Wednesday 12 September 2012

Spring wind



It's not the worst thing in the world, this spring wind. Even though the house has shuddered against big blasts and the orchids blew over like dominoes, the days really are changing. Soon we'll be wearing less layers and coming out of our houses more. Yes, there will be days when the clouds are heavy and there are more puddles to avoid, but if you stand still against the wind with your feet strong in your shoes, it feels like you're flying. 

4 comments:

  1. hi jenni, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your comment. can you tell me which quote of tolstoy's in AK you were referring to? i'd also love to know where you are from.
    i'm going to look through your blog now. your drawings are absolutely lovely :)

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    1. Hi Priya, nice to hear from you. Even though it's quite long, here is the Tolstoy passage which I find very moving:

      'The study was slowly lit up by the candle that was brought. Familiar details emerged: deer's antlers, shelves of books, the back of the stove with a vent that had long been in need of repair, his father's sofa, the big desk, an open book on the desk, a broken ashtray, a notebook with his handwriting. When he saw it all, he was overcome by a momentary doubt of the possibility of setting up that new life he had dreamed of on the way. All these traces of his life seemed to seize hold of him and say to him: 'No, you won't escape us and be different you'll be the same as you were with doubts, with an eternal dissatisfaction with yourself, vain attempts to improve, and failures, and an eternal expectation of the happiness that has eluded you and is not possible for you.'

      But that was how his things talked, while another voice in his soul said that he must not submit to the past and it was possible to do anything with oneself.'

      (from Anna Karenina, chapter 26)




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  2. That was beautiful and yes, it was moving. Thank you for taking the time to write it here. I read Anna Karenina a very long time ago. Probably too long ago to appreciate the writing properly. After reading this, I think I will open the book again.

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    1. My pleasure. You've inspired me to read it again too!!

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