Wednesday, October 31, 2007
from Another Roadside Attraction
"The quality of a man's life depends upon the rhythmic structure he is able to impose upon the input and the output of energy. Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. Einstein understood what Thoreau meant when he spoke of men hearing "different drummers."...The drummer deals almost exclusively with rhythm, therefore he is an architect of energy. Art is not eternal. Only energy is eternal. The drum is to infinity what the butterfly is to zero." (Robbins, 1971, p. 106)
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6 comments:
In one of my classes this afternoon I read from a book about poetry. It defined the differnce between prose and poetry as rhythm. I thought that was a slightly inaccurate/incomplete definition... until I read this.
(i mean... because not all poetry has a discernable rhythm, that is ubless you equate rhythm with energy like Robbins has done)
Indeed, that's why so many people despise modern poetry in comparison to the classical, a lack of discernible rhythm. I myself had never really understood Gertrude Stein until I heard a piece on CBC recently where she was reading from her own work. The rhythm in her poetry comes from the repetition, but it's not until it is read aloud that it is fully understood (at least to me), it is then you start to feel the energy.
Great quote Cara.
If everyone hasn't read this book..do so! (especially Mr.SmokeTigre, there's a character in there that must be a relative)
Was this really written in 1971? For some reason I thought he was from the 90's
Original copyright is 1971. There was a bantam edition in 1990.
Tom Robbins is one of my favs... sense of humour and disrespect for the conventional, great outlook on how things are.
(Can you tell that I passed my reference test at the Library?)
I feel as though I could apply this to all aspects of my life, from my daily physical drumming to the energy. And it makes me want to...
Awesome!
(i love how some people are able to pull quotes out that I have absolutely forgotten about, and renew them for me! Thanks Cara!)
This quote was just ripe for sharing. I love it too
Interesting point about the rhythm of poetry, Disclaimer. I can see it, although I'm often attracted to the abreviated, disjointed staccato of modern verse.
What makes poetry powerful (when I read or write it anyways) is it's ability to impart meaning in an unconvential way, that is, my whole body understands the message not just my eyes and my head. I guess that is where the energy comes in...la duende?
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