A two week holiday
A walk through the Kralingse Bos
A day in Den Haag
Author Archives for Ellen
44. Fame and fortune
Which is nearer, name or self?
Which is dearer,
self or wealth?
Which gives more pain,
loss or gain?
All you grasp will be thrown away.
All you hoard will be utterly lost.
Contentment keeps disgrace away.
Restraint keeps you out of danger
so you can go on for a long, long time.
Published on September 11, 2023 at 6:00 by Ellen
Categorised in: Books, films and TV
Time Lapse
Some free weeks
I’m taking a couple of weeks of free time. I leave you with some of my personal favourite things for the time being.
Nothing Rhymed
If I give up the seat I’ve been saving
To some elderly lady or man
Am I being a good boy?
Am I your pride and joy?
Mother please, if you’re pleased, say I am
And if while in the course of my duty
I perform an unfortunate take
Would you punish me so
Unbelievably so
Never again will I make that mistake
This feeling inside me could never deny me
The right to be wrong if I choose
And this pleasure I get
From say winning a bet
Is to lose
When I’m drinking my Bonaparte Shandy
Eating more than enough apple pies
Will I glance at my screen
And see real human beings
Starve to death right in front of my eyes
Nothing old, nothing new, nothing ventured
Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost
Nothing further than proof, nothing wilder than youth
Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine
Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind
Nothing I couldn’t say
Nothing why ’cause today
Nothing rhymed
This feeling inside me could never deny me
The right to be wrong if I choose
And this pleasure I get
From say winning a bet
Is to lose
Nothing good, nothing bad, nothing ventured
Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost
Nothing further than proof, nothing wilder than youth
Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine
Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind
Nothing I couldn’t say
Nothing why ’cause today
Nothing rhymed
Sunday 23 July 2023
An ordinary Sunday. Not much different from the other Sundays i experienced over the past couple of months.
I showered, washed my hair, watched Het Filosofisch Kwintet which is also broadcast as a podcast. Halfway through i went into town. I first went into Donner and serched for the book Wool written by Hugh Howey, the basis for the series Silo recently on Apple TV. The book wasn’t in the shop. When i asked at the information desk it was back ordered and will arrive in a couple of days. I ordered it.
I walked back, bought something to eat and went into the supermarket. Then back home.
I am unsure about the current state of my life. It still feels like an in between phase i’m at. I still need to come to terms with my current job as a housekeeping help for people needing it.
Hopefully something will come to fruition. Like the video clip i have been thinking about for months. Which is still only in its initial stage.
I don’t know. I can only hope.
37. Over all
The Way never does anything,
and everything gets done.
If those in power could hold to the Way,
the ten thousand things
would look after themselves.
If even so they tried to act,
I’d quiet them with the nameless,
the natural.
In the unnamed, in the unshapen,
is not wanting.
In not wanting is stillness.
In stillness all under heaven rests.
Source: Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu
Translated by Ursula K. Le Guin
Sitting On The Edge
Standing up
Human once more
21. The empty heart
The greatest power is the gift
of following the Way alone.
How the Way does things
is hard to grasp, elusive.
Elusive, yes, hard to grasp,
yet there are thoughts in it.
Hard to grasp, yes, elusive,
yet there are things in it.
Hard to make out, yes, and obscure,
yet there is spirit in it,
veritable spirit.
There is certainty in it.
From long, long ago till now
it has kept its name.
So it saw
the beginning of everything.
How do I know
anything about the beginning?
By this.
Source: Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu
Translated by Ursula K. Le Guin