.
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Zalew Wislany, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 19 June 2009
Island where it all becomes clear
solid ground beneath your feet
echoes stir unsummoned
and eagerly explain all the secrets of the worlds
on the right a cave where meaning lies
on the left the lake of deep conviction
truth breaks from the bottom and bobs to the surface
unshakable confidence towers over the valley
its peak offers an excellent view of the essence of things
into unfathomable life
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Sunrise swan, Warmian-Mazurian, Poland: photo by, 16 April 2013
Wyspa na której wszystko się wyjaśnia.
Tu można stanąć na gruncie dowodów.
Nie ma dróg innych oprócz drogi dojścia.
Krzaki aż uginają się od odpowiedzi.
Rośnie tu drzewo Słusznego Domysłu
o rozwikłanych wiecznie gałęziach.
Olśniewająco proste drzewo Zrozumienia
przy źródle, co się zwie Ach Więc To Tak.
Im dalej w las, tym szerzej się otwiera
Dolina Oczywistości.
Jeśli jakieś zwątpienie, to wiatr je rozwiewa.
Echo bez wywołania głos zabiera
i wyjaśnia ochoczo tajemnice światów.
W prawo jaskinia, w której leży sens.
W lewo jezioro Głębokiego Przekonania.
Z dna odrywa się prawda i lekko na wierzch wypływa.
Góruje nad doliną Pewność Niewzruszona.
Ze szczytu jej roztacza się Istota Rzeczy.
Mimo powabów wyspa jest bezludna,
a widoczne po brzegach drobne ślady stóp
bez wyjątku zwrócone są w kierunku morza.
Jak gdyby tylko odchodzono stąd
i bezpowrotnie zanurzano się w topieli.
W życiu nie do pojęcia.
Wislawa Szymborska (1923-2012): Utopia (1976)
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Frombork, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 8 August 2013
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Frombork, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 8 August 2013
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Landscape with fences. Northeastern Poland, Podlaskie region: photo by Jerzy Radimersky, 12 April 2013
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Zamarzniety Kawalek Baltyku (Zalew Mislany) Stanczyki Stanczyki (northern Poland): photo by Patryk Hejduk (paprycjusz), 31 March 2013
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Artist's impression of New Moral World, Robert Owen's ideal for a utopian community at New Harmony, Indiana (1825); Owenites fired bricks to build it but construction never took place: drawing by Stedman Whitwell, architect (J.R. James Archive, University of Sheffield)
![File:New Harmony by F. Bate (View of a Community, as proposed by Robert Owen) printed 1838.jpg]()
A bird's eye view of a community in New Harmony, Indiana, as proposed by Robert Owen: drawn and engraved by F. Bate, London 1838; published by "The Association of all Classes of all Nations", at their institution, 69, Great Queen Street. Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, 1838. Inscribed at bottom of plate: A Bird's Eye View of a Community, as proposed by Robert Owen Esq.re is respectfully dedicated to the following classes of society: To the Landowners, as being the only means whereby their Estates can be rendered permanently productive, and their Rents secure. To the Capitalists, as offering the safest speculation, and most gratifying ways of investing their surplus Capital, without risk of failure. To the Clergy, and Instructors of Mankind, as the only and speedy means of bringing about that great desideratum they have so much at heart, namely, the suppression of Vice & Error, by the removal of the causes of Crime (Ignorance & Poverty), the dissemination of Truth, & the establishment of Virtue. To the industrious Wealth Producers, as affording the only arrangements, whereby they can secure their true and rightful position in Society, and the just & honest participation in the Wealth created by their talents and industry. And lastly, to the Government of the British Empire, shewing the arrangements, whereby the duties of Government may be rendered safe, easy, and delightful, instead of as heretofore, being one of danger, difficulty, error, confusion and disatisfaction; image by Michael Gäbler, 6 April 2006
