Today... | Lord Byron – Alpine Journal – September 28, 1816
Today, in his Alpine Journal, Lord Byron made me rediscover the
dash – the dash being at once a mark, a rush, a bolt, and a sprint, a
slap, a strike, and an obsolete form of the tight-toothed curse – Damn!
The origin of the word may or may not be the nordic
"dask, daska" (noun, verb), an ancient word still in use,
meaning to strike lightly, with an open hand.
Thank you my lord – for the dash – this speedy glyph –
which damns – & double-damns – all that is damned in the first
place – like wretched humanity – & creation itself – like the
clubfoot in my mind & heart – which anchors fast – & unmakes –
the quickened & loving man I desire to be. – Thank you for this dash
dashing – & making dash'd away – my mediocrity – & thank you
for this dash dashing hither – if but for an instant – beside myself –
beyond myself – but of this earth still – the rarest of companions: a
god.
2007.VII.17.
