I do hope you had more fun with that than it sounded as if you were having. I've listened tonight to your readings of several Service rhymes and enjoyed them greatly; thank you for giving them to us.
Interesting choice for a poetry topic. As for your discussion on the side notes... I do recall a unique exhibition called: "A Dialogue between Western and Indigenous Scientists" where Mi'Q Mac elders believed a unique approach of understanding the fundamental truths of the universe. Instead of looking at one thing is made of... we, native people, attempted to understand what that one thing is related to... to understand its relations to learn everything about it.
Reductionism is a method of understanding in science.
But it is a trope of science that one cannot understand an ecosystem, nor a universe, solely by dissecting it into its parts. Relationships matter; everything is connected.
Science regards evidence as the sole arbiter of truth. But like any human endeavor, sometimes it needs to be guided into looking in the right places.
I am not alone in regarding native traditions as one of the best places to look.
Ah. Evidence is crucial at times... but can be a bad behavior. Sometimes just a mere snapshot of current truth against a constantly changing world where there are no guarantees.
I reckon that there are many ways of thinking required to understanding a universe. Reductionism may be one. Relationships another. Seeing flux, balance, and its patterns, perhaps.
But thus, we are limited to language to interpret its understandings... and I doubt words are enough to comprehend it all.
Being a lover of words and language, I wish I could disagree.
But I cannot.
Galileo introduced the idea that mathematics is the language of nature. It's an idea that has long legs. But mathematics is a limited way to grasp nature, too - it would take an unreasonable number of equations and minds to comprehend them to describe it all.
What we are left with is imperfect knowing. Science may be less imperfect than the rest; I think so, anyway. But there will always be mystery.
Kurt Gödel showed us that falsifications can be modeled mathematically. In other words, that a statement delcaring a falsehood is possible such that is only true when it is false and false when it is true.
I think people are still dealing with the ramifications of that revelation...that maybe a unified theory of the universe is impossible because it must entail contradictions.
Maybe it means that mystery is intrinsic? Or that the universe ultimately doesn't make sense? I'm not sure....
I don't know, either. But I will observe that though mathematics is indeed the language of nature, it does not follow that all mathematics is part of the natural language. In fact, it's pretty clear that some mathematics has nothing whatsoever to do with nature.
The trick is knowing which is which, and for that, we must experiment and examine evidence.
Science accepts no hypothesis which cannot be tested. Keep that in mind as you peruse Gödel 's ideas.
It's easy to say things like 500.000 million stars and 14 billion light years, but visualizing our galaxy is complex enough, we can't even start to imagine the vastness of our local galactic community, much less the whole universe.
I've grown a passion for Astronomy since my teen years, we're still in diapers when speaking about Astronomy.
We have the same visualization problem at very small scales.
During my lifetime, our ability to peer further and into more detail into the universe has improved considerably. But you're still right, our knowledge remains superficial.
That just makes astronomy more interesting, I think. Whenever we peel back a layer of the vast unknown, we're surprised by what we find.
I am a grain of sand, but I have feelings, passions, opinions, love, and outrage bigger than the universe. I matter. We matter. We do not live in vain.
youre awesome...How can i expand my vocabulary. What are some books you recomend? the kind of books you like to read that is. and is Urgelt your real name? Because that is one awesome name...what does it mean? my name is William....pretty simple. Thanks dude, you inspire me!
I don't have favorite books, so much; or, equally true, I have hundreds of favorites, My favorite genres are the sciences, economics, politics, history (particularly military history), contemporary news, and science fiction, with classical poetry and literature and other topics for spice.
I shun ideologies, because they all, every single one, close the door to learning. Ideologies are all based on "received wisdom," truths for which evidence is supposedly not needed.
Driving my interests in books (and web-based writing) is curiosity and the sheer fun of learning things I did not know, and trying to fit what I learn into what I knew before.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that what we know is dwarfed by what we do not know, both individually and as a species. For a person who loves discovery, this is not at all a bad thing.
I don't often recommend books for others. My curiosity drives me in certain directions. Yours may drive you in others. There is no universality involved. We're all different.
I do offer this advice, however.
