Abstract

First Glance
van Doren, Mark | August 5, 1925 issue

add to cart   close window

Mystical poets have differed very little among themselves with respect to the images which they have employed to render their visions intelligible, or at least imaginable. And this is not strange in view of the fact that no proper images are available. There is no known literary device by which a truly ecstatic state may be communicated. But the poets who have made the attempt have agreed with remarkable unanimity, even with a sort of monotony, upon an approximately adequate image the image of light. Time to them is a vale of shadows, a cave of reflected glory, a copy of death, while eternity is a "white radiance," a sun, a field of stars, a child's unshaded soul. Ideal things have usually been conceived as brilliant things.

See Also:

POETS; ARTISTS; POETRY; LIGHT; SOUL; ETERNITY
ARCHIVE HOME
Pricing
Articles are sold in 'packs,' which are priced as follows:

1 for 2.95
4 for 9.95
10 for 19.95
50 for 34.95
300 for 149.95
Refund Policy
Sales of archive individual articles, full issues or article packs are final and no refunds will be issued.
Access for libraries
help
Search
Browse
Sample Article

In Your Cart

Your cart is empty.

My Articles

You must be logged in to view your articles.

User name

Password

I don't have a login.

I forgot my user name/password.
Advertisement
Advertisement

Blogs

» The Beat

Health Reform Foes Scream N-Word at Civil Rights Icon | "I haven't heard anything like this in 40, 45 years," says Congressman John Lewis. "Since the march to Selma, really."
John Nichols
137 Comments

» The Notion

Fox Flubs at Suspending Disbelief | Lately, 3D reality has been popping out of Fox's 2D world.
Leslie Savan
42 Comments

» Altercation

Slacker Friday | On health insurance, food insecurity, poverty and the mail.
Eric Alterman

» Act Now!

March for America | Organizers of this Sunday's immigration reform rally in Washington, DC are hoping that lightening strikes twice.
Peter Rothberg
45 Comments

» The Dreyfuss Report

GOP Peaceniks? | Some Republicans suggest that a "silent majority" of their party opposes nation-building and counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. So where are they?
Robert Dreyfuss
65 Comments

» Editor's Cut

Around The Nation | Welcoming our newest blog. Plus: Two must-see videos.
Katrina vanden Heuvel
16 Comments