February 20, 2011

27. Hypophora

Why am I not any more occupied with composing lists of literary classics that haven't been—shamefully, I used to say—translated to Estonian? For what reason am I now almost always hesitant, as far as my reading skills in English, German and French go, to found a relationship with a book on a version other than the original? Why am I so often ashamed of myself  for not being able to quickly recall the Estonian equivalents of the literary terms that form a significant part of my nocturnal consciousness?
—In a language run over by rampant reporters and real estate agents this passion of mine cannot be shared.

February 16, 2011

26. Tradition

For the third day in a row I feel that I cannot go to bed without having listened to Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" and, as usual, having smiled at the following lines from the ninth stanza:

"And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers"

Is it a smile only? 
A code, an affirmation, perhaps?