A pretty name as one would wish to read, must perch harmonious on my tuneful quill.
There’s music in the sighing of a reed; there’s music in the gushing of a rill; there’s music in all things, if men had ears: their Earth is but an echo of the spheres.
Though tonight she’s made me sad. If I find her I’ll be glad. I still love her.
I don’t wanna spoil the party so I’ll go. I would hate my disappointment to show. There’s nothing for me here, so I will disappear. If she turns up while I’m gone, please let me know.
There’s no fun in what I do, if she’s not there. But I think I’ll take a walk and look for her.
I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party by The Beatles (1964)
Methinks we have hugely mistaken this matter of Life and Death. Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true substance. Methinks that in looking at things spiritual, we are too much like oysters observing the sun through the water, and thinking that thick water the thinnest of air. Methinks my body is but the lees of my better being. In fact take my body who will, take it I say, it is not me.
Chapter 3 – The Chapel, Moby Dick by Herman Melville
MarkSinger: Is there anything you’ve been able to draw upon, David? Is there comfort in the past?
David Milch : I feel the past falling away and the attachments of regret for what wasn’t done or was done badly or was done without sufficient sympathy, and it was for that reason that our granddaughter’s visit was such a redemptive and compelling occurrence. Everything is an adventure for her and a delight and a surprise, an opening up, and that’s a big gratification.
MarkSinger: I’ve never thought of you as a sentimental person, but maybe I misread that. How would you characterize yourself?
DavidMilch: As an unsentimental person.
Third Act by Mark Singer (New Yorker May 20, 2019)
At the approach of danger there are always two voices that speak with equal power in the human soul:
one very reasonably tells a man to consider the nature of the danger and the means of escaping it;
the other, still more reasonably, says that it is too depressing and painful to think of the danger since it is not in man’s power to foresee everything and avert the general course of events.
Therefore, better to disregard what is painful till it comes.