[Oxford63] Jackie Kennedy Onassis
Jane M. Hill
jhill at cybermesa.com
Thu Sep 15 09:47:36 MDT 2011
Dear Betsy,
Thanks for thinking I was clever, but the truth is that after so many
years in Greece, Cavafy's poetry is dear to my heart. I was somewhat
stunned to learn that Jackie K-O (not Kingswood - Oxford) knew and liked
Cavafy's poetry.
As for the "wine-dark sea", I must say that the phrase comes to mind
when I am on the Aegean. No matter how you cut it, though, the water is
blue. I'm just not sure what Homer was thinking.
The wedding sounds great. I suspect the music was wonderful as well?
Have fun on Monhegan!
*** Jane ***
Cyber Mesa Telecom
Santa Fe Headquarters
Tel 505-988-9200
/Local Contact Numbers/ <http://www.cybermesa.com/ContactCM%5C>
On 9/14/2011 10:54 PM, Betsy Cadbury wrote:
> Thanks for sharing, Jane! Who can forget Miss Jarrell's class: every
> time I think of the word "metaphor", I hear her talking about the
> "wine-dark sea"! I also saw only part of the Jackie Kennedy special,
> as I had a rehearsal, but I loved the Ithaca poem. How clever of you
> to have picked up on it right away, remembered where you had heard it,
> and sent it along for all of us to enjoy!
>
> Katie, my sister Peggy is here in Pittsfield with me now, doing a
> pastels workshop in Concord, and we are planning a "sisters" trip out
> to Monhegan next week - she to paint and I to write. Will you still
> be on the island when we are there (from Monday, Sept. 18 to Friday,
> Sept. 23)? We'll be staying at the Tribley Cottages, down past
> Shining Sails. Perhaps you can join us for lunch or supper? When is
> your women artists documentary being aired? Is there a gallery on the
> island that is showing your work? Or just in your own studio? It was
> great to have news of you and your children!
>
> My daughter Cate was married last July in Montreal - gorgeous wedding,
> lovely couple, another step on the long journey!
>
> Hope to see you all in 2013 at our 50th! Love, Betsy
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Kate Cheney Chappell <kcpoetry at aol.com>
> *To:* "oxford63 at cyber-community.com" <oxford63 at cyber-community.com>
> *Cc:* "oxford63 at cyber-community.com" <oxford63 at cyber-community.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:17 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Oxford63] Jackie Kennedy Onassis
>
> Thanks, Jane.
> I am out here in TV-less land ( Monhegan Island where I live in the
> summer), so I did not catch the Jackie Kennedy special. The poem was
> odd to hear recited that way, but the sentiment was clear. We are all
> certainly rich in experience and becoming richer as we age. I have had
> the great privilege of being involved in a documentary here on the
> island of the older women artists (believe it or not, I am not the
> oldest!), some in their 90s who are still in the studio every day,
> despite poor health and failing eyesight. They are my wonderful
> mentors, and I hope I will have a spirit as indomitable as theirs in
> 25 years.
> I think of you all often, and was so pleased to know that Judy Powers
> had seen my work in the Painters, Players and Poets show in Boothbay
> Harbor earlier this summer. That show had a live opening in Portland
> last week that I went in to see; it was thrilling to hear the live
> performances of musicians like Noel Paul Stookey and poets like Betsy
> Sholl along with the art that formed the collaboration. Cindy Bullens
> sang her song "Healing the Break," named after my piece, and it was
> beautiful!
> My children are in Maine and California: oldest Chris a musician, and
> youngest Luke with his own startup, "Luke's Local"-check it out
> online-are both in the Bay area; Eliza and Sarah and Matt all live in
> Maine with their families. I am so lucky to have 8 of my 9 grandkids
> nearby.
> Is anyone living in the Pittsburgh area?I am going to do a show out
> there next September that will commemorate Rachel Carson's Silent
> Spring, published 50 years ago.
> Be well, and may your journeys be long!
> Love,
> Kate
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 14, 2011, at 6:35 PM, "Jane M. Hill" <jhill at cybermesa.com
> <mailto:jhill at cybermesa.com>> wrote:
>
>> Dear Classmates,
>>
>> Last night I caught most of an ABC special that played some of the
>> newly released interview with Jackie, taped sometime before her
>> death. In the last 60 seconds Diane Sawyer said that during the
>> production they (whoever they are) had looked for a poem that was
>> important to Jackie and somehow characterized her spirit. She said
>> that they came up with "keep your spirits high and hope that the
>> journey is a long one" (close enough). I was floored! That's C.P.
>> Cavafy, a Greek poet that lived in Alexandria in the first half of
>> the 20th century. In the _Alexandrian Quartet_, in fact, Lawrence
>> Durrell referred to Cavafy as "the old man of the city".
>>
>> Since almost all of us read the Odyssey in Miss Jarrell's 8th grade
>> English, I thought I would like to share the poem in question. It is
>> not the best translation (and certainly not mine), but "Ithaca" is a
>> great piece of poetry. My son also found a YouTube of the poem read
>> by Sean Connery! It's hokey but fun:
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvcZxjQvq4I
>> --
>> *** Jane ***
>>
>> Cyber Mesa Telecom
>> Santa Fe Headquarters
>> Tel 505-988-9200
>>
>> /Local Contact Numbers/ <http://www.cybermesa.com/ContactCM%5C>
>>
>>
>> Ithaca
>>
>> When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
>> pray that the road is long,
>> full of adventure, full of knowledge.
>> The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
>> the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
>> You will never find such as these on your path,
>> if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
>> emotion touches your spirit and your body.
>> The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
>> the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
>> if you do not carry them within your soul,
>> if your soul does not set them up before you.
>>
>> Pray that the road is long.
>> That the summer mornings are many, when,
>> with such pleasure, with such joy
>> you will enter ports seen for the first time;
>> stop at Phoenician markets,
>> and purchase fine merchandise,
>> mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
>> and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
>> as many sensual perfumes as you can;
>> visit many Egyptian cities,
>> to learn and learn from scholars.
>>
>> Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
>> To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
>> But do not hurry the voyage at all.
>> It is better to let it last for many years;
>> and to anchor at the island when you are old,
>> rich with all you have gained on the way,
>> not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.
>>
>> Ithaca has given you the beautiful journey.
>> Without her you would have never set out on the road.
>> She has nothing more to give you.
>>
>> And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
>> Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
>> you will understand what the Ithacas mean.
>>
>>
>> /Constantine P. Cavafy (1911)/
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