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A Christmas Eve post



Live thou, and of the grain and husk, the grape
And Ivyberry, choose; and still depart
From death to death through life and life, and find
Nearer and ever nearer Him who wrought
Not matter, nor the finite-infinite,
But this main miracle, that thou art thou,
With power on thine own act and on the world.

From DE PROFUNDIS (1880) by Alfred Tennyson (1809 - 1892)

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What was Tennyson trying to say here?  I'm feeling lazy, more interested in the grape than in the Ivyberry, so we'll make that the subject of our Christmas Day post. See you tomorrow!

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  1. HenryDecember 24, 2024 at 8:16 AM

    As you request, I won't address the meaning of the poem today, but let me ask why you are more interested in the grape than in the Ivyberry. I assume that "grape" refers to wine. I had to google ivyberry, and I learned that they are not edible and are toxic when ingested in large quantities, but they have some medicinal uses. It doesn't seem, then, that there's much of a choice between the two.

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    1. ChristopherDecember 24, 2024 at 9:27 AM

      In anticipation of tomorrow's discussion: Ivyberry here symbolizes growth in a ruggy environment (berries on ivy!). The choice between ivyberry and grape may be considered a choice between an ascetic and a hedonistic lifestyle.

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  2. HenryDecember 24, 2024 at 9:35 AM

    Thanks. As I said, there's not much choice between them!

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