Ficly

The Bell Tolls

“…Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

I don’t know about you, but whenever I read that I imagine it being intoned by a very ominous sounding baritone. It has a morose, threatening sort of feel to it, like I’m going to die. Please allow me to present to you a more complete rendition of the quote.

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a peice of the continet, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of they friend’s or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” ~John Donne, Devotions, XVII

Is that not lovely? Is that not sublime? It’s not supposed to be ominous at all, which amuses me in itself, as I always love when my preconceived ideas are dispelled in such a way. It’s not about some dread foreboding; it’s about a way to be connected to all of humanity, to be involved in such a way as to feel the loss of even one soul.

I like to think, you know, when I’m rather full of myself like I am this evening, that writing is one way in which we can achieve this. If I may clarify, it is not just in the writing but in the reading. Then it is in the discussion. Next comes those brilliant moments against the dull monotony of life when creativity pings from one mind to another, when epiphany bursts from the stray words of the semi-anonymous peer, or when you bear witness to one soul touching another through the written word.

May it happen more often. May it happen more dramatically. May it happen to you.

Happy ficlying, my friends.

16 comments Posted 2010-01-23 Author: THX 0477

Comments

  • bluefish

    I think ficly is a good demonstration of that philosophy. All our stories become linked together by sequels, prequels, and challenges, just as we as writers and readers become linked by sharing our stories with each other. :D

  • Mostly Harmless

    I must say when I saw the blog title I thought you were about to tell us Ficly was closing or chocolate had been banned or some other terrible thing…

    But no, thank the lord. Nice post – interesting indeed. MH :)

  • Sam Ervin

    “…Ask not for whom the bone bones; it bones for thee.”

  • Browncoatben

    To quote another great man…

    “Word.”

  • Mighty-Joe Young (A.K.A Strong Coffee)(LoA)

    @sam sometimes you sound like a nut, and ……well most of the time you do, and i love it.
    @ Thx i like the way it reminds of the one becomeing many, and the return to the one like in the babylonian marduke tale.
    @Ben “Yeah WORD!!!”

  • ElshaHawk (LoA)

    Well,
    I LOVE YOU GUYS!
    *sniff
    That was just beautiful..

  • Sam Ervin

    My comment was a Futurama reference… don’t go thinking I’m quite that clever. :D

  • someday_93

    When I was little, I always figured that maybe everyone sort of knew everyone by association. Like, I know someone who knows someone etc…and eventually we get back to the beginning.

    Anyway, this was nice. It’s good to be connected. Being alone too long is no good. Although I agree that the title made me think something was dying…so I’m glad it was happier =]

  • Marli

    I read Hemingways book and saw the movie classic in Art Lit at Uni. and I thought then what a misuse of the title . Nice to see you have given kudos to the origin THX.

  • kaellinn18

    I, too, always got an ominous tone from that line, probably because it’s quoted out of context so often. No more! Thanks for writing this; it was an interesting read.

  • SaveTheUnicorns

    your eloquence inspires me, THX. whenever we let a voice remain silent, we let a story go untold. and every time we let a story go untold, the world is starved of enlightenment.

  • John Perkins

    I think part of the ominous feeling I get from it stems from the Metallica song.

    Very interesting note on context. It’s amazing how much difference there can be in the meaning of a thing depending on the context. Something to keep in mind both as writers and readers.

  • cthulhuburger

    Well, I must be Mister Thicko, because to me the idea that I die a little every time someone else dies is ominous and foreboding.

  • osoe

    Very inspiring and lovely to think about. It kinda made my day. :)

  • Blossom Ruoquen (LoA)

    Heh, can’t say it “made my day”, Osoe, because it is insinuating that every time someone dies, A little piece of you dies; but that’s a very restricted view of what this quote means. It’s saying we’re not a one-man team. We don’t stand on our own, and we’re never alone.
    When there’s a loss for humanity, it’s a loss for the world – for us. When there’s a triumph for them we too are connected because we are a continent: not an archipelago.
    . . . Or something that is like that.
    :P

  • Blossom Ruoquen (LoA)

    Heh, can’t say it “made my day”, Osoe, because it is insinuating that every time someone dies, A little piece of you dies; but that’s a very restricted view of what this quote means. It’s saying we’re not a one-man team. We don’t stand on our own, and we’re never alone.
    When there’s a loss for humanity, it’s a loss for the world – for us. When there’s a triumph for them we too are connected because we are a continent: not an archipelago.
    . . . Or something that is like that.
    :P