where I live I am surrounded by birds, there are sometimes butterflies and bees and a hedgehog visits in the evening. There is something very direct and honest about an animal's emotions and responses.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Morelle
Thanks everybody, I'm glad the poem rings true for you. I also received a comment on FaceBook from a person who sayed that, in her opinion, the poet does not know much about human nature and even less about animal nature, because animals kill each other and humans are capable of such high and spiritual feelings.. now, feel free to add any thought, the debate is opened
ReplyDeleteGrazie a tutti, sono contento che la poesia dica il vero anche per voi. Ho ricevuto un commento su FaceBook da una persona la quale afferma che, secondo lei, il poeta non sa nulla riguardo la natura umana e anche meno riguardo quella animale, poiche' questi ultimi si uccidono selvaggiamente, mentre l'umanita' e'capace di un pensiero elevato e spirituale.. ora, il dibattito e' aperto, se volete aggiungete il vostro pensiero
Good morning from a country with rich fauna and flora ... at the Evros Delta in the Prespa lakes can be seen most kinds of birds. GREECE country a paradise ...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting photos and all the material from your block ....
We are the team ΣτάΛες στο ΓαΛάΖιοand I send greetings now!
dear Matteo
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Chennai, India
Very interesting blog, full of life and activity
best wishes
Wanphai Nongrum
http://photo-journal-for-reflection.blogspot.com
Walt Whitman was one of the first individuals to actually write about the spiritual in nature. Nature functions in balance and renewal, not unlike a human heart that is open, compassionate and renewed with each day's treasures.
ReplyDeleteCertainly much to learn from Nature and Whitman. But now I have the darn Kookaburra song that I learned in grade school in my head!
ReplyDelete:-)
Matteo, il tuo blog è magnifico e la tua tecnica è straordinaria! Sei bravissimo, complimenti.
ReplyDeleteMi ha fatto davvero piacere leggere un tuo commento sul mio blog, grazie mille.
Buon lavoro!
Thanks everybody for your comments, grazie Raffaele, detto da te mi lusinga! Buon lavoro anche a te!
ReplyDeleteHi Matteo,
ReplyDeleteI love your journal pages! Great little paintings of birds and such. Glad to have found you. Jacqueline
Thank you Jacqueline!
ReplyDeleteThis piece is elegant in its simplicity. I can still remember the song we learned about the Kookaburra in third grade. I can actually sing it today. lol
ReplyDeleteThere is a museum made of Walt Whitman's home, here in the Pacific Northwest. How lovely of you to remind us of his poetry. I didn't realize he wrote so beautifully.