The Writing Artist- George William Russell

Today’s writing artist spotlight is Irish poet, painter and editor George William Russell who also wrote under the name AE.  He wrote of mysticism and studied at the Metropolitan School of Art where he became friends with William Butler Yeats. He is the author of Homeward: Songs by the Way which garnered attention in the Irish Literary Revival. It is then, that he met James Joyce who wrote him as a character of Ulysses that dismisses theories on Shakespeare. Russell’s house was a meeting place for others during then Irish Revival who wanted to change the artistic and economic future of Ireland. Social and political issues began to play a greater role in his writing while his self- proclaimed clairvoyant abilities played out as spirits represented in his paintings. He is the author of 18 poetry books and 2 novels. And he was named “the man who was the father to three generations of Irish writers” by Frank O’Conner. Below is his poem Freedom.

 

Freedom

I WILL not follow you, my bird,
I will not follow you.
I would not breathe a word, my bird,
To bring thee here anew.

I love the free in thee, my bird,
The lure of freedom drew;
The light you fly toward, my bird,
I fly with thee unto.

And there we yet will meet, my bird,
Though far I go from you
Where in the light outpoured, my bird,
Are love and freedom too. 

-        George William Russell

 

~ Nia Andino ~

The Writing Artist- Christy Brown

Today’s writing artist spotlight is Christy Brown. He was an Irish writer and painter most known for his book My Left Foot, an autobiography of his life about being paralyzed with cerebral palsy except for in his left foot. Although the medical community considered him to be mentally disabled, he was motivated by his mother to learn to read and write. He went on to pen several books including 3 poetry collections Come Softly to My Wake, Background Music and Of Snails and Skylarks. Below is his poem Lines of Leaving.

Lines of Leaving

I am losing you again
all again
as if you were ever mine to lose.
The pain is as deep
beyond formal possession
beyond the fierce frivolity of tears.

Absurdly you came into my world
my time-wrecked world
a quiet laugh below the thunder.
Absurdly you leave it now
As I always foreknew you would.
I lived on an alien joy.

Your gentleness disarmed me
wine in my desert
peace across impassable seas
path of light in my jungle.

Now uncatchable as the wind you go
beyond the wind
and there is nothing in my world
save the straw of salvation in the amber dream.

The absurdity of that vast improbable joy.
The absurdity of you gone.

-        Christy Brown

~ Nia Andino ~