Sonnet 29 to a “Fair Youth”

 A beautiful sonnet performed beautifully by the inimitable Judi Dench

I remember during the pandemic Judi Dench read some Shakespeare and people were in tears watching because we are so starved for poetry, for romance, for beauty. “This is what we stay alive for.” pic.twitter.com/3bq4oad8eT

— Owl! at the Library 😴🧙‍♀️ (@SketchesbyBoze) October 1, 2024

Read the lines along with her below:

Sonnet 29

William Shakespeare

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes 

I all alone beweep my outcast state, 

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, 

And look upon myself, and curse my fate, 

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, 

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, 

Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, 

With what I most enjoy contented least; 

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, 

Haply I think on thee, and then my state, 

Like to the lark at break of day arising 

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; 

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings 

That then I scorn to change my state with kings. 

There has been much speculation over the identity of the “Fair Youth” alluded to in the poem.

Sir Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton

Although Shakespeare's contemporary Sir Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton (augmented portrait above) has been postulated and then discounted as the sonnet's subject, I used AI to make some fanciful conjecturing on what he might look like today as an actor.

AI modern renderings of Sir Henry W.

Absalom: The Undead - Part 1

 

Illustration © by O. Douglas Jennings

History states that after Absalom's death, his body was treated with a lack of honor. Absalom, the third son of King David, was killed by Joab, David's military commander, during a battle in the forest of Ephraim. Joab found Absalom caught by his hair in an oak tree and killed him. Following his death, Absalom's body was thrown into a large pit in the forest and covered with a heap of stones, a burial typically reserved for criminals and those who died in disgrace. But that is not the whole story.

DATELINE 979 BCE...

The moonlight filtered through the gnarled trees in the Forest of Ephraim the night the disgraced prince was reborn –if that is what it could dare be called. A hunched and shadowy figure clamored over the rubble of heavy stones under which the royal assassinated body had been discarded. 

With uncommon, supernatural speed and strength, the form shifted the burial boulders aside in the cool desolate hours when no one could hear the scrape of rock against rock as the bloody and broken body with its tragic yet still handsome form could be discerned with glowing crimson eyes.

Like a spider approaching its prey, the dark, cloaked interloper drew closer to the now-exposed neck of the corpse and extended a talon-sharp fingernail that made a thin yet deep scratch along the jugular vein from which came a small trickle of dark blood . If a witness had been present they just might have heard the faint, raspy murmur, “The life blood has not fully congealed, praise be to the Dark Lord!” 

“You’ve done well, Tubal,” hissed a dulcet yet sinister voice behind the miscreant.

Whipping around, the startled scavenger beheld a tall, slender but imperious woman in a hooded yet resplendent black robe adorned with gleaming silver clasps that matched the tresses that could barely be seen underneath the additional scarves framing her chiseled, icily composed face. 

Now bowing low in the still night air along the rubble, Tubal hoarsely exclaimed, “You honor me, my mistress. The sleeping prince awaits you!”

As if transported without the slightest gesture the woman was instantaneously poised with her face near the neck of the broken corpse. Tubal, in anticipation even as he had spoken, moved synchronistically with similar speed out of the way of his darting mistress.  

Obscured, now, by the crouching body and flowing cloak of the eerie lady, the corpse of the slain royal became a hidden object from which emanated sickeningly gurgled sounds of an unholy and disturbingly unclean communion taking place. 

Tubal averted his gaze and looked toward the densely darkened treeline near the cast aside boulders. Nor did he turn back around when the sound of a hacking cough, then a croaking breath and finally a sudden and chilling, ominous silence took hold. He knew the process had been completed. His eyes gleamed and a twisted smile curled his cracked lips in knowing his mistress would now have a fitting consort. 

To be continued.

© by O. Douglas Jennings. All rights reserved.

