Pelican of the Wilderness
Welcome to the Pelican of the Wilderness. I take the name from Psalm 102, which is beautifully oblique and lyrical, like all of the best psalms. The exact wording of the psalm changes from translation to translation, but the pelican of the wilderness part remains just about the same throughout, as you can see from the following sample of various sources:
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like a bird living by itself in the waste places; like the night-bird in a waste of sand.
I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places;
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.
I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.
There's not necessarily a huge amount of self-pity in the choice of name, although there might be a certain amount of poignant melancholy at work, but that might be a story for another time. Mostly, though, the name suggests a lyricism to which this space will aspire, whether or not it's always as wistful as the phrase might suggest.
Psalm 102 introduces itself as a "prayer of the afflicted," and who isn't afflicted after all at this point in human history? The supplicant goes on to say that "by reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin," and I'd challenge anyone to tell me they haven't felt that way from time to time. So we'll be working on increasing the compassion quotient around here a little bit with this new venture. As Wilco put it very eloquently a few years ago, and taking our cue from the 102nd psalm as perhaps they themselves did in however unconscious a way, maybe this project will be an exercise in "how to fight loneliness," even if our answer might not be quite the same as theirs (somehow, smiling all the time doesn't seem like it will cut it anymore in the current climate). So that's a long way of saying that we won't be above bringing a healthy amount of skepticism to the table from time to time. The Pelican of the Wilderness will embrace a broad spectrum of poses and attitudes toward the more malaise-filled aspects of the new millenium, but it will also be fairly self-absorbed, and for the most part unashamedly so.
But on the whole there's no conscious agenda at work. I'll post about a whole number of things, from literature, to music, to random cultural experiences, and perhaps there will even be the odd bout of spiritual pulse-taking. I've written for a number of publications in the past, a selection of which is posted here in the links section, some musical, some political, but it seemed like time to branch out on my own and damn the torpedoes. The true identity of the site will just have to reveal itself over time, for the most part, so I hope you'll bear with me as I find my blogfeet.
So here it is in all of its parched and dessicated variety, the wilderness, the desolate places, the desert, the waste places, the waste of sand, the dry places. Let's see if we can't make it a little less lonely and a little less arid around here. Here's Psalm 102 in its beautiful entirety, for your information and reading pleasure:
102:1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
102:2 Don't hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
102:3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a firebrand.
102:4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
102:5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
102:6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
102:7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
102:8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
102:10 Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
102:11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
102:12 But you, Yahweh, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
102:13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
102:14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
102:15 So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; all the kings of the earth your glory.
102:16 For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
102:17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
102:18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.
102:19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;
102:20 to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
102:21 that men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
102:22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
102:23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
102:24 I said, "My God, don't take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
102:25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
102:26 They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
102:27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
102:28 The children of your servants will continue. Their seed will be established before you."
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.
I am like a bird living by itself in the waste places; like the night-bird in a waste of sand.
I am become like the pelican of the wilderness, I am as an owl in desolate places;
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.
I have been like to a pelican of the wilderness, I have been as an owl of the dry places.
There's not necessarily a huge amount of self-pity in the choice of name, although there might be a certain amount of poignant melancholy at work, but that might be a story for another time. Mostly, though, the name suggests a lyricism to which this space will aspire, whether or not it's always as wistful as the phrase might suggest.
Psalm 102 introduces itself as a "prayer of the afflicted," and who isn't afflicted after all at this point in human history? The supplicant goes on to say that "by reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin," and I'd challenge anyone to tell me they haven't felt that way from time to time. So we'll be working on increasing the compassion quotient around here a little bit with this new venture. As Wilco put it very eloquently a few years ago, and taking our cue from the 102nd psalm as perhaps they themselves did in however unconscious a way, maybe this project will be an exercise in "how to fight loneliness," even if our answer might not be quite the same as theirs (somehow, smiling all the time doesn't seem like it will cut it anymore in the current climate). So that's a long way of saying that we won't be above bringing a healthy amount of skepticism to the table from time to time. The Pelican of the Wilderness will embrace a broad spectrum of poses and attitudes toward the more malaise-filled aspects of the new millenium, but it will also be fairly self-absorbed, and for the most part unashamedly so.
But on the whole there's no conscious agenda at work. I'll post about a whole number of things, from literature, to music, to random cultural experiences, and perhaps there will even be the odd bout of spiritual pulse-taking. I've written for a number of publications in the past, a selection of which is posted here in the links section, some musical, some political, but it seemed like time to branch out on my own and damn the torpedoes. The true identity of the site will just have to reveal itself over time, for the most part, so I hope you'll bear with me as I find my blogfeet.
So here it is in all of its parched and dessicated variety, the wilderness, the desolate places, the desert, the waste places, the waste of sand, the dry places. Let's see if we can't make it a little less lonely and a little less arid around here. Here's Psalm 102 in its beautiful entirety, for your information and reading pleasure:
102:1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
102:2 Don't hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
102:3 For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a firebrand.
102:4 My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, for I forget to eat my bread.
102:5 By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones stick to my skin.
102:6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
102:7 I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
102:8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears,
102:10 Because of your indignation and your wrath, for you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
102:11 My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
102:12 But you, Yahweh, will abide forever; your renown endures to all generations.
102:13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
102:14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust.
102:15 So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; all the kings of the earth your glory.
102:16 For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
102:17 He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer.
102:18 This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.
102:19 For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;
102:20 to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
102:21 that men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
102:22 when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
102:23 He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
102:24 I said, "My God, don't take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
102:25 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
102:26 They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
102:27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
102:28 The children of your servants will continue. Their seed will be established before you."
posted by rod at 3:01 PM
1 Comments:
Hey,
I respect your work very much. Well worded talent goes far in the journalism career. Keep up the good work, so far I've clearly understood and followed up with your writings and I just want to throw some kudos at you, very good to hear people putting their mind to words the clear way :)
Anyways, until the next time I run across your page, c ya' ciao!
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