A Rare Vitality
“It has occurred to me that one might define art as: an expression, satisfying and abiding, of the zest of life. This is applicable to every form of art devised by man, for in his creative moment, whether he produces a great drama or carves a piece of foliage in wood, the artist is moved and inspired by supreme enjoyment of some aspect of the world about him; an enjoyment in itself keener than that experienced by another man, and intensified, prolonged, by the power—which comes to him we know not how—of recording in visible or audible form that emotion of rare vitality. Art, in some degree, is within the scope of every human being, were he but the plough-man who utters a few would-be melodious notes, the mere outcome of health and strength, in the field at sunrise; he sings, or tries to, prompted by an unusual gusto in being, and the rude stave is all his own. Another was he who, also at the plough, sang of the daisy, of the field-mouse, or shaped the rhythmic tale of Tam o’Shanter. Not only had life a zest for him incalculably stronger and subtler than that which stirs the heart of Hodge, but he uttered it in word and music such as go to the heart of mankind and hold a magic power for ages.”
George Gissing
The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft, p. 55
Painting: A portrait of Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796), known as the Ploughman’s Poet. This image in in the public domain
In the passage above, Burns is the artist who “at the plough sang of the daisy, of the field-mouse, or shaped the rhythmic tale of Tam O’Shanter.” His poems “To a Mouse,” “To a Mountain Daisy,” and “Tam O’Shanter” are recognized worldwide as classics..
Another favorite Burns poem is “To a Louse,” addressed to a louse Burns spots on the fine bonnet of a lady. Jenny tosses her head, very aware of her finery, but oblivious to the ugly creature crowning her gauze and lace. The last stanza begins with these famous lines: “O wad some Power the giftie gie us/ To see oursels as ithers see us!” I was reminded of the poem last Sunday when friends sitting behind me alerted me to a house-fly perched on my head.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011