http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog The complete works of W. N. P. Barbellion (1889-1919) Tue, 13 May 2008 12:48:16 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 I love my hair to be combed -- it makes one realise what an avenue for self-expression was closed when man lost his tail. I bitterly regret the loss of my tail; I love the benison of hot water for my urticating hands; the tick-tack of our cottage clock; a ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=732 Now that I have spurred my hippogriff to the journey's end, now that I have wreaked my will on that very obtuse gentleman, my Lord Destiny, who failed to take due measure of his man, now as soon as I have freed myself from the hard cocoon of my environment, ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=731 Having stabbed my arm and signed the contract, now when the clock strikes, I'd like to stay: 'O lente, lente, currite noctis equi! The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, The devil will come, and Faustus must be damned.' But I asked for it, have got it -- and to the ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=730 I've won! This morning at 9 a.m. the book arrived. C. and W. thoughtfully left the pages to be cut, so I've been enjoying the exquisite pleasure of cutting the pages of my own book. And nothing's happened. No earthquake, no thunder and lightning, no omen in a black sky. ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=729 Time lures me forward. But I've dug my heels in awaiting those two old tortoises, Chatto and Windus. http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=728 Another cobweb: an illustrated book of miscellanies called The World of Wonders in our ancient bookcase at home alongside Eliza Cook's poems, Howitt's Visits to Remarkable Places, an immense green volume of Hogarth's drawings, a Dictionary of Dates, Roget's Thesaurus, etc. I remember distinctly the pictures of the Man in ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=727 A letter from H. G. Wells. My book, he says, interested him personally as he once 'tried hard' to get into the B.M. (in Flower's time), but failed. 'I don't think I should have found it very suitable.' No! He would have promptly finished on the gallows for murdering the ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=726 'While all alone Watching the loophole's spark Lie I, with life all dark, Feet tethered, hands fettered Fast to the stone. The grim walls, square lettered With prisoned men's groan, Still strain the banner poles, Through the wind's song; Westward the banner rolls Over my wrong.' For all C.O.'s and paralytics (selected by E----). http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=725 Mother (she liked me to call her Moth. Hubbard, Lepidopterous Hubbard, and she used to sign her letters Hubbard) had a pretty custom, which she hated anyone to detect, of putting every letter she wrote to us when stamped, directed and sealed, into her Bible for a minute or two, ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=724 Here is Hector Berlioz in his amazing Memoirs writing to a friend for forgiveness for causing him anxiety: 'But you know how my life fluctuates. One day, calm, dreary, rhythmical; the next, bored, nerve-torn, snappy and surly as a mangy dog; vicious as a thousand devils, sick of life and ... http://www.pseudopodium.org/barbellionblog/index.php?p=723