Desiderata
In the 60's and 70's, popular culture embraced not only JRRT and his Rings, but also The Desiderata, a poem we all know way too well. I hadn't thought about it for years until I saw it on the wall of my coffee store this morning. It made me remember the National Lampoon parody of it. See both the parody and the original here.
The copy I saw also contained the legend that it was found in a church in the 17th century. That myth is debunked here.
The copy I saw also contained the legend that it was found in a church in the 17th century. That myth is debunked here.
posted by stewdog | 2:10 PM | Permalink
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12 comments
12 Comments:
Call me sappy, but I've always kinda liked that Desiderata poem--not because it's a good poem, which is really kinda isn't, but as a worthy plea for patience and thoughtfulness. (I also never overdosed on it during the 70s, although there were few bathrooms in New Jersey that didn't have that treacly poem: "Footprints"? "Footsteps"? Whatever it's called...)
OK, You're Sappy!
It has it's benefits and positives, but it was just overdone. I can't help but be cynical about it now.
At this point, I figure my sappiness is common knowledge in this corner of the blogosphere. :)
Nonsense. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. Maybe we are all saps, so if you are a sap. . well, it could be a maple syrup fest.
I'm a proud member of the Sap Club. I applaud us for having the courage of our sappiness.
Speaking of The Desiderata, I remember having to *sing* it when I took chorus in high school. Sister Sue (yes, she was really called Sister Sue) always followed a pretty hippie repertoire.
And by the way, how could you lump Tolkien in with that?
KM, is that a rhetorical question? I'm not comparing Mr. Bored Of The Rings with The Sappy Poem. I was just pointing out that both JRRT and Des found rebirth in 60's culture. So did Peyote and bell bottoms, but I don't equate them.
Bell bottoms found rebirth in the 60's? You mean we didn't invent them?
Don't you think the boomers really ought to take to heart at least this line:
"Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth."
I mean, enough with the Botox and face lifts already. Get a rocking chair and get over it.
CIV, I wouldn't consider Botox to be a thing of youth to surrender. I think they are referring to pot, driving too fast, dating fast women, drinking cheap beer, staying out all night, listening to loud music, liking stupid movies etc.
Stewdog, Botox was just my shorthand for saying what you said. I mean, check out Marion Barry. Still with the crack and the criminals and who knows what. Rolling Stones still can't get no satisfaction? JFKerry's got to have a smooth face that looks like it might crack. Madonna thinking she's still 20.
You don't have to go directly from 50 to a rocking chair, but 50 is NOT 20 and 60 is NOT 30 and growing old isn't the worst thing that can happen to you.
Right on, CIV! I think it's much worse to grow old without growing up.
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