Comments on: Poetry Sunday: Creation http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:53:55 +0000 By: anti-nonsense http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25823 anti-nonsense Sun, 29 Jul 2007 21:47:57 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25823 it's a beautiful poem. Thanks Adam. it's a beautiful poem. Thanks Adam.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25821 Ebonmuse Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:38:11 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25821 I don't think it's utterly implausible that early humans created cave paintings and other works of art as a message to their descendants. Unlikely, yes, but far from impossible. People of every culture throughout history have sought to leave tangible evidence of themselves that would persist after their lives had ended - even the stone walls of Pompeii had graffiti carved into them. It seems as if the desire to be remembered is a near-universal aspect of the human condition. I don't think it's utterly implausible that early humans created cave paintings and other works of art as a message to their descendants. Unlikely, yes, but far from impossible. People of every culture throughout history have sought to leave tangible evidence of themselves that would persist after their lives had ended - even the stone walls of Pompeii had graffiti carved into them. It seems as if the desire to be remembered is a near-universal aspect of the human condition.

]]> By: tobe38 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25819 tobe38 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:33:23 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25819 This poem is wonderful - one of those you can just read over and over, like playing a song on a loop. Lynet said: <blockquote>I suppose you could consider it, not as a descriptor of the message given, but as a descriptor of the message taken.</blockquote> I agree. While I don't subscribe to the "postmodern" view that the author of the poem is dead and that the reader is the true artist (any more, I was spoon fed that rubbish as a literature student), art is a lot to do with the message taken, as you say. This poem is wonderful - one of those you can just read over and over, like playing a song on a loop.

Lynet said:

I suppose you could consider it, not as a descriptor of the message given, but as a descriptor of the message taken.

I agree. While I don't subscribe to the "postmodern" view that the author of the poem is dead and that the reader is the true artist (any more, I was spoon fed that rubbish as a literature student), art is a lot to do with the message taken, as you say.

]]> By: Lynet http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25818 Lynet Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:18:35 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2007/07/poetry-sunday-iii.html#comment-25818 <blockquote>So build your days on what you know is real, and remember that nothing will keep your lives alive but art</blockquote> Sweet -- but -- it cannot be anything but poetic license, surely, to suppose such early paintings to have been humanist in nature. It's a nice thought, but it could never be more than an unlikely possibility. I suppose you could consider it, not as a descriptor of the message given, but as a descriptor of the message <i>taken</i>.

So build your days
on what you know is real, and remember
that nothing will keep your lives alive
but art

Sweet -- but -- it cannot be anything but poetic license, surely, to suppose such early paintings to have been humanist in nature. It's a nice thought, but it could never be more than an unlikely possibility.

I suppose you could consider it, not as a descriptor of the message given, but as a descriptor of the message taken.

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