Today we explored more deeply Webb’s quest for the “tender voyaging line of truth”, figured so often in something that exists beyond the inner and outer chaos of the present moment. Sometimes it is the sounds of birds (the two words of the cuckoo), sometimes it is a star (echoing the story Webb was told by his grandmother). Here is the story as told in God’s Fool:
Their mother, they were told (Frank Webb and his three sisters), had gone to heaven, where she was the biggest and brightest star in the sky. Daddy had become very lost without her and couldn’t play his music any more and this made it worse for him. So he had gone searching for the brightest star and he himself was now the wandering star. (p. 12)
Here are the images used in today’s seminar, and the recordings of the two hours of animated, deeply engaged discussion. Thank you all for taking part so energetically!
Michael Griffith: Home Page- Literature and Life Summer 2023 
attempt at a sonnet Michael, ‘Webb & Hopkins and Foster’s Dam’
That sullen stance of waiting, Medusa doomed, granite lined.
No arm-waving, friendly invitation; here, sit ye down
come share this fire-lit scene, above, all about! Alone statue
reflection condemned, echoing second person, you
to become him, mineral frozen by a still dark dam.
Hopkins and his phosphorescent ilk, cleared off like charged silk
retired to future’s plan, Dewey- library- land, waiting not for static Webb.
Sure-footed Christ & kin & faery-land denizens, water-fall skipping, gone!
And that difficult thought of town, sullen faces laughing, blind
nonsense selling, poisonous taverns, froth of foam, stick tapping
stabbing; water-fall, an insistent hiss of guttered rain…
A finer tune to spell out vital loss, divided cross, commands from pain?
Gerard with Christ & mythic clan, that Christmas blinking elf-eyed gang;
come emigrate back when, wave some arms to lonesome him.
Some great lines Peter… interested to hear what you make of Webb’s poem
I’m glad that you have put the recordings of these seminars on your blog. I have listened to some but will continue to listen.
See you next week.
Dave
Thanks Dave…looking forward to catching up next week.