memetime!

This is a repeat but I love this meme and anghara was doing it, so I asked her for questions. Here they are:

1. What would be the first thing you would grab to save out of a burning house?

When I was faced with bushfire I took my backup of my fiction. I had all kinds of plans to take photos and things, but the thing I actually *took* was a CD. The second time I had thought it through because of the amusement evinced by friends upon being shown the CD, and I took a heritage briefcase (owned by a favourite cousin) full of family memorabilia, negatives of photos, jewellery ... and my computer backup. before I was faced with the reality, I would have sworn I would have grabbed my handbag or a family heirloom. Mind you, both times I did take my handbag... (and, in case it worries anyone, my place escaped everything except smoke inhalation both times)

2. Which historical characters would you pick to go with you on an expedition of exploration? (Just assume you're Magellan or Columbus or Cook) You get a team of four.

Joseph Banks, John Monash, Mrs Beeton, Jane Austen

I will get back to you on this one. I'll update the post. This one needs thinking.

3. Do you believe there are places on this earth that are permanently haunted by their past?

Yes. Do you want more than that?

4. Would you eat anything purple?

Of course! Black sticky rice with coconut milk sauce, purple yam, aubergine. I love purple food.

5. what's your favourite poem? Why?

The poem that my blogname is taken from. I read it first when I was nineteen and it has been just terribly important to me ever since. It was recorded by Ruth Finnegan in an oral collection and I haven't been able to lay my hands on the book since I first saw it. Why do I love it? Because it has somehow divined my heart.

The poem goes something like (my memory is fallible):

Even in a little thing,
A leaf, a child's hand, a star's flicker
I shall find a song worth singing
If my eyes are wide and sleep not.

Even in a laughable thing
(O hark the children are laughing)
There is that which fills the heart to overflowing
And makes dreams wistful

Small is the life of a man
Not too sad, not too happy
I shall find my song in a man's small life
Behold it soaring

Very low on earth is the frigate bird hatched
But it soars as high as the sun.


If you, too, like this meme:

1. Leave me a comment expressing interest in being interviewed
2. I will respond by asking you five questions.
3. Then update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
4. Include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others ask to be interviewed, ask them five questions.