What do you see?

 

 Farfugium japonica 'Kaimon Dake', Fall Flowers

~~~~~

Awhile back, I wrote that I had recently become enamored of the Genus Farfugium - here it is, the first week of November along the coast of South Carolina (in a county that went blue in a state that was red), and they are just starting to bloom.  The flowers of 'Kaimon Dake' look nicer than I remember the flowers of the others looking last fall - I think I recall there were insects that were being quite unkind to the flowers last year.  The others are just beginning to bloom - so I guess I'll find out if the flowers are as nice as these - or if this is something that is different between them. 

These small yellow flowers are quite nice, aren't they?

~~~~~

Wednesday. 

Lab Meeting.

Today, not surprisingly, we spoke of the election.  We talked about the lines we stood in, our anxiousness as the election results began to come in - about how we thought anything was possible now.  We thought about Virginia and North Carolina colored in blue - about South Carolina still in red, but with a blue swath down the middle and weaving through the counties along the coast.  We talked about being relieved.

The homemade eclair-baking postdoc...brought homemade eclairs.  Boy-oh-boy were they good.

One student talked about how she went door-to-door in the morning, to the doors of those in a public housing neighborhood who were registered as voting democratic - to see if they had voted.  She spoke of how there were only two polling booths in her precinct - a third was broken.  People stood in line for three hours...or more. 

Everyone felt that McCain was very gracious in his concession speech.  His audience and supporters were much less gracious - their boos were noticed - heard - by many (the Republican Party should perhaps reflect on this for awhile).

I personally liked the somber, serious and humble tone of Obama's victory speech. 

The road ahead will be long.  Our climb will be steep.  We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.  I promise you:  We as a people will get there.

I said that I wished him luck - that it was a difficult time.  One of my student's responded that the key is 'we', that the country wasn't just Obama's responsibility - what 'we' as citizens will do is critical.  She hoped that the enthusiasm that his campaign generated will be maintained.  My students are bright.  Passionate. 

(I've laughed at myself tonight, thinking about a post I wrote last summer, after a particularly difficult day at work - titled the 'the audacity of not hoping'.  It was a really difficult day at work - something I'm still dealing with.  But okay, okay - I'm hopeful.  I mean the guy mentioned 'the front porches of Charleston' in his victory speech.) 

So during lab meeting we did...also talk about lab stuff.  About a pending biosafety inspection, and then we spent hours - as long as many stood in line - and worked on two presentations for Friday's Student Research Day at our university.  One on dolphins and one on bacterial membrane vesicles.  Fun work - both of them, fascinating data - my lab is good.  On Friday my lab will present two talks and two poster presentations.  I have no doubt that all four presentations will be excellent - it will be fun for me to see them on Friday. 

~~~~~

After we discussed the election, and before the science, Katherine read us a Walt Whitman poem, or at least part of a rambling one, that she felt captured the day.  Prior to reading the poem, she told us:

 

Modern American poetry has been characterized, I think rightly, as a response to either the strict formalist, Emily Dickinson, or her rambling, ecstatic contemporary, Walt Whitman.  When I consider our historic decision to rejoin the great family of nations, and the jubilation in the streets, I am mindful of Walt Whitman’s inclusive, ecstatic vision of America.  This is excerpted from his long catalogue poem, “Salut au Monde!”

[4]  What do you see Walt Whitman?

[7]  I see the battle-fields of the earth, grass grows upon them and
blossoms and corn,
I see the tracks of ancient and modern expeditions.

[...]  I see the burial-cairns of Scandinavian warriors,
I see them raised high with stones by the marge of restless oceans,
that the dead men's spirits when they wearied of their quiet
graves might rise up through the mounds and gaze on the tossing
billows, and be refresh'd by storms, immensity, liberty, action.

[...]  [10]  I see African and Asiatic towns,
I see Algiers, Tripoli, Derne, Mogadore, Timbuctoo, Monrovia,
I see the swarms of Pekin, Canton, Benares, Delhi, Calcutta, Tokio,
I see the Kruman in his hut, and the Dahoman and Ashantee-man in their huts,
I see the Turk smoking opium in Aleppo,
I see the picturesque crowds at the fairs of Khiva and those of Herat,
I see Teheran, I see Muscat and Medina and the intervening sands,
see the caravans toiling onward,
I see Egypt and the Egyptians, I see the pyramids and obelisks.
[...]  I see all the menials of the earth, laboring,
I see all the prisoners in the prisons,
I see the defective human bodies of the earth,
[...]
I see male and female everywhere,
I see the serene brotherhood of philosophs,
I see the constructiveness of my race,
I see the results of the perseverance and industry of my race,
I see ranks, colors, barbarisms, civilizations, I go among them, I
mix indiscriminately,
And I salute all the inhabitants of the earth.