![File:New Harmony on the Wabash River painted by Karl Bodmer 1832 – 1833.jpg]()
![35. New-Harmony aus Wabash.]()
![File:Accurata Utopiae Tabula.jpg]()
Accurata Utopia Tabula (Karte des Schlaraffenlandes): Matthäus Seutter (1678-1757), via Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps; image by Goustien, 19 February 2009
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The Island of Utopia: Ambrosius Holbein, 1518, woodcut, 17.8 x 11.8 cm (Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel)
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Bridal Procession in a Spring Landscape: Adrian Ludwig Richter, 1847, oil on canvas, 93 x 150 cm (Gemäldegalerie, Dresden)
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Christine de Pisan: The Book of the City of Ladies: French Miniaturist, c. 1405, manuscript (Ms. français 607), 360 x 270 mm (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)
"@PaisajeGeo: Hay que respetar la naturaleza" #UTOPIA: image via Cuchitril @facumosqueira, 1 January 2015
Lugares de #Utopia en la Naturaleza El Bosque Bamboo en Japón @subversivos: image via Isabel Aranjuez @isaranjuez, 7 January 2015
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Meditating on the 20th century … La Jetée, Chris Marker's much-celebrated short film, made from a series of still images: photo by British Film Institute via The Guardian, 15 April 2014
MT "@guardian: Are you a commuter? Share your experiences" #dystopia: image via ChrisWhiteWrites @chriswhitewrite, 28 January 2015
Zalew Wislany, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 19 June 2009
Island where it all becomes clear
solid ground beneath your feet
.. the only roads are those that offer access
bushes bend beneath the weight of proofs
the tree of valid supposition grows here
with branches disentangled since time immemorial
with branches disentangled since time immemorial
.. the tree of understanding, dazzlingly straight and simple
.. sprouts by the spring called now I get it
.. sprouts by the spring called now I get it
the thicker the woods, the vaster the vista
the valley of obviously
the valley of obviously
if any doubts arise, the wind dispels them instantly
echoes stir unsummoned
and eagerly explain all the secrets of the worlds
on the right a cave where meaning lies
on the left the lake of deep conviction
truth breaks from the bottom and bobs to the surface
unshakable confidence towers over the valley
its peak offers an excellent view of the essence of things
for all its charms, the island is uninhabited
and the faint footprints scattered on its beaches
turn without exception to the sea
and the faint footprints scattered on its beaches
turn without exception to the sea
all you can do here is leave
and plunge, never to return, into the depths
and plunge, never to return, into the depths
into unfathomable life
Wislawa Szymborska (1923-2012): Utopia (1976), translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh
Sunrise swan, Warmian-Mazurian, Poland: photo by
Wyspa na której wszystko się wyjaśnia.
Tu można stanąć na gruncie dowodów.
Nie ma dróg innych oprócz drogi dojścia.
Krzaki aż uginają się od odpowiedzi.
Rośnie tu drzewo Słusznego Domysłu
o rozwikłanych wiecznie gałęziach.
Olśniewająco proste drzewo Zrozumienia
przy źródle, co się zwie Ach Więc To Tak.
Im dalej w las, tym szerzej się otwiera
Dolina Oczywistości.
Jeśli jakieś zwątpienie, to wiatr je rozwiewa.
Echo bez wywołania głos zabiera
i wyjaśnia ochoczo tajemnice światów.
W prawo jaskinia, w której leży sens.
W lewo jezioro Głębokiego Przekonania.
Z dna odrywa się prawda i lekko na wierzch wypływa.
Góruje nad doliną Pewność Niewzruszona.
Ze szczytu jej roztacza się Istota Rzeczy.
Mimo powabów wyspa jest bezludna,
a widoczne po brzegach drobne ślady stóp
bez wyjątku zwrócone są w kierunku morza.
Jak gdyby tylko odchodzono stąd
i bezpowrotnie zanurzano się w topieli.
W życiu nie do pojęcia.