Being open to ideas does not mean lacking skepticism. You need to be able to recognize honesty in writing - and even honest writers can err. Look for evidence before deciding to believe something, preferably from multiple, credible sources.
really wonderful-the tone of your voice is perfect for the reading. and the sound level of the music is balanced nicely, that takes skill! thank you for sharing this video.
I feel that the beauty of the poem and of your reading of it was not enhanced by the audio-effects
You probably still hold the original ... before the addition of the sound-track over your voice.
So you, at least can judge the effect of the reading alone, plus the visuals.
We can not.
Truly, I cannot so easily draw the meaning against a background unnecessary to the reading: one which was not there in the production of the poem originally.
Not really that was william blakes quote she read it is also about a grain but the poem you're hearing here is giving everyone a wider meaning of spectrum to it . It's beautiful urgelt
wOw! That was amazing, so powerful, beautifully read. The World is a better place for your contribution Urgelt. Magical.
I only have ever written one poem, quite dark, sombre and yet with a positive, even happy ending. I haven't the voice for poetry, nor the gift for making the words melodious, singing out their message. You have that gift, all wrapped up in human, warm, open sharingness and I feel privileged to be a part of your audience. Truly magical :-) Baz
I hope you'll at least ponder my argument that narrative skill is learned, not a gift, and that any voice can be used effectively and well with training and practice.
Hi Urgelt, thanks for your response, that's really kind of you.
I think maybe narrative skill can be learned as you suggest and yet I still feel I haven't the "voice" (timbre/depth/diction etc) which I do perceive as a "gift". Perhaps a gift can be learned as well as be an attribute one is born with, or develops naturally without formal training.
Either way, every time I hear your voice, I truly feel in awe of what I perceive as a "gift". You're one awesome dude.
Mr. Service was much more than a rough-and-tumble frontier poet - though of course that's in his resume. For example, his poems about World War I are agonizingly beautiful.
In a place where my hands, ears and eyes fool me so many times, i am glad to read such thoughts, and hope that i might understand, the way William Service did. And most rare, is to find these few ones, like yourself, that find such beautiful meanings, in such simple things, like words.
I am a poet, but my book, and all my writings (mostly) are in portugues. If i was able to translate them, i would love if you could read them, in such a beautiful way, like you just did. Thank you.
May I suggest that you post videos of yourself performing your poetry? There are Portugese-speaking viewers here, more with every passing year. Such videos do not grow stale; they are a gift to the future.
If you'll permit me to quibble, it's poetry and science fact, not science fiction, that I'm melding. But I'm glad you liked it, Alexyvil. Thank you for your comment.
Huzzah Urgelt! Robert Service is a real Canadian Gem and your artistic expression of his work... sublime. The Hubble images have inspired spiritual awe in me too since I first saw them. Nicely done.
yo .. very nice presentation .. i really enjoyed it .. urgelt you have a good voice for the narrating .. "a million gods or so to guide each vital stream .. with overall to boss the show .. a Deity supreme" .. indeed .. He is supreme -peace
It's interesting to consider a grain of sand not literally so much as analogously to a single human life; looking at ourselves in the "grand scheme" of things makes our existence seem as inconsequential and insignificant as a single grain of sand on a beach.
Knowledge is pointless without feelings and a powerful level of self-aware. It's what I understood from this video: the grain of sand is us. Our own self's: now that's a Universe!
DNA - life - is an information storage and retrieval system, knowledge acquired chemically by trial and error over a billion or more years. Knowledge implies life, and life implies knowledge.
But I take amopian's point. In the narrower sense of "knowledge acquired by human inquiry," I find a thing to which I am addicted. I would not care to be deprived of it.
Its beautiful how in one's search for knowledge we start from nothing, reach cosmos then back to a mere grain of sand. Let's just say that the search works in both ways: out-wards and in-wards. I think Urgelt is looking through the spy-glass now, and not the telescope.
Whether we look far, or to the smallest scales, all is wonderous and fascinating. Perhaps we shall never comprehend it all; but the struggle to comprehend is exhiliarating.
Arguably, this hunger for comprehension is the single trait which most sets us apart from other life-forms. And that idea has implications. The search for knowledge never strays far from the struggle to understand ourselves.