~~~~~

After Katherine read the Walt Whitman poem, I told her about a Langston Hughes poem that I said I would post here tonight.  It is also beautifully relevant to what has happened in this country this week.  We, yes 'we', should all be proud.  Langston Hughes would be proud.

(I am indeed being sentimental tonight!)

 

I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides, 

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

Comments

[John B.]

Boy, am I behind in my blog-reading.

Recently I ran into something on the 'Nets where the writer said in passing that Whitman was for him the poet best suited to conveying how he felt about this country, post-election. I'd have to agree with that. It's easy to smile at his effusive embrace of everyone, but generosity of spirit, like hope, isn't blind or naive. What Whitman knew and celebrated, and what Obama doesn't just speak to but embodies is faith in this country's ideals. We are at our best when we do the best we can to live up to them.

I read somewhere else that Obama, when he was deciding whether or not to run, was asked by someone if he was afraid of losing. He said no, he was afraid of winning. I like the honesty in that, the recognition that it's after winning that the real work, the important work, begins. Who's on his side? Who has his back? Your student is exactly right on this point, too: it's not all up to him now; it's up to us.

[Benjamin]

What a fine fine post to read! I've not been an Obama supporter, but I see how his rhetoric, at least, is a start, and somethin we've been lacking in our leaders. Rhetoric is powerful, and in some ways, it can / might jus tmobilize people. But will this euphoria so many of my collegues share last? He's right--it won't get easier fast, it will get harder. We still won't face what's at the root of some of our lagest problems--our over reliance / faith in thinking we deserve the best, everything, without having to work for it or sacrifice. I see this esp in environmental issues because I'm most passionate about this, but race, class, gender all connect readily. We need a leader who makes us Americans again, who sacrifice for a greater good, and know that if we do so not only will our physical lives be better, but our emotional and spiritual. I don't know. I ramble, and I have plenty of applications for a search committee I need to get through.....

[Blackswampgirl Kim]

Your post is reassuring, but so is John B's comment. Because I have long at least somewhat agreed with Gore Vidal, who said: "Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so." Only by that definition, nobody qualified would ever run... so at least for someone to be humble about running, and have some doubts, is a good compromise for me.

[Layanee]

I have enjoyed Langston Hughes' works but have either not read this one or forgotten it. Very timely and makes me a bit melancholy for all the time wasted in celebrating each life regardless of personal bits n'pieces.

[Pam]

John B., as you know, I supported Hillary during the primaries. I was disappointed that she didn't receive the nomination - but then began to slowly warm to Obama after much reading and thought. The enthusiasm for him - and the possibility of a more positive direction and outlook was contagious for me. I wish him well, but yes - we all are responsible here.

Benjamin, I wasn't an Obama supporter at first - and it took me quite awhile to 'join in'. I didn't enjoy the rhetoric at first - but am desperately hopeful that our country regains a kinder reputation globally. And good luck with all that work. I know where you're coming from!

Layanee, thanks for such a thoughtful comment. I like Hughes - and over the past week or so have felt the significance of this time. I'm proud of what our country has done - people seem to be walking a bit taller I think.

[Pam]

Kim, I fully agree. I can't imagine anyone wanting the job - so at least if they want it, realize how intrinsically impossible it is!