Message in a bottle. . .
12/10/2005 @ 6:00 am
Found floating down Tokyo’s Sumida River. I found this postcard in a shop in Shinjuku a few years ago.
The shop owner said there was no copyright on the text, so anyone could use it for T-shirts, coffee mugs or postcards. So I’m passing it on here to anyone who wants to copy it and send it the world via email or blog.
Poor Mari….she’s my favorite. If I ever become a j-pop singer and part of the...
Shes definitely at the top of my hot list.
perfeckt 10:10
I spotted a small typo in the last paragraph, first sentence of last graf: it currently reads “Tkyo” but should read “Tokyo”. I guess these things happen on cheap postcards….
December 10th, 2005 at 10:57 amPray for a good exchange rate? What are you saying?
December 10th, 2005 at 10:58 amsounds like a take off from “Always Wear sunscreen”
December 10th, 2005 at 1:10 pmsounds like a take off from “Always Wear sunscreen”
From what I was told by the shop owner, the message in a bottle text was written in 1991, long before the Sunscreen column by that Chicago Tribune columnist who made it popular. So the TOKYO DESIDERATA came first.
BUT….I think even so, the text is a take off on something. Must be. I remember reading something a long time ago, some text on a church wall in like 1641 in Massachusetts, and it began in a similar way: “Go slowly among the teeming masses and daily chores and always remember the Lord put you here for a purpose”….or something like that. I think it was called ”The Desiderata” means that which we desire or something. So my guess is that this postcard is also a take off on that original text. Let me see if I can google it and find it. Will post here later, if I can find it.
December 10th, 2005 at 1:58 pmhttp://hobbes.ncsa.uiuc.edu/desiderata.html
Dave,
I found it and THIS may be the precursor, sure sounds like it.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid 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 vexations 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 sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
December 10th, 2005 at 2:00 pmit is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.
Now the question is: who was Max Ehrmann, and is he still alive?
December 10th, 2005 at 2:01 pmI guess we have this guy to thank for the original.
Susan Dehler, archivist at the Vigo County Public Library (Indiana) has provided the following biographical sketch of Max Ehrmann:
Max Ehrmann was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on September 26, 1872. He was the fifth and last child of Maximilian Ehrmann, Sr. and Margaret Barbara Lutz Ehrmann, both of whom emigrated to the United States in the late 1840s from Bavaria, Germany.
Ehrmann received his early education from the Terre Haute Fourth District School and the German Methodist Church. Between 1890-94 he attended De Pauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. While at De Pauw, Ehrmann became editor of the school newspaper, Depauw Weekly.
Upon graduation, Ehrmann studied law and philosophy at Harvard and edited The Rainbow, a national college fraternity magazine. While at Harvard, he also published his first book, A Farrago, in 1898.
Returning to Terre Haute in 1898, Ehrmann practiced law as Deputy States Attorney for two years. He then worked for a number of years as credit manager and attorney for his brother’s manufacturing business.
At the age of 40, Ehrmann left the family business and returned to writing full-time. Throughout his career, he wrote more than 20 books and pamphlets and many essays and poems that were published separately in newspapers and magazines. His most acclaimed work was “Desiderata” originally published in 1927. This prose-poem brought Ehrmann national attention because of its identification with Adelai Stevenson and because of the confusion regarding its copyright and authorship. “Desiderata” has been published in numerous magazines, newspapers, and anthologies and was produced as a single record by Warner Brothers in 1971.
Max Ehrmann died September 9, 1945.
http://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jelkins/lp-2001/ehrmann.html
December 10th, 2005 at 2:04 pmah, now I remember – there’s also a comedy song version of that speech with one line I recall:
“Remember, a walk through most people’s souls would scarely get your feet wet.”
another:
“Although 2 wrongs don’t make a right, the three do.”
I beleive it was called “Fluke of the Universe”
December 10th, 2005 at 2:06 pmHaha. I guess this text, written in 1927, has had many take-offs and parodies and also serious homages. The original is very nice. I had never read it in its entirely before and I didn’t know Warner had made a record of it in 1971.
This TOKYO DESIDERATA above, now that you mention it, sounds like someone with nothing better to do and some time on their hands, took it upon themselves to concoct this found poem and print it on postcards in Tokyo. It WOULD look cool on a t-shirt, there, too, but I think there are too many words to read on a t-shirt, but then again, i guess it depends on who is wearing the shirt.
What we need now is a model. Any volunteers?
December 10th, 2005 at 2:12 pmSomething like this?
December 10th, 2005 at 2:48 pmThis post is truely the greatest expression of the power of this site. This really is this site at its peak efficiency.
December 10th, 2005 at 4:46 pmI think the use of the verb “noshing” is most notable. That’s from a Yiddish term, and almost certainly means this was written by an American from the North-East.
December 11th, 2005 at 8:02 amThis post is truely the greatest expression of the power of this site. This really is this site at its peak efficiency.
I think Andrew was noshing there, I mean, joshing, er, kidding. Well, as far as i can tell, this site takes all kinds, and some posts rock, while others……….don’t. I would count this one as one of the non-rockers, and sceond Andrew’s oped.
December 11th, 2005 at 11:33 amPersonally I like the message. Its pretty fitting for Tokyo – particularly the bit about respect the automatic doors as when the doors are in the shutting mode, they will close and smash you to pulp before retracting.
Here’s the lyrics to the parody version of the original. You can tell the 70s influence when they use the word “turkey” to describe people.
DETERIORATA !
(Lyrics : Tony Hendra)
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.
Ro-tate 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 main-te-nance.
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.
Remember the Pueblo.
Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle and mu-ti-late.
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:
The 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 amid the deepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.
And reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.
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!
Reprise
You are a fluke
December 11th, 2005 at 2:58 pmOf the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.
That was by Tony Hendra? amazing! He’s the guy who wrote a book about some priest he knew in Ireland, it became a bestseller, and then Hendra’s daughter, now 41, came out to the New York Times and told how her father, back in those Lampoon days, had sexually molested her several times, in her bedroom and in the shower, and even now he denies it. She just published a book about it, telling HER side of the story, which Henra Pere still denies. Sad dysfunctional family.
No wonder he wrote YOU ARE A FLUKE OF THE UNIVERSE! He knew so well.
December 11th, 2005 at 4:40 pmDave wrote: Its pretty fitting for Tokyo – particularly the bit about respect the automatic doors as when the doors are in the shutting mode, they will close and smash you to pulp before retracting
My guess is the people who wrote that were and maybe still are in Tokyo and meant the whole thing as a semi-serious humorous piece of Tokyo life.
I like the line about “and remember the Big One might strike tomorrow.” That’s Tokyo!!! But let’s hope it never happens…
December 11th, 2005 at 4:44 pmI think the use of the verb “noshing” is most notable. That’s from a Yiddish term, and almost certainly means this was written by an American from the North-East.
“Nosh” is also commonly used all over England.
December 12th, 2005 at 12:17 am