A Remarkable ”Broken Nose Reset”

Prior to car wreck

 

After car wreck

Very good to get the Readers Clarification Crew's input about how there was no reconstructive surgery on MH. Yet one can see how the story got started. Compare movie stills pre-car crash with one from the interview: https://t.co/30tw3WIF2y pic.twitter.com/iceNiaZ1l5

— 𝐎. 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🇺🇦 🇺🇸 🌈 (@odouglasj) August 26, 2024

History of Style (Mine)

I don't remember this school photo outfit. My mom probably picked it for me.
circa 1965

In the 1970s, I felt like a fish out of water. While blow-dried, long, flippy hair was all the rage, I preferred mine short. The 80s, however, suited me best. I sported short hair on the back and sides, with a long forelock adding some flair. I also loved the skinny ties and the retro look, reminiscent of the “Mad Men” style popularized by the TV show set in the 1960s advertising world. 

Work photo circa 1983

Creative Style Accents: Beyond fashion norms, I enjoy creativity and cross-purposing (not cross-dressing—not that there would be anything wrong with that.). I have fond memories of using a Boy Scout neckerchief clasp as a belt buckle. During my college years, I transformed a large black trash bag into an emergency rain poncho, complete with a matching cap. While I’ve toned down my “edgy” style choices, I still like to flip down the front of certain basic knit caps, creating a subtle bill-like flourish.

Lunch-time walk selfie 2013

As I’ve aged, my priorities have shifted. Material quality and fit matter more to me than ever. My hair has vanished, and my face boasts more wrinkles, but I’m determined to maintain a trim appearance and dress with a modicum of dignity. When I acquired prescription glasses for the first time in my mid 50s I opted for thick-rimmed, black frames which I still will wear often. I rather enjoy an iconic, geek-style look. Who knows how long I’ll keep it up, but for now, it suits me just fine! 

Note: This is a stub entry that I plan to expand upon in the future. Stay tuned.

Making Magic

 Taking a pencil or pen to paper and creating an image using line, shading and color still seems magical to me after all these years. Magic usually involves craft, markings or writings, as well as a story, a.k.a. incantations. It's that way of creating something that will interact with reality to change things. When I create something, those who behold it and thus interact with it undergo a change, however slight or great, within their consciousness. It's human magic of symbol and story. It can change the world ...or make someone think. Those two things are connected more often than not.

Below are some comics I made a while back that reflect the idea creating "Art Magic"

AI Study in Art Production

 I've been testing AI tools since 2021. 1st it was as a passive prompt initiator using WOMBO Dream. Then 3 years later, I revisited the same theme using Adobe Photoshop's Generative AI tool & FOTOR to help me make elements for which I added my own effects.

The above A.I. generated Art using WOMBO Dream with the prompt “Picture of Dorian Gray”.

Using the more advanced Photoshop Beta Generative AI feature along with FOTOR AI filters, I created this Picture of Dorian Gray Gif below.

Visual Essay: At a Flea Market in Vienna

 I hope you enjoy these photos I shot during our delightful excursion. Please scroll to the end for detailed info about the Vienna Flea Market.

The Flea Market in downtown Vienna, Austria, known as the Naschmarkt Flea Market, is a vibrant & bustling marketplace held every Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Located at the end of the Naschmarkt, one of Vienna's most famous food markets, about 400 flea market vendors offer a wide array of goods, from vintage clothing, antiques, and collectibles to books, art, & curiosities. 

The market attracts both locals and tourists, creating a lively atmosphere where haggling is common and treasures await discovery. Its central location, near Karlsplatz, makes it easily accessible, and it's a must-visit for those interested in unique finds and Viennese culture.

Bonus: 

The flea market was a real people-watcher's paradise. I mean, there were all sorts of interesting characters wandering around. But one group really caught my eye. It was a trio: a guy with a scruffy white beard, & two young guys who looked like they could be brothers.

They were totally focused, checking out the old stuff at different stalls. I wondered if they were coworkers or something, maybe the old guy was the boss. But they also reminded me of a grandpa with his grandsons. Something about them made me want to sketch them. I figured it would be a cool memory of the day.