Monday 11 January 2016

Putting others first...what you had to say. The poem Ode to Man says it all.




Hello there!

I was very gratified by your reaction to my IWSG post on putting other people first and using our gift for writing for the common good at this time of year when we're struggling with keeping our New Year's Resolutions or ambivalent regarding their worth.

I can't reprint them all, but if you missed the post and the sincere comments, go here. Here are just some extracts from comments:


Jen Chandler: 'Every little bit we can do to make someone's life brighter or someone's load lighter is a miracle.'

Melissa Sugar:  'I'm always striving to show my kids ways we can help better the lives of people who truly need our help and can benefit most from it. I see no reason why I can't use the Internet to demonstrate that.'

Donna Hole 'I do what I can to help people, and hope others are doing their part too.'

Christine Rains: 'I do my best to be a good role model for my son in not only donating money and things, but donating my time to help others. Making others feel good makes you feel good too.'

Stephanie Faris: '...when we went through a flood, every dollar we received from friends and family made a difference. Most of the money that went to charity never reached victims...'

Alex'I'd rather help someone else than myself anyway.'

DMS (Jess): '...we can't give up hope! Sometimes things look bleak, but every smile, wave, kindness, dollar to someone who needs it does help. Good deeds are like ripples in the water and although we may not know the impact of each one, we also can't know what would have happened if we hadn't tried.' 

I was touched by the thoughtful comments. Thank you! We can make a difference~

Here is a poem I thought apt to the topic and the beginning of a new year,,,

"many things strange
terrible
clever
wondrous
monstrous
marvelous
dreadful
awful
and
weird
there are in the world
but none more
strange
terrible
clever
uncanny
wondrous
marvelous
dreadful
awful
and
weird
than Man
he sails across the sea in blasting winter
he ploughs the inexhaustible earth year after year
the race of birds
the tribes of beasts
the underwater creatures all
he drives into his net."

The Ode to Man, an amazing poem that resonates, even more so to know it is included in the play, Antigone, written by  Sophocles and his fellow Greek tragedians Aeschylus and Euripides around 441BC. (Modern translation by poet, Anne Carson).

'It is crafty and snakey and quicksilver, it's nifty and swift and strange...but it sounds utterly contemporary. You can smell the air of wordplay and ambivalence in the cascade of wonderstruck synonyms.' 
(Peter Craven, critic). 

Let's embark on 2016 trying not to be that Man.

If you like my post, please take a moment to hit the social media buttons. Thank you!

Have a great week!

And, yes, that is a new header...new year, new look. Do you like it? (Thanks to thecutestblogontheblock.)



26 comments:

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's a classy and professional header.

Some wonderful responses to your post.

Jo said...

Not sure how I missed your post although I shy away from IWSG because I don't write. Good comments you have included.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Powerful poem.
Thanks for including my quote.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Denise - great comments .. but the blogging fraternity is special. I'd have never known it was Antigone - if you hadn't told us .. so thank you for that.

Marinela has some great quotes going on ... and I love the idea of giving over my soles to another soul ... cheers Hilary

H. R. Sinclair said...

Wonderful responses!

Love the new header.

cleemckenzie said...

I just heard the organizer of a Second Harvest Food Bank speak, and it was so touching what she's been able to do for those who need food. I was deeply touched by what started her on this course, and I'd love to write her story to serve the common good.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi Denise,
Love the new header! I won't even attempt it. Every time I try to change things on my blog I screw it up big time! :)
A wonderful response to a meaningful post! Congratulations!
Interesting poem!

Jemi Fraser said...

Love the new header!
I loved reading those comments. Helping out is a mandatory part of being a human being -- or it should be! I don't know if we can truly be complete with that aspect to our personalities.

Stephanie Faris said...

2016 will be a great year. I feel it! Your new header looks great.

Chrys Fey said...

That Ode to Man was marvelous and powerful.

Helping each other is what we should do. I'd hate to live in a world where no one is compassionate. There still are people out there doing generous things. We just don't often hear about it.

Love your header!

Denise Covey said...

Glad you like the Ode to Man and my header Chrys. Compassion is sorely needed.

Crystal Collier said...

Let me second everything in this post. Such a wonderful focus. My mom would always tell me if I was feeling miserable, I just needed to go do something for someone else. (This from a mother of 8. Wise, wise woman.)

Denise Covey said...

Mothers are the wisest of souls!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Stephanie.

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Jemi. I agree. If only...

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Yolanda. You undersell your techie talens!

Denise Covey said...

I hope you do write her story Lee. We need more stories like this!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks HR!

Denise Covey said...

So do I Hilary. Thank you!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks for a quote-worthy quote Alex!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Jo. Amazing bloggers all!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks for liking my header, L Diane. Coming from you that's special.

dolorah said...

All such lovely thoughts. I am always moved by the goodness of others.

Denise Covey said...

I know Donna. Thank you for your comment today and for the last post.

DEZMOND said...

congrats on the new header!

Cherie Reich said...

Such a beautiful new header! It's always fun to spruce things up for a new year.