Comments | idler_1814: Life and Limb

idler_1814

Life and Limb

May 15, 2006 11:26

A drabble. Inspired by a recent piece of black-hound's incomparable artwork, reproduced here--with her kind permission--behind the cut. So much is expressed in this single compelling image, and I've attempted to capture some small part of it in these 100 words:

( Life and Limb )

Comments 11

black_hound May 15 2006, 20:55:23 UTC

Dude. O.O

This is fabulous. Man, I love it. Just love it.

I love this phrase to death: Men unwilling to bear his passing sought means so the dead might walk,

And really, I am flattered beyond measure that the artwork moved you enough to write such lovely words.

:)

idler_1814 May 16 2006, 15:56:10 UTC

Thanks,BH...you're very kind, and it's much appreciated. But I'm sure I didn't do the artwork justice: there's no way 100 words are enough.

pamdram May 16 2006, 08:58:33 UTC

This is so moving, I have a lump in my throat!

What a marvellous piece of work (on both counts)

WOW

idler_1814 May 16 2006, 16:22:36 UTC

Thanks! It seemed a bit much, really, as I wrote it, though CSF did tell us: ".....there were times during the next few days when Hornblower had to give him encouragement when he was learning to walk. All the difficulties that arose had been unforseen by him, and depressed him out of proportion to their importance..."

I see such depression(at least the outward expression of it)as sufficiently uncharacteristic of Bush to suggest that he might well have sunk this low in this thoughts; for Hornblower to abandon his normal reserve confirms it, for me.

Thus...angst ahoy!

pamdram May 17 2006, 17:27:44 UTC

Angst ahoy indeed! *bows to the mistress of angst*

idler_1814 May 17 2006, 20:03:04 UTC

*Mistress of Angst*, hmm? Maybe so, but I usually try to serve a hefty dollop of hope on the side.

fiddlie June 9 2006, 02:38:48 UTC

On the contrary, I think limiting yourself to a hundred words has complimented the picture beautifully. Just enough to give it context, and enough unsaid to leave me pondering it for weeks. I have never had a poet's talent and am consistently amazed by those that can use words so succintly and powerfully. Another home run.

Have friended you to keep up with such lovelies when they come. Feel no compulsion to friend back as I am an unabashed rambler. ;D

idler_1814 June 15 2006, 18:29:33 UTC

I know there are many definitions for the term "drabble", but I tend to like the structure of the rigid 100 word limit. It really makes me choose every word with care, and to try to pack as much meaning as I can into the available space. This time, though, I was about ready to re-think my rules: I felt that I needed another 10 or so words at least! I'm still thinking that little more context might have been an improvement, and I may tweak it a little if I can make it work.

Thanks so much for your generous comments! I can't claim a 'poet's talent' either, but I've had a lot of fun in giving it a try.

And I did friend you back. Lovely, lovely icon, btw!!!

(The comment has been removed)

idler_1814 June 15 2006, 18:49:03 UTC

Mind??? I'm delighted to have you as part of my friends list!

This particular piece of Black_hound's artwork really spoke to me, and struck me with the depth of its profound, bleak despair and hopelessness. It just begged to be put into words. We as readers can read CSF's brief sketch of this time knowing that better things are to come for Bush--however briefly--but I found her illumination of this single moment very moving indeed.

I'm glad you did too.

Better late than never! whistlejacket July 5 2006, 23:19:45 UTC

I don't know why I never saw this before, but apologies for the lateness of this reply.

You do these so well; I think of your drabbles as prose poems, basically. Did you consciously construct the line " the same harsh rasp of a saw which left naught behind save raw pain" to sound like, well, the harsh rasp of a saw? Because it does! Eeek. Put my teeth on edge!

It's actually quite hard for me to imagine Bush down so low emotionally. I guess I think of him as such a pragmatic, no nonsense type, that I'd half expect him to say to himself, "this is what happens when you get in the way of cannonballs---hard luck; get on with it." And I'm sure for the most part, that's what he did. Then again, *I'm* a pragmatic, no nonsense type, too, and I remember getting pretty damned depressed when I was laid up with a broken leg a few years ago---and that wasn't permanent!

So I think you probably got it right here. :) And BH, as always---simply stunning artwork. Good lord, the hard gloom!

WJ

Re: Better late than never! idler_1814 July 10 2006, 19:51:41 UTC

No apologies necessary! Feedback is always most welcome whenever it arrives. And I've certainly provided late feedback...oh, a time or ten. And still owe some, come to think of it.

Did you consciously construct the line " the same harsh rasp of a saw which left naught behind save raw pain" to sound like, well, the harsh rasp of a saw? Because it does! Eeek. Put my teeth on edge!

Well, sort of, I suppose. I know what feels right to me and what doesn't, but it's nothing so intellectual as all that.

It's actually quite hard for me to imagine Bush down so low emotionally.It would be for me as well if it were not for CSF's own words on the subject. I feel that there's a distinction to be made here: Bush has always had complete confidence in the strength of his ability to weather difficult circumstances. But this time it is his own strength and ability that has been permanently altered, and he simply has no idea what to do next ( ... )