Desiderata - The Poem

[Matt O]

Gents,

Desiderata is something that is needed or wanted.

It also happens to be the name of a poem written by Max Ehrmann in the early 1920s.

A friend of mine asked me to write the poem in cursive for him.

Given the current times, I figured that I would share.

Vr

Matt

 

[ajkel64]

Nice job. Thanks for sharing your writing with us.

 

[Billski]

Did you write that , or did someone else write it?

 

[Matt O]

Did you write that , or did someone else write it?

I did not author the poem, but I wrote it out for a friend who wanted to get it written in cursive for framing.

Vr

Matt

 

[Matt O]

Nice job. Thanks for sharing your writing with us.

Thanks, happy to share!

Vr

Matt

 

[Acmemfg]

The poem "Desiderata" was very popular in the early 70's. I think that poster had to have been on every other college dorm wall in America.
National Lampoon came out with a different version of it which I greatly preferred.

"DETERIORATA"

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.
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.
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!
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.
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.

 

[Matt O]

Bahahahah! I hadn’t read that one!

vr

Matt

 

[tankerjohn]

Exquisite penmanship, sir.

 

[Matt O]

Thanks John! I hope that you are well, and staying healthy!

vr

matt

 

[KW Driver]

nicely done.

and I like the National Lampoon's too.

 

[Matt O]

Gents,

I am working on my technique for line variation. It isn’t there yet, but it’s coming along. I just love the zen of it all really.

Vr

Matt

 

[strop]

The poem "Desiderata" was very popular in the early 70's. I think that poster had to have been on every other college dorm wall in America.

Guilty! I had completely forgotten about that. Thanks for the memories!

 

[Matt O]

My pleasure!

Vr

Matt

 

[benhunt]

Was it written with a Desiderata pen?

 

[Matt O]

The poem was written with an Esterbrook Dollar pen whose nib had a stub grind. The quotes were both written with two different pens.

Vr

Matt

 

[Rhody]

Fantastic penmanship
Unbelievable actually wow
How long does it take you to form a letter?

 

[Matt O]

Thanks! It doesn’t feel like it takes too long to form a letter...however to write a letter to someone is a bit more arduous!

Letter writing and penmanship are lost arts.

Vr

Matt

 

[jar_]

A slight aside on the poem and Old St. Paul's Church in Baltimore. As a student at St. Paul's School for Boys during those years and having Fred Katz as a classmate it has always been of interest to me.

 

[benhunt]

Thanks, Matt O. The line variation made me wonder about flex and since the Desiderata pen (discussed on B&B here: Desiderata Pen review - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/desiderata-pen-review.447490/ ) allows for the use of flex, the poem's name put me in mind of it. I'm curious to experiment with stub, oblique, italic nibs (though there's still something particularly enjoyable about flex nibs I think).

 

[Matt O]

Thanks, Matt O. The line variation made me wonder about flex and since the Desiderata pen (discussed on B&B here: Desiderata Pen review - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/desiderata-pen-review.447490/ ) allows for the use of flex, the poem's name put me in mind of it. I'm curious to experiment with stub, oblique, italic nibs (though there's still something particularly enjoyable about flex nibs I think).

Yes...to get the best line variation I use a Pelikan M805 Demonstrator that has a fine grind on one side of the nib, but I flip it over and get a needlepoint fine on the other side...the dual grind was done by Mike Masuyama out there in California. Then I go back and retrace the downstrokes with some little Waterman pen from the early to mid 1900s, and that one does have an extremely flexible nib.

Vr

Matt