The search for knowledge has been around since the dawn of humanity. It is my believe though, that our ever expanding search for wisdom is going in the wrong direction. Why search the endless expanse of space, when we know so little of ourselves. I believe that we should be looking inwards at our own beings and begin the search for wisdom there. The search for wisdom begins with you, where are you going to go with it?
you are right there friend. I belief that humanity will never reach our own potential because of the ignorance of most. Why do we keep killing our own home? Why do we keep killing each other? Our race has went the wrong direction in our evolution, and i do not know if it is to late or not. Let us hope it is not.
you seem very wise. i hope you do a video on global warming. i think smart people like yourself using youtube as a medium is a great way to provoke change in thinking and spark intelligent debate resulting in action.
Global warming has been very well covered in traditional media in recent years. The debate about how to constrain our energy consumption and change to alternative forms is on everyone's mind now.
I tend to prefer to touch on topics that traditional media isn't interested in, and ought to be.
But I'm a creature of whimsey. It's not impossible that I might decide to toss in a vid about global warming sometime down the road. I'll give it some thought.
i grew up in the south of new zealand where the ozone hole has a day-to-day effect. i guess seeing the rest of the world start to wake to the problem does make it mainstream. i hope you do have something to say because i have a feeling you will inspire.
the human race has the potential to expand so far. if we can just get our heads around saving this planet and destroying ourselves... when i think of people living even 10 generations ahead of us i wonder if they will be struggling to survive or exploring the stars.
I don't know the answer, Richie. I would like to believe that we'll be colonizing the solar system and beyond. But this pesky gravity well is a real obstacle, and the economic and political stability required to make it in space may be elusive.
Sometimes a little perspective helps, Colin. That's one reason I spend time among trees every day of my life, winter or summer, in any weather, witnessing my little slice of nature.
This poem strikes me in the same way - it provides context. It reminds us of the astonishing beauty which surrounds us, at every scale. We are better for having taken the time to appreciate it.
I wrote an essay while watching some of your videos yesterday and I was critiqued on the content of my paper today. To be honest, I don't know what it was but from now on, I am going to listen to you read this when I am doing homework *chuckles*. Again, well done on this video.
i love how you put this together :). i think this was your best reading so far!
i often think about this too-- the magnitute of the universe, and how even the tiniest grain of sand can be further reduced to smaller units perhaps indefinitely (i.e. beyond our comprehension of quarks). and vice versa, how the universe is too vast for us to understand. it's an awe inspiring concept but it can leave one feeling lost and lonely! the human mind can only imagine, but never really understand.
Hmm, yes... the disadvantage of our awareness is that we can feel lost in the scale of things. And yes, you can argue that we don't really understand it all.
But we make a valiant effort to understand. We are small, but our daring is large. The struggle to know lifts my spirits.
As I have told before, I have always had difficulty with understanding poetry since I get lost in the 'words' and I don't always have a dictionary handy lol. Your recitation of this was beautiful and the background scenery really enhanced what the poem was about. (what came to mind also was Horton Hears a Who...where an entire world lay in a speck of dust). You can really project what the writer is saying. :)
I was referred to your site by a friend and how happy I am to listen to your opinions. Rather than brutally thrust your thoughts on other people you calmly explain yourself, rationally.
You did a wonderful job on this video. Thanks for all the obvious effort & TLC that you put into making it. It was well worth it & it has great impact & is wonderfully soothing. This should be in the Top 10 videos of the year -- if it's not, I'll be genuinely surprised.
Thank you, Koby, but I think it unlikely. There's an awful lot of competition. The YouTube staff doesn't even have time to review more than a small fraction of them.
No matter, I'm happy to just make videos for those who like them.
Sure. You can download the video yourself and convert it using freeware tools, and I don't mind if you do, so long as you don't use it for a commercial purpose.
For Windows platforms, the Firefox browser plug-in "Video Downloader" can grab the video, and "Super" from eRightSoft will convert the audio to mp3. Google to find download sites.
