Great post! I never really considered the historical context he wrote and readers were encountering this poem. I do hear a bit of negativity as well - or just not praise at least? That the only love is between letters -- as beautiful and profound as that is -- surely makes me feel like God only demands, does not give, care for or protect us. It has a very Jewish double edged sword of pride in the focus on scholarship and language, text and tradition, but a sadness that feels like missing something. Which is a reasonable opinion of God/Judaism to adopt, perhaps especially during or post Holocaust.
Great points - I love your thoughts about the double edged sword here, the longing for certain types of richness that we might sometimes feel are missing...
Love this poem and your comments. Am in Italy now, visiting many churches - this could not have been more apt. One church today in Vercelli was not ongepatchket - now I can articulate why I liked it.
Great post! I never really considered the historical context he wrote and readers were encountering this poem. I do hear a bit of negativity as well - or just not praise at least? That the only love is between letters -- as beautiful and profound as that is -- surely makes me feel like God only demands, does not give, care for or protect us. It has a very Jewish double edged sword of pride in the focus on scholarship and language, text and tradition, but a sadness that feels like missing something. Which is a reasonable opinion of God/Judaism to adopt, perhaps especially during or post Holocaust.
Great points - I love your thoughts about the double edged sword here, the longing for certain types of richness that we might sometimes feel are missing...
Excellent! I always feel like I ought to pay him more mind and you have certainly confirmed my beliefs.
I just started spending time with him a few months ago but it's been quite rewarding!
Love this poem and your comments. Am in Italy now, visiting many churches - this could not have been more apt. One church today in Vercelli was not ongepatchket - now I can articulate why I liked it.
What a perfect place to come across this poem - glad to hear it's resonating with your experiences!