Desiderata

[KoKo]

Desiderata

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History

American writer Max Ehrmann (1872–1945) wrote the prose poem Desiderata in 1927.[1] In 1956, the Reverend Frederick Kates, rector of Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland, included Desiderata in a compilation of devotional materials for his congregation. The compilation included the church's foundation date: "Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore A.D. 1692." Consequently, the date of the text's authorship was (and still is) widely mistaken as 1692, the year of the church's foundation.[1]

When Adlai Stevenson died in 1965, a guest in his home found the Desiderata near his bedside and discovered that Stevenson had planned to use it in his Christmas cards. Subsequently, the poem became widely known.[1]

The text was widely distributed in poster form. Calling it “Spock Thoughts”, Leonard Nimoy recited the poem on his 1967 album, “Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock’s Music from Outer Space”. His rendition is not the only one to change the 2nd to last sentence from “Be Cheerful” to “Be Careful”. In late 1971 and early 1972, Les Crane's spoken-word recording of Desiderata (the lead track on his 1971 Warner Bros. album Desiderata)[2] peaked at #8 on the Billboard chart, #4 on the Canadian RPM Magazine chart, and #6 on the UK Melody Maker's chart. The makers of the record assumed that the poem was too old to be in copyright, but the publicity surrounding the record led to clarification of Ehrmann's authorship and his family eventually receiving royalties. The British band In the Nursery adapted the poem to music on its 1992 album Duality.[3]

In August 1971 the poem was published in Success Unlimited magazine, again without authorization from Ehrmann's family. In a 1976 lawsuit against the magazine's publisher, Combined Registry Company, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that copyright had been forfeited because the poem had been authorized for publication without a copyright notice in the 1940s – and that the poem is therefore in the public domain.[4]

In response to his Government's losing its majority in the Canadian federal election, 1972 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau quoted the Desiderata by reassuring the nation that "the universe is unfolding as it should."[citation needed]

On August 26, 2010, a bronze statue of Ehrmann sitting on a park bench was unveiled in Terre Haute, Indiana, his hometown, with the sculpture done by Bill Wolfe. On a nearby walkway, some lines of the poem are also available to be read by passers-by.[5]

Full Text

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata

[Autumn]

1. I have an old 3 ft long poster of Desiderata that I had framed

about 30 years ago. I think it covers just about everything in life.

[FedUpWithIt All]

2. Like Autumn, i had a poster of this that i had framed

It was on my wall for well over a decade. I have read it hundreds of times and love it dearly.

[beac]

3. My fourth grade teacher had each of us

write out and illustrate Desiderata in book form as a semester-long project. We had complete freedom to choose how we designed our book. It's one of my favorite childhood memories.

[Jim Lane]

4. I can never read it without thinking of the parody.

Text of "Deteriorata"

[Le Taz Hot]

21. +1

And I can't listen to Wagner without thinking of Elmer Fudd . . . "Kill da wabbit kill da wabbit!. . ."

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. In the early 70's many could recite the parody: "Deteriorata"...

"Deteriorata" - National Lampoon

You are a fluke of the universe. You have no right to be here.
Deteriorata. Deteriorata.

Go placidly amid the noise and waste,
And remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
Avoid quiet and passive persons, unless you are in need of sleep.
Rotate your tires.
Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself,
And heed well their advice, even though they be turkeys.
Know what to kiss, and when.
Consider that two wrongs never make a right, but that three do.
Wherever possible, put people on hold.
Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment,
and despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer maintenance.

Remember The Pueblo.
Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate.
Know yourself. If you need help, call the FBI.
Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you -
That lemon on your left, for instance.
Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.
Fall not in love therefore. It will stick to your face.
Gracefully surrender the things of youth: birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan.
And let not the sands of time get in your lunch.
Hire people with hooks.
For a good time, call 606-4311. Ask for Ken.
Take heart in the bedeepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.
And reflect that whatever fortune may be your lot,
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.

You are a fluke of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not,
The universe is laughing behind your back.

Therefore, make peace with your god,
Whatever you perceive him to be - hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin.
With all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal,
The world continues to deteriorate.
Give up!

[jazzimov]

6. Deteriorata

Deteriorata is a famous parody of Les Crane's 1971 spoken word recording of Desiderata, the early 20th century poem by Max Ehrmann. (Desiderata is a Latin word meaning "things to be desired"; the word deteriorata is a portmanteau of "desiderata" and the verb to deteriorate.) The parody was written by Tony Hendra for National Lampoon, and was recorded as part of the National Lampoon Radio Dinner album, released in 1972. Voiceover talent Norman Rose read the "poem" and Melissa Manchester (little known at the time) was a background singer on the chorus section of the song. Christopher Guest wrote the music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deteriorata


Full text

Deteriorata

Go placidly amid the noise and waste,
And remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
Avoid quiet and passive persons unless you are in need of sleep.
Rotate your tires.

Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself,
And heed well their advice, even though they be turkeys.
Know what to kiss and when.

Consider that two wrongs never make a right,
But that three lefts do.

Wherever possible put people on "HOLD".
Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment,
And despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer maintenance.
Remember the Pueblo.

Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle and mutilate.
Know yourself. If you need help, call the FBI.

Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you;
That lemon on your left for instance.

Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls,
Would scarcely get your feet wet.

Fall not in love therefore; it will stick to your face.
Carefully surrender the things of youth: birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan,
And let not the sands of time get in your lunch.
For a good time, call 606-4311.

Take heart amid the deepening gloom that your dog
Is finally getting enough cheese;
And reflect that whatever fortunes may be your lot,
It could only be worse in Sioux City.

{Chorus}You are a fluke of the Universe.
You have no right to be here, and whether you can hear it or not,
The Universe is laughing behind your back.

Therefore make peace with your God whatever you conceive him to be,
Hairy Thunderer or Cosmic Muffin.

With all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal,
The world continues to deteriorate.

Give up.
--From the National Lampoon Radio Dinner album.

[progressoid]

7. I used to have that album!

Wonder what happened to it...

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Heh heh. I still have my LP by National Lampoon

as well as a few others from them.

Wonder how much $$$ they fetch these days.

[johnp3907]

18. I had it, too.

Do I still???

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. I first heard this on the Dr. Demento Show on a Sunday night...

And by the way, there's gun porn at 1:48.

Sioux City? I thought it was Milwaukee.

[ReRe]

8. Desiderata...

...Thank you KoKo for posting this...

[pacalo]

10. Here's the version that came out in 1971...

[liberal_at_heart]

11. I've never read or heard that before. That is beautiful. Thank you.

[defacto7]

12. The Euphoric, the hopeful, and the compassionate, the best of human aspiration....

and... The Cynical, the hopeless and the callus, the underpinning of human nightmare.....

All in the same thread....

It's interesting what some see and others.... see.

[KoKo]

15. I did think that was interesting..that Contrast...

I won't speculate. Except to say the "Glass Half Empty" as opposed to the "Glass Half Full."

[2naSalit]

13. I have long been familiar

with the original and the parody... but I truly love the Samuel Barber piece, sometimes it even makes me cry. It is what one orchestra played upon hearing of the death of President Kennedy during a performance.

Nice piece of music to back that amazing work.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

14. Had a poster on my wall with this as a teenager

I've no idea what happened to it but it was quite popular in the 60s and 70s.

[Octafish]

16. Thanks, KoKo!

I did not know the story.

As a side note, I think the world of Adlai Stevenson II:

"They (the Republicans) go on to say that I am indebted to some, that I would have no freedom, and that I could do nothing if I found dishonesty.

"Corruption in public office is treason to Democrats as well Republicans.

"Any crooks I can find in the government will be exposed and punished as ruthlessly as I've done in in Illinois, to Republicans and Democrats alike."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19520906&id=2cNHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zYoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1532,525968

Not many like him any more.

[KoKo]

20. Nope...I had Southern Relatives who worked hard for him...

Go Figure...way back then... Who could have known...their kids are pretty much RW Fundie Christians these days.

Thanks!

[smirkymonkey]

17. +1000

[CanSocDem]

22. A timely post.

For those of us coming of age in the 60's and yearning for a coherent spiritual path, this little essay was the counter-culture equivalent of the ten commandments. Our generation had little faith in the theistic religions of our parents and this piece gave us the confidence in ourselves, to live purposeful lives, despite the tumultuous pressures put upon us by the establishment culture.

It taught us the fundamentals of a humanistic society and laid the groundwork for the social revolution we felt was imminent. It inspired 'the love generation' without exception and provided a workable solution to the hate and discontent of the day.

Most of us pinned this poster either on or next to the door to remind us as we went out into the world that "...whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world."

Thank you so much for the post, Koko!!!

.

[KoKo]

23. Thank YOU for your reply...!

Because that's my own experience with Desiderata and that it comes back in these times...sort of seems that it's fitting...I think...

These Times...very familiar to those who lived through "those times."

Many Thanks for understanding...and living through it ...and being here to reply!

[KoKo]

24. For the Weekend Crowd..