Dim light source unknown. Know minimum. Know nothing no. Too much to hope. At most mere minimum. Meremost minimum.
No choice but stand. Somehow up and stand. Somehow stand. That or groan. The groan so long on its way. No. No groan. Simply pain. Simply up. A time when try how. Try see. Try say. How first it lay. Then somehow knelt. Bit by bit. Then on from there. Bit by bit. Till up at last. Not now. Fail better worse now.
Another. Say another. Head sunk on crippled hands. Vertex vertical. Eyes clenched. Seat of all. Germ of all.
No future in this. Alas yes.
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Samuel Beckett: Worstward Ho | This is part three of five. A short introduction can be found in part one.
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empire of lights 
Just catching up on your Beckett series today. There is much to ponder here. I like an interaction between words and images. While I cannot easily understand or follow Beckett’s words, the slowing down required to read them and then contemplating his thoughts in relation to your compositions was a valuable experience. Sometimes the sound of the words alone (“Meremost Minimum”) intrigue me, and, as you mentioned, some phrases (…”Fail better …”) linger in your mind. I do agree that he is speaking of hope, but it seems to be a hard-won hope. Your photographs are always compelling, capable of standing alone, but in this combination of words and images, you have shared something extra special. Reading about your thought processes as you created the series was also valuable. Best regards,
-Patricia
Almost a review – thank you, Patricia! I understand that the series somehow “works” for you. I am glad it does. As far as I understand Beckett’s lines here (in the light of texts like “Endgame” and “Waiting for Godot”) he is writing about hope, but on a very existential level. Maybe in the sense that whoever is speaking here is reduced to body functions (if I can call it that) like seeing, hearing, standing. I am not sure though … I’ll have to read more of this, and posssibly reread his essay about Proust in which he, if I remember correctly, explains his concept of the absurd. – Tobias
Thank you, Tobias. Your insight into Beckett’s lines is appreciated. I have not always been open to his words, but within your series, they did resonate.
It is getting more exciting while we step forward, just as in life! Thx Tobias!
Wow. If that is so, I am glad. Thanks, Chris! (Exit whistling.)
Just an afterthought: Maybe Beckett’s text gets the more digestible and exciting the smaller the chunks you read at a time … I’ll try to remember that because you motivate me to go on reading a bit farther than I got till now.
I just try to understand the single sentences and read them out loud. There are a lot of layers in there. Did not know literature could be so much fun!
Much the same way I proceed with this text … just that I go for the paragraphs (it’s one picture per paragraph of the original text).
Yep just thinking you make the small chunks! 😉
Teeny, tiny little glacier ! Wonderful Tobias.
In the first picture? Yes, I like that too – thanks Kathryn!
Jaaaaa !