magic – Energy and Time

Big Buddha

The first time I saw the Daibutsu,
the temple yard was filled
with hundreds of weekend visitors and tourists.
Now (Monday morning) it is nearly deserted,
more staff than guests.

As before, my engineer's eyes
see plates, joints and weldlines,
looped lift points, the technique
behind the object.
I go inside; it's much the same,
but with more recent extra bracing;
the outside all about appearance,
the inside all about structural integrity.
Show the what, hide the how:
a magic trick: all art is like that.

Back outside, a raven swoops,
perches on top of a sculpture, caws,
surveys his domain, before gliding
to the offering of fruit.
He has come not to pay his respects,
but to claim his tribute.
His motives are clear.

But I - why am *I* here?


Hasedera, Hase 2023/12/4

Iceland day 6: Herring, Whales, and Magic

Another breakfast at another bakery. It wasn’t exactly lox and bagel, but it sufficed.

Then we visited the award-winning Síldarminjasafnið á Siglufirði “Herring Era Museum” in Siglufjörður. For me the most interesting stuff was the old offices with their ancient calculating machines.

We decided to try a whale-watching trip from Dalvík on the east side of the peninsula, as long as we were already there, rather than from the more popular Húsavík, which would have required more driving later. It worked out OK; we saw a pod of porpoises twice, and caught a lone humpback and watched it dive several times.

humpback dive #1

We made it down to the small town of Hauganes (population 137) for dinner.

Carol had Arctic Char with salad and sweet potato fries.

I went for pork ribs with the same sides. The ribs were nearly boneless, and deep-fried so that they were crispy on the outside.

Three young women at the next table were getting pleasantly drunk and playing cards. After they finished their game, I asked if they wanted to see a magic trick. They said YES!, so I asked for their deck of cards and performed “You Probably Buy Me A Drink”. After I fooled them, I taught them how to do the very easy trick.

We finished the peninsula and camped in Akureyri.

Sonnets To Orpheus II, 29

Stiller Freund der vielen Fernen, fühle,
wie dein Atem noch den Raum vermehrt.
Im Gebälk der finstern Glockenstühle
laß dich läuten. Das, was an dir zehrt,

wird ein Starkes über dieser Nahrung.
Geh in der Verwandlung aus und ein.
Was ist deine leidenste Erfahrung?
Ist dir Trinken bitter, werde Wein.

Sei in dieser Nacht aus Übermaß
Zauberkraft am Kreuzweg deiner Sinne,
ihrer seltsamen Begegnung Sinn.

Und wenn dich das Irdische vergaß,
zu der stillen Erde sag: Ich rinne.
Zu dem raschen Wasser sprich: Ich bin.

Still friend of many distances, feel how
your breath increases space even now.
In the timber-frames of shadowy bell towers
let yourself ring. That which saps your powers

grows ever stronger from this sustenance.
Through transformation, cross the borderline.
What's your most sorrowful experience?
If drinking you is bitter, turn to wine.

Be, in this night of extravagances,
magics at the crossroads of your senses,
the sense they oddly all cohere.

And when the world no longer knows
you, to the still earth say: I flow.
To the rushing water speak: I'm here.

Sonnets To Orpheus I, 16

Du, mein Freund, bist einsam, weil ...
Wir machen mit Worten und Fingerzeigen
uns allmählich die Welt zu eigen,
vielleicht ihren schwächsten, gefährlichsten Teil.

Wer zeigt mit Fingern auf einen Geruch? -
Doch von den Kräften, die uns bedrohten,
fühlst du viele ... Du kennst die Toten,
und du erschrickst vor dem Zauberspruch.

Sieh, nun heißt es zusammen ertragen
Stückwerk und Teile, als sei es das Ganze.
Dir helfen, wird schwer sein. Vor allem: pflanze

mich nicht in dein Herz. Ich wüchse zu schnell.
Doch meines Herrn Hand will ich führen und sagen:
Hier. Das ist Esau in seinem Fell.

You, my friend, are alone, because ...
With words and pointing fingers, we
lay claim to the world, gradually,
even its flimsiest, riskiest parts.

Who can point their finger at a smell?
But of the powers that give us dread,
you feel many ... You know the dead,
and are frightened by a magic spell.

Look, now we together must endure
bits and pieces, like they were the whole.
It's hard to help you. Please don't, above all,

plant me in your heart. I grow too quick.
But I'll guide my lord's hand and speak:
Here. This is Esau in his fur.

Translation notes:

This is written to a dog.

Lines 13-14: Referring to the story of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau in Genesis 27.