Don Share wrote in response to Michael Robbins:
And then B. [Walter Benjamin] says, commenting on the “ancient lament that the masses seek distraction whereas art demands concentration from the spectator….”
Here’s a spectator absorbed by art…
Bob Kaul was in the apparel business for 40 years and on retiring he discovered poetry. On Sunday evening he was reading Richard Ellman’s Yeats: The Man and The Mask in section 224, aisle 3, seat 102 at Wrigley Field. I just happened to sit behind him. (BTW, the Cubbies beat the Cardinals 6-2.)
Okay, I’ll point out the obvious: “Man Reading Yeats Ellman.”
Great. More fuel to the fire of the stereotype that fans at Wrigley don’t pay attention to the game.
Actually…one of the (very) long-time beer vendors at Wrigley is a failry famous Chicago poet. Has great pieces that WTTW has played extensively on the destruction of old Comiskey as well as pieces on Wrigley Field … poet Bob Chico.
Reading criticism at a baseball game is clearly a third-order activity. Also, Professor Ellmann would like Harriet to spell his name correctly. As for the Cubs, Professor Ellmann notes on p. 42 of his fine study that in his opening address to the Dublin Hermetic Society, Yeats said, “I warn you that on the road to truth lurks many a dragon & goblin of mischief in wait for the soul. Miracle hunger is one of them.”
I suppose Yeats would have understood from his study of Theosophy that the Cubs are, like each of the world’s religions, fellow travelers on the long road to spiritual perfection.
If only Steve Bartman had been absorbed with reading Yeats in Aisle 4 Row 8 seat 113 during the 8th inning at game 6 of the championship series on October 14, 2003!
I wasn’t trying to tempt the fates,
I was killing time reading about Yeats.
The minute the anthem we fans did greet,
Richard Ellmann went under the seat.
This is not an excuse that’s lame,
I watched every play. It was a great game.
Abner Doubleday was a Theosophist & hung out with HPB.
As Bob’s son I have to say,
I cannot imagine that he would miss a play
For years he has suffered so much pain
Watching so many games in vain
Yeats, engrossing as he may be,
Cannot compete derek lee
(Linda- you are next)
Calling all Kaul poets!
Welcome to Harriet. You have your priorities straight–baseball before poetry.
Thanks for your poems!
Emily Warn