[lit-ideas] Re: Muriel Sparks dies
- From: joerg benesch <jgruel@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2006 08:09:08 +0200
Here's your poem:
The Conjugation of the Paramecium
by Muriel Rukeyser
This has nothing
to do with
propagating
The species
is continued
as so many are
(among the smaller creatures)
by fission
(and this species
is very small
next in order to
the amoeba, the beginning one)
The paramecium
achieves, then,
immortality
by dividing
But when
the paramecium
desires renewal
strength another joy
this is what
the paramecium does:
The paramecium
lies down beside
another paramecium
Slowly inexplicably
the exchange
takes place
in which
some bits
of the nucleus of each
are exchanged
for some bits
of the nucleus
of the other
This is called
the conjugation of the paramecium.
(from http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15667 )
from a more objective point of view, this should cover the subject;
plus, there's also some rudimental speculation about the paremecial
desires. Few people would miss anything. google is great.
merry easter
Joerg
Former Westphalian, now Suebian Illiterate
Andy Amago wrote:
I saw some of "The Autobiography of Jean Brodie" as a dramatization on
television. I remember thinking she was self-obsessed. She seemed
unaware of her students except as reflections of herself. That's how
I remember it anyway, and I only saw part of it. Speaking of Muriel,
I once read a poem by Muriel Rukyeser about a paramecium (The
Conjugation of the Paramecium). My husband and I laughed for weeks
about it. It became our running gag for a while until it faded away.
I wonder if anybody knows this poem and can tell me what I'm missing
in it?
----- Original Message -----
*From:*
*To: *lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* 4/15/2006 8:35:39 AM
*Subject:* [lit-ideas] Muriel Sparks dies
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/14/AR2006041401591.html?referrer=emailarticle
I had forgotten entirely the existence of "The Autobiography of
Jean Brodie".
I now recall reading it over and over in high school but can't for
the life of me remember anything about it.
I'll be ordering a copy as soon as I send this mail.
I wonder if I will love it now or if I will relegate it to the
heap of works I inexplicably loved in high school but which appeal
not at all to me now.
Julie Krueger
hit with nostalgia of sorts
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