What a beautiful poeam and reading. If only I did have the eyes to see and brain to understand. I do think though, that discovering this reading is helping me on my way. Thank you.
that was amazing. Those of us that have worked on the vast plains of America's wheat harvest understand such things of soft sunsets laying upon the wheat 40 feet from the earth-my brother's eyes were diamond like in that year. You captured it in a small way.
Wow, your voice is really relaxing, makes me want to fall asleep (not from being bored, but from your voice) Reminds me of nap time in Kindergarten, haha.
Heh, well said. That point has come up before. I know at least one insomniac who uses it to fight his disorder, apparently with some fairly good results. Ah well, putting people to sleep wouldn't be my first choice of talents, but we have to run with what we have. :-)
in mirror of Willam Blakes poem a poem from Arab poet Jaba'ari(1058-1111):"to see the world in a cell divided and the tapestry of galaxies in a pair of iris' behold the universe at the core of your heart with whats written dried at the blink of your eyes along with its papyrus".
Arab poet: to see the world in a cell divded with the tapestry of galaxies in a pair of iris' behold the universe at the core of your heart with whats' written dried at the blink of your eyes along with its papyrus...........
Another great reading, Urgelt. I'm glad I subscribed. Thanks. It's not just your voice and the inflections you make it do, it's your exquisite taste in poems.
This makes my mind dream away, your video is that kind of impulse that our soul gets that says, yes! look beyond! and the misteryes of life are in the simple things, aren't they? Peace.
absolutly beautiful video and narration. urgelt idk what it is about ur stuff but it has deffinetly caught my attention. keep on doing what u do , ur very good at it
there are more stars than grain of sand on earth -_- wow
SOyouTHINKurFUNNY 1 year ago
I miss you Urgelt!
rainbowdoom 1 year ago
I do hope you had more fun with that than it sounded as if you were having. I've listened tonight to your readings of several Service rhymes and enjoyed them greatly; thank you for giving them to us.
Mary Zeman
zemanmary 1 year ago
Comment removed
onetorise 1 year ago
Credits are in the text box. But you have to click the box open to read them.
Urgelt 1 year ago
@onetorise obvious troll is obvious
optimus110022 10 months ago
Am I
at the
mercy?
If I am, then mercy be kind.
I try my best
but
sometimes
it eludes me...
Is this what it is to be human?
chuckiesinlove 1 year ago
...
JinzouTamashii 2 years ago
that was a very beautiful and philosophical poem. thank you Urgelt
dhannyboy86 2 years ago
Your reading, it reminds me of Dr.Seuss. It was soo good :)
musicnarts22 2 years ago
Urgelt! Still love this video, even after nearly 2 years since i discovered it.
metalgear8871 2 years ago 2
very interesting. Do you play bass guitar? I need one for my band
waxcoatedbanjo 2 years ago
Er, I'm afraid not.
Odd question to put on a poetry video.
Urgelt 2 years ago 2
I thank your voice - and you of course. What a gift!
Simsway 2 years ago
Interesting choice for a poetry topic. As for your discussion on the side notes... I do recall a unique exhibition called: "A Dialogue between Western and Indigenous Scientists" where Mi'Q Mac elders believed a unique approach of understanding the fundamental truths of the universe. Instead of looking at one thing is made of... we, native people, attempted to understand what that one thing is related to... to understand its relations to learn everything about it.
garland81 2 years ago
Reductionism is a method of understanding in science.
But it is a trope of science that one cannot understand an ecosystem, nor a universe, solely by dissecting it into its parts. Relationships matter; everything is connected.
Science regards evidence as the sole arbiter of truth. But like any human endeavor, sometimes it needs to be guided into looking in the right places.
I am not alone in regarding native traditions as one of the best places to look.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Ah. Evidence is crucial at times... but can be a bad behavior. Sometimes just a mere snapshot of current truth against a constantly changing world where there are no guarantees.
I reckon that there are many ways of thinking required to understanding a universe. Reductionism may be one. Relationships another. Seeing flux, balance, and its patterns, perhaps.
But thus, we are limited to language to interpret its understandings... and I doubt words are enough to comprehend it all.
garland81 2 years ago
Being a lover of words and language, I wish I could disagree.
But I cannot.
