A random poem

I quote a random poem — perhaps inspired by miserable weather.

Осень лето смятое хоронит
Под листвой горючей.
Что он значит, хоровод вороний,
Перед белой тучей? 

Воронье распластанно мелькает,
Как подобье праха, -
Радуясь, ненастье ль накликает
Иль кричит от страха? 

А внизу дома стеснили поле,
Вознеслись над бором.
Ты кричишь, кричишь не оттого ли,
Бесприютный ворон? 

Где просёлок? Где пустырь в бурьяне?
Нет пустого метра.
Режут ветер каменные грани,
Режут на два ветра. 

Из какого века, я не знаю,
Из-под тучи белой
К ночи наземь пали эти стаи
Рвано, обгорело.

Алексей Прасолов

1971

 

A wonderful new blog

http://ideafoundlings.blogspot.com/

Simple pleasures of life

Naming Infinity

As a comment to Naming Infinity: A True Story of Religious Mysticism and Mathematical Creativity, a  book by Loren Graham and Jean-Michel Kantor, I post this image “Vespers” by  John Singer Sargent.

I love it for the expression of a specific concentration of mind which could be read as mystical — or mathematical, if one inclined so. What is the difference, after all? This is a common facial expression of a person in communication with the deepest level of his subconsciousness.  Sargent painted “Vespers” in an Orthodox monastery at Corfu, but I have seen the same faces, in the same kind of mediterranean light, say, at Luminy.

The painting is in a museum in Liverpool, I can attest that the original is much subtler than any reproduction.

More Lions in Lyon

black lion

lion at bellecour

lion at cafe leffe

another lion at bellecour

lion at villemanzy

lion on a bridge

pink lion

winged lion

Places I visited: a lion in Lyon

Halle de Lyon

lionathalledelyon

ladyandlion

Places I visited

 

Посольский тракт

The Tortoise Trainer

A mesmerising painting. This photograph gives only a hint of a subtle interplay of colours. 

Osman Hamdi Bey, The Tortoise Trainer

 

Places I visited: Scottish Café

 

The legendary Kawiarnia Szkocka of 1930-s (when I visited the place some years ago, it was called "Кафе Диетическое"). I cannot read on the photo its current name.

Dr Seuss’ Birthday

Today is the 105th anniversary of the birth of one Mr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to the world as the incredible, indelible Dr. Seuss. Nowadays, the real fame is when you are celebrated by Google: