St. David and the Empire of the Sun, leeks and lullaby

Ah the wonders of the web where all sorts of connections can be made while I wait to clear the fifteen inches of snow that appeared overnight.  Ah, the great pleasures of a snow day.

A while back, I  started a draft post on the pre-posthumous memoir by J.G Ballard after I came across this interview about his new book  in LA Weekly

I believe in the power of the imagination to remake the world, to release the truth within us, to hold back the night, to transcend death, to charm motorways, to ingratiate ourselves with birds, to enlist the confidences of madmen.

I believe in the non-existence of the past, in the death of the future, and the infinite possibilities of the present.

"Miracles of Life: Shanghai to Shepperton: An Autobiography" (J. G. Ballard)

I tucked it away in draft form until this morning when I happened upon Happy St David's Day at Brits at their Best, a favorite blog of mine.

St. David (Dewi Sant in Welsh), a bishop of Wales (c 500-589)  became its patron saint (as well as the patron saint of vegetarians and poets).  Today the Welsh wear a leek in memory of some ancient battle against the Saxons where Bishop David advised them to wear leeks on their hats to distinguish themselves from  their enemies.    Knowing that a storm was coming, coincidentally yesterday I made a potato and leek soup  (absolutely delicious with lots of bacon bits and parsley as garnish).

Checking with the Catholic encyclopedia I learned that St David was conceived in violence, the product of the rape of his mother, a nun, by Sandde, King of Ceredigion, said by some to be King Arthur's nephew.  According to legend the poor woman gave birth on a cliff top during a violent storm.

David founded a number of churches and monasteries among them Glastonbury, Bath and Leominster, all while living a life of austerity (no meat, no beer) and great holiness.  His last words  'Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about" has become a very well-known phrase in Welsh 'Do the little things in life'.    My little thing for St David.

Here's the famous Welsh singer, Bryn Terfel, who gives shivers to The Anchoress, singing a lullaby, a love song, from Wales, courtesy of the Cat and David, best Brits.

Sleep my baby, at my breast,
Tis a mothers arms round you.
Make yourself a snug, warm nest.
Feel my love forever new.
Harm will not meet you in sleep,
Hurt will always pass you by.
Child beloved, always youll keep,
In sleep gentle, mothers breast nigh.
Sleep in peace tonight, sleep,
O sleep gently, what a sight.
A smile I see in slumber deep,

What visions make your face bright?
Are the angels above smiling,
At you in your peaceful rest?
Are you beaming back while in
Peaceful slumber on mothers breast?
Do not fear the sound, its a breeze
Brushing leaves against the door.
Do not dread the murmuring seas,
Lonely waves washing the shore.
Sleep child mine, theres nothing here,
While in slumber at my breast,
Angels smiling, have no fear,
Holy angels guard your rest.

Was I surprised to that that lullaby was prominently featured in the movie Empire of the Sun, based on the semi-autographical novel of the same name by J.F. Ballard.  I'd come full circle

Produced by Steven Speilberg with screenplay by Tom Stoddard,  Empire of the Sun, released in 1987, tells the story of a young boy from an aristocratic British family living in Shanghai in 1941 just as the Japanese invaded.  Separated from his parents, young Jamie  is captured and taken to a Japanese POW camp for British civilians where he comes to admire both the Japanese and the captured American pilots.  Jamie is played wonderfully by a very young Christian Bale who is befriended by a laid-back captured American pilot Basie played by John Malkovich.

When I watched the trailer again, I remembered how much I loved the movie.  A critical success, it won no Oscars despite several nominations.  I just bought it on Amazon for less than $10.  You can too.

"Empire of the Sun" (Steven Spielberg)