The Art of Opposites

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Audacity, reverence;
focus, dreaminess;
stone, flowers;
frozen fire, burning ice;
reticence, expletive;
truth, proof, belief;

future, past;
savory, sweet;
with these,
with contemplation
and action
is art complete.

Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham

Notes: Thinking this week about what is art. What brings out a person’s best work? How do we look past political turmoil to find our center? How can we bring out each other’s best and not tear each other down? I was inspired by Melville’s poem, excerpted here:

“A flame to melt—a wind to freeze;
Sad patience—joyous energies;
Humility—yet pride and scorn;
Instinct and study; love and hate;
Audacity—reverence. These must mate,
And fuse with Jacob’s mystic heart,
To wrestle with the angel—Art.”

— Herman Melville, from Art

25 thoughts on “The Art of Opposites

  1. BRENDA—would you help me tell that knucklehead on the “SO-YOU-WANT-TO-GO-TO-COLLEGE?” TV AD….the guy with the spiky hair…that Fire and Ice DO…GO TOGETHER!!!! 🙂 He NEEDS the college education!!! Jon remember—it’s only a P.S.A. ! 🙂

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