Wislawa Szymborska (1923-2012): Utopia (1976)
Frombork, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 8 August 2013
Frombork, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 8 August 2013
Frombork, Warmia, Poland: photo by LeszekZadio, 8 August 2013
Landscape with fences. Northeastern Poland, Podlaskie region: photo by Jerzy Radimersky, 12 April 2013
Zamarzniety Kawalek Baltyku (Zalew Mislany) Stanczyki Stanczyki (northern Poland): photo by Patryk Hejduk (paprycjusz), 31 March 2013
Zamarzniety Kawalek Baltyku (Zalew Mislany). Tolkmicko, Warmian-Masurian, Poland: photo by Chris ZaMaloCzasu (xpisto1), 17 March 2013
Artist's impression of New Moral World, Robert Owen's ideal for a utopian community at New Harmony, Indiana (1825); Owenites fired bricks to build it but construction never took place: drawing by Stedman Whitwell, architect (J.R. James Archive, University of Sheffield)
A bird's eye view of a community in New Harmony, Indiana, as proposed by Robert Owen: drawn and engraved by F. Bate, London 1838; published by "The Association of all Classes of all Nations", at their institution, 69, Great Queen Street. Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, 1838. Inscribed at bottom of plate: A Bird's Eye View of a Community, as proposed by Robert Owen Esq.re is respectfully dedicated to the following classes of society: To the Landowners, as being the only means whereby their Estates can be rendered permanently productive, and their Rents secure. To the Capitalists, as offering the safest speculation, and most gratifying ways of investing their surplus Capital, without risk of failure. To the Clergy, and Instructors of Mankind, as the only and speedy means of bringing about that great desideratum they have so much at heart, namely, the suppression of Vice & Error, by the removal of the causes of Crime (Ignorance & Poverty), the dissemination of Truth, & the establishment of Virtue. To the industrious Wealth Producers, as affording the only arrangements, whereby they can secure their true and rightful position in Society, and the just & honest participation in the Wealth created by their talents and industry. And lastly, to the Government of the British Empire, shewing the arrangements, whereby the duties of Government may be rendered safe, easy, and delightful, instead of as heretofore, being one of danger, difficulty, error, confusion and disatisfaction; image by Michael Gäbler, 6 April 2006
New Harmony on the Wabash River (New–Harmony am Wabash): Karl Bodmer (1809-1893), 1832-33, from Bodmer: Reisen in das Innere Nordamerikas 1832-1834, published 1840-41; image by Michael Gäbler, 26 May 2006
New-Harmony aus Wabash (New Harmony on the Wabash): aquatint by Karl Bodmer (1809-1893), from Maximilian, Prince of Wied’s Travels in the Interior of North America, during the years 1832–1834: Prince Maximilian of Wied, published by Rudolf Ackermann, 1839; image by John Sweeney, 21 February 2012
Accurata Utopia Tabula (Karte des Schlaraffenlandes): Matthäus Seutter (1678-1757), via Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps; image by Goustien, 19 February 2009
The Island of Utopia: Ambrosius Holbein, 1518, woodcut, 17.8 x 11.8 cm (Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel)
Bridal Procession in a Spring Landscape: Adrian Ludwig Richter, 1847, oil on canvas, 93 x 150 cm (Gemäldegalerie, Dresden)
Christine de Pisan: The Book of the City of Ladies: French Miniaturist, c. 1405, manuscript (Ms. français 607), 360 x 270 mm (Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)
"@PaisajeGeo: Hay que respetar la naturaleza" #UTOPIA: image via Cuchitril @facumosqueira, 1 January 2015
Lugares de #Utopia en la Naturaleza El Bosque Bamboo en Japón @subversivos: image via Isabel Aranjuez @isaranjuez, 7 January 2015
Meditating on the 20th century … La Jetée, Chris Marker's much-celebrated short film, made from a series of still images: photo by British Film Institute via The Guardian, 15 April 2014
MT "@guardian: Are you a commuter? Share your experiences" #dystopia: image via ChrisWhiteWrites @chriswhitewrite, 28 January 2015
Read my new #blogpost about #utopia (the perfect society; NOT the TV show) and whether its really what its cut out: image via theLEGEND @anya_felix11, 13 January 2015
Can we see better days ahead or is #dystopia our destiny? The Real Culture War #Collectivism: image via Stephanie L. Schmidt @QuoteStephanie, 14 January 2015