Galileo introduced the idea that mathematics is the language of nature. It's an idea that has long legs. But mathematics is a limited way to grasp nature, too - it would take an unreasonable number of equations and minds to comprehend them to describe it all.
What we are left with is imperfect knowing. Science may be less imperfect than the rest; I think so, anyway. But there will always be mystery.
Urgelt 2 years ago
And that is a very good thing for poets, I think you'll agree. :-)
Urgelt 2 years ago
Kurt Gödel showed us that falsifications can be modeled mathematically. In other words, that a statement delcaring a falsehood is possible such that is only true when it is false and false when it is true.
I think people are still dealing with the ramifications of that revelation...that maybe a unified theory of the universe is impossible because it must entail contradictions.
Maybe it means that mystery is intrinsic? Or that the universe ultimately doesn't make sense? I'm not sure....
adelma01 2 years ago
What an intriguing question!
I don't know, either. But I will observe that though mathematics is indeed the language of nature, it does not follow that all mathematics is part of the natural language. In fact, it's pretty clear that some mathematics has nothing whatsoever to do with nature.
The trick is knowing which is which, and for that, we must experiment and examine evidence.
Science accepts no hypothesis which cannot be tested. Keep that in mind as you peruse Gödel 's ideas.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Ah, cum grano salis.
fiddler32 2 years ago
If I wouldn't have been hooked on you before this would've done it easily. I listen to this before bed sometimes, its very relaxing.
mattulmenin 2 years ago
very nice :)
reganhinchcliffe 2 years ago
Are we as a species, a planet, a solar system, a galaxy,a universe,even as significent as a grain of sand? the question answers its self -F.
crystaltanfield 2 years ago
Comparisons happen inside our heads. We invent them; they are imaginary. Useful to us, perhaps. But still imaginary.
Take away the imaginary comparison, and the universe and its parts, large and small, simply are.
A particle is a thing of amazement and mystery; so is a galaxy cluster.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Well read Sir,thank you
crystaltanfield 3 years ago
This is great.Space has no limits.
killerrodan 3 years ago
It's easy to say things like 500.000 million stars and 14 billion light years, but visualizing our galaxy is complex enough, we can't even start to imagine the vastness of our local galactic community, much less the whole universe.
I've grown a passion for Astronomy since my teen years, we're still in diapers when speaking about Astronomy.
Quite primitive to say the least.
btbking 3 years ago
We have the same visualization problem at very small scales.
During my lifetime, our ability to peer further and into more detail into the universe has improved considerably. But you're still right, our knowledge remains superficial.
That just makes astronomy more interesting, I think. Whenever we peel back a layer of the vast unknown, we're surprised by what we find.
Urgelt 3 years ago
I am a grain of sand, but I have feelings, passions, opinions, love, and outrage bigger than the universe. I matter. We matter. We do not live in vain.
Belle19700 3 years ago
I agree.
Unfortunately, our species often acts as though its individual members do not matter at all.
I harbor a suspicion that if we do not matter to ourselves, nothing else in the universe would be likely to care, either.
Urgelt 3 years ago
youre awesome...How can i expand my vocabulary. What are some books you recomend? the kind of books you like to read that is. and is Urgelt your real name? Because that is one awesome name...what does it mean? my name is William....pretty simple. Thanks dude, you inspire me!
willwoe 2 years ago
Urgelt is a pseudonym.
I don't have favorite books, so much; or, equally true, I have hundreds of favorites, My favorite genres are the sciences, economics, politics, history (particularly military history), contemporary news, and science fiction, with classical poetry and literature and other topics for spice.
I shun ideologies, because they all, every single one, close the door to learning. Ideologies are all based on "received wisdom," truths for which evidence is supposedly not needed.
Urgelt 2 years ago
Driving my interests in books (and web-based writing) is curiosity and the sheer fun of learning things I did not know, and trying to fit what I learn into what I knew before.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that what we know is dwarfed by what we do not know, both individually and as a species. For a person who loves discovery, this is not at all a bad thing.
Urgelt 2 years ago
I don't often recommend books for others. My curiosity drives me in certain directions. Yours may drive you in others. There is no universality involved. We're all different.
I do offer this advice, however.
