Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Crosby in December

December 10, 1929. Eighty four years ago yesterday. What a bizarre loss & waste of vibrant life. Harry Crosby (1898-1929).

2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of The Great War. A catastrophic war across generations. The media will wallow in relentless memorializing and somber grandstanding. But who among the talking heads will mention Crosby?

Image from the Collection of Southern Illinois University


1924 entry from Shadows of the Sun:*

December 11.  Studied Sufism. ...  " - The human soul belongs to the spiritual world and is ever seeking to be re-united to its source (the Sun). Such union is hindered by the bodily senses but though not permanently attainable until death, it can be enjoyed at times at the state called ecstasy when the veil of sensual perception is rent asunder and the soul is merged in God (in the Sun)"

* Black Sparrow, 1977, pg.63

Scholars point to Crosby's experience as a volunteer ambulance driver in World War I as singularly influential on the course of his life. That's hard to argue with.

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