“When there's a moon the shadows in the house grow larger;
invisible hands draw back the curtains,
a pallid finger writes forgotten words on dust
of the piano…”
Source: The Fourth Dimension
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Yiannis Ritsos3
Greek poet 1909–1990Related quotes
“An invisible drawing made in the air. Make a drawing behind your back. Make a stolen painting.”
Jasper Johns (1930) American artist
Book A (sketchbook), p 40, c 1963-64: as quoted in Jasper Johns, Writings, sketchbook Notes, Interviews, ed. Kirk Varnedoe, Moma New York, 1996, p. 53
1960s
Tyagaraja (1767–1847) Carnatic musician and composer
[Jackson, William Joseph, Tyāgarāja and the Renewal of Tradition: Translations and Reflections, http://books.google.com/books?id=CZBnppBQgOsC&pg=PA69, 1 January 1994, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 978-81-208-1146-1, 169–]
“When a wise man points at the moon the imbecile examines the finger.”
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
“Do not say, "Draw the curtain that I may see the painting." The curtain is the painting.”
Nikos Kazantzakis book The Saviors of God
The Saviors of God (1923)
Context: "I do not know whether behind appearances there lives and moves a secret essence superior to me. Nor do I ask; I do not care. I create phenomena in swarms, and paint with a full palette a gigantic and gaudy curtain before the abyss. Do not say, "Draw the curtain that I may see the painting." The curtain is the painting.
Enya (1961) Irish singer, songwriter, and musician
Song lyrics, Amarantine (2005)
Terry Eagleton (1943) British writer, academic and educator
Source: 1980s, Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983), Chapter 4, p. 113 (See also: Julian Jaynes)
“We are but dust and shadow.”
Pulvis et umbra sumus.
Book IV, ode vii, line 16
Odes (c. 23 BC and 13 BC)