Remembering Kipling + Rodet

Remembering January the eighteenth as being a day in which a writer died as well as being the birthday (albeit long ago in the 1700's) of someone, who has died but whose book still provides great value to writers.

The writer who died on this day (in 1936) is Rudyard Kipling. As you undoubtedly realize dear reader, Kipling is known for many literary works, including children's books (such as The Jungle Book and Just So stories) and also for poems, (such as IF and The Land).

When I see my lime-themed Christmas ornament (featured in the image atop this entry), I think of a few lines from The Land.

"..... Well could Ogier work his war-boat—well could Ogier wield his brand— 

Much he knew of foaming waters—not so much of farming land. 

So he called to him a Hobden of the old unaltered blood, 

Saying: “What about that River-piece, she doesn’t look no good?”

And that aged Hobden answered: ’Tain’t for me to interfere, 

But I’ve known that bit o’ meadow now for five and fifty year. 

Have it jest as you’ve a mind to, but I’ve proved it time on time, 

If you want to change her nature you have got to give her lime!..'"

I've recently learned that Kipling is known to have said, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."

It's Thesaurus Day (but I'm still at a loss for words)

Like the character in The New Yorker cartoon posted above, I try to write a little everyday, but today, I am a bit at a loss for words as I am overcome by the news that Steve Jobs announced that he had to take a leave of absence from Apple to "focus on his health."


I found it bittersweet to learn that Jobs said, "I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can." I also hope you can be back soon, Steve Jobs, and not because of any fear of "consequences" to the stock market that filled yesterday's newspapers. I love Apple too, especially the people who work at the company's store on Sixty-Seventh Street and Broadway (in the Upper Westside of Manhattan), where I gave a presentation (that I blogged about in a previous post). I plan to go into more detail on this topic over the coming week-end once I've learned a little more about the situation.


For now, even though it is Thesaurus Day (given this name because of its founder Peter Roget's birthday— January 18, 1779) and I have access to many words, because of the Thesaurus, as well as the Oxford Dictionary, I am at a loss for words to articulate what I feel about Apple and Steve Jobs, who have meant so much to me — but will post about this on Sunday the twenty-third as promised.