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It is this implication of ‘birth’ and ‘death’ the poet articulates in EAST COKER: “In my beginning is my end.” *Whisper of running streams, and winter lightning.The wild thyme unseen and the wild strawberry,The laughter in the garden, echoed ecstasyNot lost, but requiring, pointing to the agonyOf death and birth.* “In my end is my beginning.” Period. CR On Wed, Dec 27, 2017 at 8:41 AM Chanan Mittal <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > ‘Death’ here is dying to worldly desires indicated in “the summer > palaces,” “the silken girls bringing sherbet,” and hands “dicing for pieces > of silver.” > > And a life of absolute purity captured in the image of “a running stream” > and “an old white horse (galloping) in the meadow.” > > That is the kind of life the poet aspires to, as he says in > ‘Ash-Wednesday,’ > > Because I do not hope to turn again > Because I do not hope > Because I do not hope to turn > Desiring this man's gift and that man's scope > > CR > > On Wed, Dec 27, 2017 at 8:17 AM Chanan Mittal <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> “I had seen birth and death, >> But thought they were different; this Birth was >> Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death. >> We returned to our palaces, these Kingdoms, >> But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, >> With an alien people clutching their gods. >> I should be glad of another death.” >> >> I’m intrigued by “another death.” >> Not just one more death but another kind of death. >> The poet would be glad of another death because it is life-giving. >> He had earlier thought birth and death were different. >> No, they were not. >> Just as this birth was different, this death too was different. >> >> CR >> >> On Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 11:03 PM Chanan Mittal <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >>> Christmas with TS Eliot >>> from Times’ archives >>> >>> https://www.the-tls.co.uk/christmas-with-t-s-eliot/ >>> >>> CR >> >>