Lesson for the Cognoscenti: as his valediction, or toast, or blessing at the end of today’s MondayMorningMemo, the wizard said, “May you walk in fields of gold.” Some people will immediately recall those words from the 1993 song by Sting, but what about the majority who won’t recall that song?
“Gold” is instanty associated with wealth and abundance.
And for those who see agriculture in the word “fields,” the song speaks of the rich abundance of a ripe and ready harvest.
“May you walk in fields of gold” is a vivid, poetic way of wishing prosperity and peace upon a recipient.
This is the same technique Edward Arlington Robinson used in Richard Corey, “He was a gentleman from sole to crown…” Sole being the bottom of the foot and soul being the essence of a man. Crown being the top of the head and a symbol of royalty. Consequently, the words “from sole to crown,” mean “from the bottom of his foot to the top of his head,” but they also conjure an image that the essence of the man was regal.
This is the way of poetry.
Master it and you will
tug at heartstrings
that others cannot
reach.
– Indy