Halloween is just around the corner and this got me thinking. Would it be truly that bad to be visited by ghosts? (Probably yes.) But what if the visitors were literary ghosts? I would still want to make my rendezvous pretty exclusive - and choose my guests - but there would be a few I'd welcome any day - not just at Halloween.
Now, these writers aren't necessarily my favourite ones (although I do love them) but the ones I love and think wouldn't want to hurt me. And why do I think that? Just because. Gut feeling, probably.
Some of these poets and writers are in the public domain (HURRAY!) - so I can also share a few of their bits and pieces - the rest, it'll be your duty to look up (although most of them will sound familiar). All of them shall haunt you (alright.... at least their literature...)
So, let me present five literary ghosts on my guest list.
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is definitely not unknown to anyone. I wouldn't say that her poetry is the easiest to digest, but many of her poems are relatively short, so they might be a comforting little entry into poetry. I've never seen anyone being more into using A LOT of dashes (—) in their works. By the way, the Dickinson series with Hailee Steinfeld is amazing. It's very modern, absurd, funny and full of contemporary pop music - while also connecting her poems and extracts of her texts to the storyline. MUCH recommended.
I think Emily Dickinson, as a ghost, would mainly just wander around and talk a lot about nature. I, personally, am not really into nature, but I'm into her, so we shall be good friends. Here is Dickinson re-imagined by my darling AI friend, Bing:
I like to think she'd visit me, but I'm afraid she'd rather fly off to the woods, so I'd need to collect her from there. She looks pretty depressed and lost here and I'm afraid any outer force would only disturb her creative silence, including me. If I think about it, who would haunt who in this case scenario?
Here is one of my favourite poems by her. Good that she died such a long time ago, she's in the public domain now.
Sándor Petőfi (1823-1849-ish) was a Hungarian poet and revolutionary figure, he was famous for being very fierce. He is considered to be our national poet. I'm usually into modern poetry, but some of the geniuses - like he was - sound timeless, even to me. He died pretty young (in fights for freedom), but he wrote a lot about dying for a good cause, so he must be a happy ghost now.
Petőfi according to AI:
He is in the public domain, though I'm not sure about the translations, so you shall look him up...
Petőfi, as a ghost, would probably give me a speech on love and freedom and then would march (fly) off straight away. Still, if he could spare me even just a second, I'd love to listen to him.
And then here's Edward Lear (1812-1888) being the funny ghost guy he is. (I must admit, I think he is my ultimate favourite on this list - I can't help it, I LOVE his Limericks.)
He was a botanical guy (something I cannot relate to) but also the King of Literary Nonsense (which I adore), so I think, as a ghost, he would also fly off to the woods, but unlike Dickinson, he would keep laughing. I'd love to attend a Limerick course of his if only he had the time this Halloween. My first idea was that we could organise a literary event in the woods as Dickinson would be already there, but then, I think that Petőfi would rather fly towards the city, so this might not work out.
Still, here is one of his Limericks:
Next is the amazing Argentinian poet, Alejandra Pizarnik. To be fair, I'm a tiny bit afraid of her, but I also keep thinking of Extracting the Stone of Madness (a poetry collection I'm dying to have), so I'll add her to my list. I'm quite certain she'd be completely indifferent to me but would enjoy Dickinson's company as both of them were fascinated by death and darkness. I'm not sure Dickinson could convince Pizarnik to join our Limerick course in the woods as I'd imagine her rather be a homebody.
Last but not least: a queen who created her very own league, the empress of crime fiction, the icon having written page-turning stories - but a person whom I nevertheless always imagine constantly laughing: Agatha Christie Herself. The One And Only.
Yes, she was problematic (at least the stereotypes she kept using in her books), but man, I bet she had a lot of fun writing her novels, and we only love a queen who knows how to enjoy life.
This funny, funny lady is not (completely) in the public domain and I'm just too afraid to quote her, so unless she comes around and gives her permission - shared with authorities too, please - I will not share anything of hers. Yes. My heart is bleeding too.
Otherwise, I think she'd be a pretty harmless ghost taking witty notes on all the lame humans she'd encounter (including me).
To wrap all this up, I wanted to add a few further illustrations my darling AI friend, Microsoft Bing created. He quite surprised me. There were a few insanely handsome ghosts he came up with:
And a few pretty literary ghost ladies:
And a collective picture of literary ghosts:
Well. Happy Halloween all!
Hugs from the Fearless Frock:)
Коментарі