quote of however-long-I-feel-like:

Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things - trees and grass and sun and moon and stars.

Suppose we have.

Then all I can say is that, in any case, the made - up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones.

-Puddleglum, The Silver Chair

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

A: Arabic


What are all those little squiggles? Well... 

"God is the Light of the Heaven and Earth. The parable of His Light, is, as it were, that of the niche containing a lamp: the lamp is [enclosed] in glass, the glass [shining] like a radiant star [a lamp] lit from a blessed tree – an olive tree that is neither of the east nor of the west – the oil whereof [is so bright that it] would well - nigh give light [of itself] even though fire had not touched it: light upon light! God guides onto His Light him that wills [to be guided]; and [to this end] God propounds parables unto men, since God [alone] has full knowledge of all things."

Guess what, it actually says something: 

"The water runs rapidly below the ships' bellies, screeching noisily against the tar and solid planks. They swim in it with their bows cutting through the gale. Though if an elephant was driven into it, he'd stop in fear. The masters may have to take them trough straits where the waves hit rapidly against the sides, rushing past them as a herd of camels may be rushed by an astute herder." 


It's gorgeous. Well, not when I speak it, but I love it. 

And now I'm coveting once more. A print of the first picture would be a dream. 

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