How does this address Wabi Sabi? I suppose the transience of the marginalia writer, versus the permanence of the work of Tennyson, the slow degeneration of the book itself - it seems to me to encompass a quiet melancholy, a deep beauty.
This text is written on the back pages of a copy of the collected works of Tennyson published in 1893.
M A Hospital
You ask me to tell you a story of hospital work - ah well!
I've seen so much sorrow and heartbreak, I've many a story to tell;
not very cheerful ..?.. for trouble is hard to hear.
Yet the world is full of sunshine and our hospital wards get their share.
There was beautiful sunshine last Sunday, it shone from a child's pale face.
We stood 'round the boy, his leg had been crushed - a pitiful case;
And our master, our grave, tender surgeon must come at once with his knife,
For even we students could see it was the only chance for his life.
And the boy looked up in the doctor's face, as he took his cold little hand
And his eyes had a shining look which I couldn't quite understand;
He seemed to know what was coming without a word being said,
And he smiled - the brave little lad - on the group 'round his bed.
Then a troubled look came into his eyes, and the smile died away
And he folded his hands and looked 'round on us;
Will one of you gentlemen pray?
O, shame on us and all our cowards' hearts, we were good physicians indeed!
Not a knee was bent, not a prayer was said for the child in his hour of need.
He lay as if waiting a little space, the opened his soft, dark eyes
And he looked on us all standing silently there, with a quiet glower of surprise.
Then he closed them again, and we heard him speak, but so low we could scarcely hear.
But I know he was asking the shepherd who cares for the lambs to be near.
Then back to his face came the bright, brave look that tells of victory won
'I'm all ready, sir, I'll try....
___________
and there it ends
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What a beautiful image and a beautiful poem - thank you ever so for sharing it... can you just imagine, you have given a gift to this poem and its writer - they have made it to the internet (which is also gifted now with this), unknown though the ending and writer may be.
I love how you carry the antiquish theme thru many of your shots. Love the spot focus and the brownish tones. And reading your notes makes this even more interesting!
What a treasure of a book to have! I kinda agree with Richard that I'd have preferred just a bit more of the story to be in focus - to tease us even more with what is written there. And thank you ever so much for putting the writing into your notes. I've fallen in love with the first line of the second stanza.
Good choice in subject. However, I feel the choice to go closeup with a tight crop wasn't such a good idea. You lose too much of the context, the character and the mood because of it. As a result it feels more like you're dumbing it down and making it more of a stock image so as to suit everyone. While that may get you a slightly better score it will only get you so far. Just my opinion though. I will say that you're at least on the right track in terms of the challenge, which is saying something because so many didn't get it.
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