WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.300 align:middle line:84%
When Alison came to
pick me up this evening,

00:00:03.300 --> 00:00:07.560 align:middle line:84%
it was just at sunset, and
the sky was very beautiful,

00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:13.140 align:middle line:84%
and there was a very
bright wonderful star.

00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:21.060 align:middle line:84%
And so I think I'll read this
poem, which has a star in it.

00:00:21.060 --> 00:00:32.619 align:middle line:84%
There are three italicized words
in this poem, "oh bright star,"

00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:38.800 align:middle line:84%
and those are actually an
allusion to the poem by Keats

00:00:38.800 --> 00:00:43.330 align:middle line:84%
which begins,
"Bright star, would I

00:00:43.330 --> 00:00:45.370 align:middle line:90%
were stedfast as thou art."

00:00:45.370 --> 00:00:48.900 align:middle line:90%


00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:51.780 align:middle line:90%
The poem's called, "Namings."

00:00:51.780 --> 00:00:54.810 align:middle line:84%
"Three hours wholly
absorbed, trying

00:00:54.810 --> 00:00:58.170 align:middle line:84%
to identify one
rain-soaked, worm ridden

00:00:58.170 --> 00:01:05.810 align:middle line:84%
mushroom, and the ducks,
bufflehead or goldeneye.

00:01:05.810 --> 00:01:10.250 align:middle line:84%
The markings once clearly
recognized, a glow or grace,

00:01:10.250 --> 00:01:14.060 align:middle line:84%
clarifies other
matters of doubt.

00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:18.065 align:middle line:84%
They dive, resurface,
I know their name.

00:01:18.065 --> 00:01:21.530 align:middle line:90%


00:01:21.530 --> 00:01:24.320 align:middle line:84%
'What's the most useful
thing I can do for you?'

00:01:24.320 --> 00:01:31.160 align:middle line:84%
I asked the old poet, lost and
distraite, in a new apartment.

00:01:31.160 --> 00:01:35.090 align:middle line:90%
'Identify things,' she answered.

00:01:35.090 --> 00:01:37.710 align:middle line:90%
'What are these?'

00:01:37.710 --> 00:01:44.850 align:middle line:84%
An empty frame, a box of
buttons, an ivory paper knife,

00:01:44.850 --> 00:01:47.370 align:middle line:84%
for the moment
nothing makes sense.

00:01:47.370 --> 00:01:51.290 align:middle line:90%


00:01:51.290 --> 00:01:54.740 align:middle line:84%
The need to know
maenad from dryad,

00:01:54.740 --> 00:02:00.320 align:middle line:84%
to know when you see the green
drift of water grass combed

00:02:00.320 --> 00:02:04.070 align:middle line:84%
by current, the word
you desire is naiad.

00:02:04.070 --> 00:02:07.550 align:middle line:90%


00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:08.720 align:middle line:90%
Sorting.

00:02:08.720 --> 00:02:10.400 align:middle line:90%
Sifting.

00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:15.800 align:middle line:84%
The ancient tasks, the hero
trials, ways to survive,

00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:18.560 align:middle line:90%
ways to grow wise.

00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:22.980 align:middle line:84%
Taxonomies, need to
arrange, need to instruct.

00:02:22.980 --> 00:02:26.320 align:middle line:90%


00:02:26.320 --> 00:02:29.320 align:middle line:90%
We don't trust the stars--

00:02:29.320 --> 00:02:31.900 align:middle line:90%
Oh bright star!

00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:35.790 align:middle line:90%
No look, it's moving.

00:02:35.790 --> 00:02:37.410 align:middle line:90%
Afraid to feel delight.

00:02:37.410 --> 00:02:40.330 align:middle line:90%


00:02:40.330 --> 00:02:46.510 align:middle line:84%
Tonight too, one was a
plane, plodding slowly

00:02:46.510 --> 00:02:49.460 align:middle line:90%
towards the airport.

00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:54.030 align:middle line:90%
One was a star, very silvery.

00:02:54.030 --> 00:02:56.180 align:middle line:90%
It's still there."

00:02:56.180 --> 00:03:06.000 align:middle line:90%