Cartouche is itself a pun: an Egyptian scroll, and the cartridge for an
old rifle shot.
(Sorry to have to reveal its meaning), but H.D. uses I to good effect:
Thoth, Hermes, the stylus,
the palette, the pen, the quill endure,
though our books are a floor
of smouldering ash under our feet;
though the burning of the books remains
the most perverse gesture
and the meanest
of man's mean nature,
yet give us, they still cry,
give us books,
folio, manuscript, old parchment
will do for cartridge cases;
irony is bitter truth
wrapped up in a little joke,
and Hatshepsut's name is still circled
with what they call the cartouche.
-----Original Message-----
From: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to poetry and
poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dominic Fox
Sent: 15 June 2005 10:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: snapshot wednesday15th june 05
"...at which point, we are to understand, the defendant lost his footing
on the floor made slippery by the spilled beverage and, reaching out to
steady himself, accidentally placed his hand upon the lady's - ahem -
*cartouche*?"
e. e. cummings does a good bilingual double-entendre in "My Love":
thy thighs are white horses yoked to a chariot
of kings
they are the striking of a good minstrel between them is always a
pleasant song
- "pleasant song" being, of course, "bel canto".
Dominic
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