The Happy Struggle

So I'm not dead yet and to have a little skirmish from time to time is more than the spice of life. The encounter, in every sense of the word, is what makes life worth living ; and all is to be gained if you do not intent to win.

But spare me the nitpicking and nagging, for they suck up all energy.

ON CERTAIN WITS by Howard Nemerov
who amused themselves over the simplicity of Barnett Newman’s
paintings shown at Bennington College in May of 1958.

When Moses in Horeb struck the rock,
And water came forth out of the rock,
Some of the people were annoyed with Moses
And said he should have used a fancier stick.

And when Elijah on Mount Carmel brought the rain,
Where the prophets of Baal could not bring rain,
Some of the people said that the rituals of the prophets of Baal
Were aesthetically significant, while Elijah’s were very plain.