June 24, 2003

SICK.

That's my condition this week; I have no idea where it came from, and it turns out we don't know where the word comes from either (OED: "Relationship to other Teutonic roots is uncertain, and no outside cognates have been traced"). At any rate, I have not the mental energy to come up with a clever and enlightening entry, so here's one of my favorite short Charles Reznikoff poems (and I must immediately qualify this by saying that most Reznikoff poems are quite long):

TE DEUM

Not because of victories
I sing,
having none,
but for the common sunshine,
the breeze,
the largess of the spring.

Not for victory
but for the day's work done
as well as I was able;
not for a seat upon the dais
but at the common table.

(From Inscriptions 1944 -1956.)

Posted by languagehat at June 24, 2003 09:37 PM
Comments

Get well soon!

Posted by: Renee at June 25, 2003 12:26 AM

I'll second that. Here's to a rapid recovery.

Posted by: qB at June 25, 2003 01:51 AM

Thirded!

Posted by: des at June 25, 2003 08:33 AM

Fourthed?

Anyway, please be well again soon!

Posted by: Rana at June 25, 2003 02:09 PM

Take care and get well soon.

Posted by: jim at June 25, 2003 05:31 PM

Thanks, everyone. I hope I haven't misled you; I'm not sick sick, I'm not going to a doctor (shudder) or anything drastic like that, it's just, you know, a cold/flu/something going around, scratchy throat, sniffles, general lassitude, that kind of thing. I called in sick yesterday, went in today even though I didn't feel a whole lot better, will go in tomorrow unless I feel a whole lot worse, and will grimly wait the invariable week till I'm well again. It's just that I'm generally in such good health that I resent even this mild under-the-weather business. I'll try not to whine any more.

Posted by: language hat at June 25, 2003 09:16 PM

Beautiful poem. Another way of saying "Health is the main thing" (you can tell I had a Jewish grandmother). Get well soon:-)

Posted by: Alisa at June 25, 2003 09:59 PM

"SICK" s.i.c.k send in cosy kumpherters: You Know that the Saxons dislike long complicated words: Malade (de) "blank" does not work for the Angles: the Romans would not use a word for they only wanted fit slaves. Anyway I'm glad that you don't have to buy a Roller. On second thoughts it may mean " Send In Chicken Knoodles";

Posted by: vincent at June 25, 2003 11:17 PM

We don't mind the occasional whine. :)

Besides, feeling sick is wretched, even when it is "just" a cold.

Posted by: Rana at June 26, 2003 11:42 AM