Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

Chapter Heading -- Ernest Hemingway

Happy new year!
(Poem #976) Chapter Heading
 For we have thought the longer thoughts
     And gone the shorter way.
 And we have danced to devil's tunes
     Shivering home to pray;
 To serve one master in the night,
     Another in the day.
-- Ernest Hemingway
Note: The allusion is to Longfellow's "My Lost Youth":

   A boy's will is the wind's will,
   And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.
     -- http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/rp/poems/heminw6.html

Today's poem exemplifies admirably Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's statement that
"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but rather
when there is nothing more to take away." 'Chapter Heading' is a startlingly
powerful look at the eternal conflict between the spirit and the flesh, and
man's complex relationship with God.

Part of the poem's power lies, I think, in its very sparseness - a line like
"shivering home to pray" says more in four words than many a more extended
passage might have done, and does so with far greater an impact.
Furthermore, the imagery is visceral rather than 'rational', using words like
"danced" and "shivering" to emphasise sensation over thought, evoking the
ancient fear of darkness with its reference to night and day - and,
thereby, limning the tangled framework of primitive emotions that underlies
and motivates the most rational of religions.

Links:

  A biography of Hemingway:
    http://www.nobel.se/literature/laureates/1954/hemingway-bio.html

  The Hemingway Foundation:
    http://www.hemingway.org/

-martin

35 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

Kevin3x said...

I like his works, they are very intresting and they are fun to read.

LA&Parker said...

I believe there is a typo in the third line; it should read - devils' -
plural possessive, instead of "devil's." This suggestion is from reading
"Ernest Hemingway, Complete Poems" revised edition, edited by Nicholas
Georgiannis, page thirty-four.

Take Care,

Parker

Carpet Cleaning Reno said...

Hemingway's mother frequently performed in concerts around the village.

Birmingham Al Chiropractor said...

This suggestion is from reading
"Ernest Hemingway, Complete Poems" revised edition, edited by Nicholas
Georgiannis, page thirty-four.

Unknown said...

"For we have thought the longer thoughts
And gone the shorter way."
what these lines have in them that cant be explained by any two the similar way, the lines have ever deep meanings and explanations of what we keep thinking doesnt happen and what happens we dont know either... very touching lines by Ernest Hemingway..
Express VPN - ivpn - iBVPN - Proxpn - PureVPN - IPVanish VPN - Private Internet access

Anonymous said...

Excellent way of describing, and fastidious piece of writing to take information
about my presentation subject matter, which i am going to present in academy.
Here is my homepage ; acne overnight fast

Anonymous said...

Conversely, the water consumed by man is absorbed by the blood from the intestines; the corresponding amount of water is best essays immediately transported to the stores.

Anonymous said...

This &#609о&#957ernment рrogram offers cell phone not оnly a frеe fully
rеportedlу found at either locatіon.

Heге is my blog pοst; dien thoai

kdee said...

martin-thank you for this website. Are you still here in 2013?

I wonder if Heminway was not so much evoking our fear of darkness as referring to the different self when out at night dancing and drinking (he was quite the drinker)versus his persona during the day when he was adhereing to social mores?

Sultan khan said...

After obtaining the Balkan region by infiltrating Yugoslavia and Greece. breast enhancement cream

http://www.kredit-credits.ru said...

PROJECT:Before, который инвестируете в акции, сделайте его умной закупкой. http://www.kredit-credits.ru Изучите столько, сколько можете о компании и фондовом рынке, прежде чем купите. Будете видеть, что стоимость акций идет вверх и вниз в зависимости от информации о компании и изменяется в большой информации меч без имени о принятии умных решений торговли акциями и 401Kidz фракционная программа акций.

kids games said...

Thanks for sharing this quality information with us and i like this. I hope you post again soon.

Visit to play games friv than play games2girls and play kids games online online free

al3ab banat01 said...

Play the Best Free Games! We've picked out the girl games, cooking games, dress up games
Thanks for sharing !
العاب بنات
العاب طبخ
al3ab banat
العاب بنات في حفلة
العاب بنات كلاس

Cytotec said...

thanks for sharing

packers and movers in mumbai said...

Welcome to Indian Packers and Movers in Mumbai, well-known packing and moving service provider. Indian Packers and Movers in Mumbai deal Domestic, National and International Packers Movers services at economical rate. All the procedure of packing & unpacking, loading and unloading is done by our professionals.
Movers and Packers in Mumbai
Packers and Movers in Grant Road
Packers and Movers in Mumbai Central
Packers and Movers in Mahalaxmi
Packers and Movers in Prabhadevi

packers and movers hyderabad said...

A house is made up of bricks and walls, but it becomes a home when filled with love and happiness. We’re sure you can’t wait to get there and fill your new home with lots of happy memories, we’ll show you the quickest way to do that with reliable Packers and Movers Hyderabad.
Movers and Packers Hyderabad
Movers and Packers in Kondapur
Movers and Packers in Gachibowli
Movers and Packers in Kukatpally

packers and movers in hyderabad said...

Professional movers and packers Hyderabad employ skilled individuals who have the experience to carry out your relocation with efficiency. They are expert in packing your goods, using the required equipment to move your household goods and ensuring their safety.
Packers and Movers in Madhapur
Packers and Movers in Gachibowli
Packers and Movers in Chanda Nagar
Packers and Movers in Nallagandla
Packers and Movers in Kukatpally
Packers and Movers in Miyapur

himajamallireddy said...

Driod4x emulator

itunes
km player
memu for pc
They are expert in packing your goods, using the required equipment to move your household goods and ensuring their safety.

raviveeramala said...


shareit download
shareit
shareit app
shareit apk

the content of the completed paper is free from grammatical errors so as to provide those seeking...

Packers And Movers Mumbai said...

Really impressive post. I read it whole and going to share it with my social circules. pls visit .
Packers And Movers Mumbai

Victorya said...

Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
other

UFA888 said...



Very Helpful Article. ผลบอลvip It might help you. ผลบอลvip Thanks For Sharing
ผลบอลvip Thank you very much.

UFA888 said...



This Is Really Useful And Nice Information. ผลบอลvip
This are such great articles. ผลบอลvip This articles can help you to make some new ideas.
ผลบอลvip I appreciate for reading my blogs.

UFA888 said...


This are new articles style for you. ผลบอลvip You can find some new idea on this. ผลบอลvip It might help you to write or think some new idea.
ผลบอลvip Thanks for sharing such a wonderful post.
ผลบอลvip I am very glad for reading my articles.

virx said...

Great and very inspiring article where the concept is set to give a lot of meaning, Thank you very helpful.
virx พ่นจมูก

Post a Comment