The blog of Michael K.
On the two old Austrians squaring off in my head
Published Thursday, June 01, 2006 by Michael K. | E-mail this post
"The limits of my language are the limits of my world." - Wittgenstein
But no no, Ludwig, there's a whole universe beyond language, after the pretty, precocious describer-words and bragger-words fall away. There is courage and beauty and so much beyond language. I've been shown this. I know this. I keep trying to touch it.
What do you say, Rainer?
"When the traveler returns from mountain-slopes into the valley, he brings, not a handful of earth, unsayable to others, but instead some pure word, the yellow and blue gentian. Perhaps we are here in order to say: house, bridge, fountain, gate, pitcher, fruit tree, window...Here is the time for the sayable, here is its homeland. Speak and bear witness."
- Rilke
So that's what my mind is rolling around just at the moment - and let's be honest, probably always will be; this tension between the sayable and unsayable. The insufficiency and wonder of words. Always find myself wishing I had more, better, shinier...but look at what you get today, instead. You get this beautiful inscrutable life, and if you're lucky enough to ignite off the right people, you get going living it as fully and interestingly and with as much love as you possibly can.
But no no, Ludwig, there's a whole universe beyond language, after the pretty, precocious describer-words and bragger-words fall away. There is courage and beauty and so much beyond language. I've been shown this. I know this. I keep trying to touch it.
What do you say, Rainer?
"When the traveler returns from mountain-slopes into the valley, he brings, not a handful of earth, unsayable to others, but instead some pure word, the yellow and blue gentian. Perhaps we are here in order to say: house, bridge, fountain, gate, pitcher, fruit tree, window...Here is the time for the sayable, here is its homeland. Speak and bear witness."
- Rilke
So that's what my mind is rolling around just at the moment - and let's be honest, probably always will be; this tension between the sayable and unsayable. The insufficiency and wonder of words. Always find myself wishing I had more, better, shinier...but look at what you get today, instead. You get this beautiful inscrutable life, and if you're lucky enough to ignite off the right people, you get going living it as fully and interestingly and with as much love as you possibly can.
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- Michael K.
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