Eubalaena glacialis: Conversing about a Norse Ship in a Norwegian Church, and photos of these, and their significance, with a former Scottish Professor of mine, "Positive envisionings vis-a-vis the neurophysiologies of culture are fascinating memes to co-generate and think through, musically even," "Don't know much about the modern verse etc.," Traveling

Conversing about a Norse Ship in a Norwegian Church, and photos of these, and their significance, with a former Scottish Professor of mine

Norse Ship in Norwegian Church (photo: Prof. Donald Meek)

Scott:
sailing in the air of positive Norse envisioning  ... ah, Protestantism

Donald Meek:
The Irish saw ships sailing in the air too, and little men coming down by ladder, Scott!

Scott:
Positive envisionings vis-a-vis the neurophysiologies of culture are fascinating memes to co-generate and think through, musically even ... Donald  ... don't know Norse hymns or how sailing vessels find their ways into song there  ... Any insights into this from your travels?

Donald:
Don't know much about the modern verse etc., Scott, but I do know a little about the medieval side, i.e. Norse boats as represented in so-called skaldic verse, and I have written a bit about that. It seems from surviving Gaelic verse from the 13th century that certain Gaelic poet were influenced by the style and 'kennings' of skaldic verse. I agree about the cross-cultural dimensions - absolutely fascinating. Wish I knew more! Travel does help - if only I were younger!

Scott:
Fascinating, Donald, you go back a ways ... Blog reference(s), if any, for "i.e. Norse boats as represented in so-called skaldic verse, and I have written a bit about that. It seems from surviving Gaelic verse from the 13th century that certain Gaelic poet were influenced by the style and 'kennings' of skaldic verse" ... ?

Donald:
Not on my blog, Scott. The relevant article appeared as 'Norsemen and Noble Stewards: The MacSween Poem in the Book of the Dean of Lismore', in Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies, Vol. 34 (Winter 1997), pp. 1-49. See also the book by R.G. Poole, 'Viking Poems on War and Peace: A Study in Skaldic Narrative' (Toronto, 1991), which I have found very useful. Prof. Poole wrote to me to say that he was continuing the theme of the Norse/Gaelic cross-over in verse of the kind that I had edited.

Scott:
Donald, I added our conversation to my blog with its URL here, - http://scott-macleod.blogspot.com/2013/07/eubalaena-glacialis-conversing-about.html - crediting the photo+ above to you. In looking at your blog (e.g. http://meekwrite.blogspot.com/2013/04/maritime-and-linguistic-studies.html), I wonder if the use of blogspot 'labels' (e.g. 'shipping,' 'ships,' or some such) would help thematize, etc., but especially make your blog more easily accessible. See the labels I use as an example above. Your 'shipaldry' (a heraldry neologism :) is fantastic, Donald.

Donald:

Many thanks indeed, Scott, for an excellent suggestion. I am very much aware of the need to sort out the 'labels' for the blog, to make it more accessible, and I will get back to you about that. I would value your skills and input. It needs 'flagging' of various kinds. For the moment, and probably for the next year, my concern is to put as much as I can of my unpublished material on the blog - to get it out of danger of being lost, should anything happen to me. I will also press on with my 'AutobiBLOGraphy', as I think my Tiree view of the world is important. It too will need to be labelled, so that folk can find the themes etc. At least, I've managed to reach some such sort of preliminary structure for understanding the great guddle of my own creative life! Glad you are enjoying the ship side. I do have an article (actually a talk - never properly written up) on the blog, which looks a little beyond the MacSween article above. Warmest thanks again, Scott, for your very helpful comments.

Donald:
I love your re-presentation of my FB material, Scott. Beautiful. Thank you very much indeed. I am glad, indeed amazed, that it is useful. You have done my 'ramblings' proud! More to come, no doubt. Feel free to use them all.

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