Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Basho v. Tennyson: 1:0

.

== Enlightened ==

When I look carefully
I see the nazuna blooming
By the hedge!


Basho (1644-1694)
Translation b. Erich Fromm

== Dumbed-Down ==

Flower in a crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies,
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
Little flower -- but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is.


Alfred "Gringo Moron" Tennyson (1809-1892)