NP: More about annunciation

[Paul Mackin]

On 6/25/2011 2:52 AM, Michael Bailey wrote:
> well, eck-shually, I do have a few thoughts:
>
> the Kay Smith poem sounds, to me, like she is looking back at a
> misspent youth with some regrets.
>
> like, she and her friend had discovered the pleasure in resisting the
> beckoning of the angel of conventionality - but if you live long
> enough you get to have 2nd thoughts about everything (probably even
> Mary sometimes wished she had told the angel to take a hike, like when
> she's 9 months pregnant and has to sleep in a stable eg)

Mary did at least raise a technical objection.  I know not man, or words 
like that.

But what I wanted to say was "The Annunciation" and "The Visitation" (of 
Mike Jing's enquiry) are closely related in Luke's gospel.  The 
archangel also tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth is also miraculously 
pregnant with John the Baptist, which information causes Mary to go 
visit her cousin.  (Elizabeth is far beyond child bearing age)

I think that's roughly correct.

I try to think more about the rest of your post.

P
> a homely analogy is how I used to vigorously resist parental calls for
> naptime, and now I would be delighted to have a naptime in the middle
> of my shift at work.....
>
> anyway that's how I relate to it.  The bit about Mary holding a book
> is interesting, and probably means something, but it doesn't fit into
> my interpretation.  If I had a paper to write, I guarantee I'd come up
> with at least a page of thoughts on the "book" mentions in the poem,
> how they interrelate, how they form successive steps toward an
> epiphany...   0-;          -------------------------------------
>
>
>>                            W. B. Yeats
>>                         Leda and the Swan
>>
> I did something on this one back in the day, maybe just an essay
> question in one of those "blue books" -- do they still have those?
> The poetry class I had was taught by Robert Hayden, and we all loved
> the guy...
> also, there was this really pretty girl named Patty Minty - Mr Hayden
> called the roll, I think, and that was really her name on there, and
> she would bring this big dog to class.  I think it was a German
> shepherd - something that big anyway, although maybe a little
> shaggier.  Anyway, she was very attractive.  I know we covered this
> poem...
>
>> A sudden blow: the great wings beating still
>> Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed
>> By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,
>> He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.
> this is real easy to picture, despite being out of the realm of probability.
> But can't you just partake of the feelings of both of them, of Leda
> and of the swan (which is Zeus, right?)
> I mean, that helplessness but also this kinky pleasure that she would
> be feeling, that is familiar enough; and this drivenness of the god
> acting through the animal body, heck, that's pretty familiar too
>
> so you've got 3 questions:
>> How can those terrified vague fingers push
>> The feathered glory from her loosening thighs?
> they can't
>
>> And how can body, laid in that white rush,
>> But feel the strange heart beating where it lies?
> how can [Leda's] body [help] but feel the strange heart [of the swan/god]
> so, like, typical male chauvinist, the sensitive female can't help but
> feel the feelings of the rapist?
> not what Yeats was probably driving at, but still...
>
> anyway, as Annunciations go, this is a speculative Annunciation - we
> are posed with the question of whether there was a foreknowledge on
> her (Leda's) part of the offspring and all the gyrations about to
> ensue - and I suppose anteriorly to that question is the further
> question of the foundation of societal chaos - are we to take from
> Yeats's words here the suggestion that the root of all evil is sexual
> abuse in general?
>
>> Did she put on his knowledge with his power
>> Before the indifferent beak could let her drop?
>   If so, then Leda is having the sort of misgivings in advance that the
> subject of the first poem is having in retrospect, eh wot?
>