Being open to ideas does not mean lacking skepticism. You need to be able to recognize honesty in writing - and even honest writers can err. Look for evidence before deciding to believe something, preferably from multiple, credible sources.
The web is a terrific way to fact-check.
Urgelt 2 years ago
really wonderful-the tone of your voice is perfect for the reading. and the sound level of the music is balanced nicely, that takes skill! thank you for sharing this video.
11moonelf 3 years ago
That was awsome Urgelt. It was so realixing I nearly fell asleep.
Well done!
Yeh67 3 years ago 3
Wonderful. When we all can see we are not individuals but One it would be a great day!
I love those interstella pictures, where can I get them please?
Halboy10 3 years ago
NASA.
Space (dot) com has a nice selection; I'd recommend you start there. NASA itself has far more photos and is a harder to navigate.
The good news is, these photographs are all available at much higher resolution than you can see in a YouTube video. Gorgeous.
Urgelt 3 years ago
more than one god could be a scary thought
nomosushi 3 years ago
It depends on what you're afraid of, no?
Urgelt 3 years ago
Perhaps it is just my tired old ears, but
I feel that the beauty of the poem and of your reading of it was not enhanced by the audio-effects
You probably still hold the original ... before the addition of the sound-track over your voice.
So you, at least can judge the effect of the reading alone, plus the visuals.
We can not.
Truly, I cannot so easily draw the meaning against a background unnecessary to the reading: one which was not there in the production of the poem originally.
LORNATOM 3 years ago
Mixing music with poetry is tricky, and doesn't always please.
I liked this mix, but I can sympathize with someone who doesn't.
Urgelt 3 years ago
I really like this mix of music and poetry! I think they accompany each other so well. I actually think it's the best I've heard!
I'd be so thrilled if this was somehow turned into an mp3 to put into my mp3 player!
I really think this is so wonderful and especially relaxing with the background music!
:)
rainbowdoom 3 years ago
Wonderful, as always :)
stevieu83 3 years ago
Wonderful... great voice for this reading as well!!
pixelbgood 4 years ago
Love this reading of 'A Grain of Sand' its one of my faveorite poems and your voice does it justice Urgelt. The video is not bad either =D
mungabba 4 years ago
It's certainly a lovely poem.
I'm not really a videographer; the visual aspects gain less attention from me than the aural. So I'll settle happily for "not bad." :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
Even so, I think you've still done an excelent job with the visuals. Fits perfectly!
mungabba 4 years ago
He strove to resuscitate the dead art
Of poetry; -Ezra Pound
bwsmith7 4 years ago
I doubt Pound would have directed those words towards Robert Service.
The two poets are about as far apart, philosophically and with respect to poetic intent, as it's possible to be.
Urgelt 4 years ago
You're probably right as Pound was talking about himself.
bwsmith7 4 years ago
I love the sound of your voice .This was a great video 5***** a fav and a sub 100%
warboop 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
stole the quote from tomb raider, those were lara crofts words hahaha
CaitlinKH 4 years ago
Not really that was william blakes quote she read it is also about a grain but the poem you're hearing here is giving everyone a wider meaning of spectrum to it . It's beautiful urgelt
jesselyna 4 years ago
Wow! You're incredible Urgelt! This was an absolutely awesome video. One of my favorites so far.
P3rf3ctStorm 4 years ago
yes P3rfectStorm, it reminds one of a novel by Bjorn Egardsen, don't you think?
dowling1981 4 years ago
wow, artistic kindof.
GunTotingPatriot 4 years ago
amazing
dexarouskies 4 years ago
Hello, Urgelt! I'm glad to have 'found' you, and your wonderful videos again!
Juls
JstJuls47 4 years ago
:D I still just LOVE this video!
<3
[I think this is my 3rd comment telling you that, haha ><]
rainbowdoom 4 years ago
Why was GOS's account suspended a few days ago? Interesting but I don't see why.
nicanicamad 4 years ago
wOw! That was amazing, so powerful, beautifully read. The World is a better place for your contribution Urgelt. Magical.
I only have ever written one poem, quite dark, sombre and yet with a positive, even happy ending. I haven't the voice for poetry, nor the gift for making the words melodious, singing out their message. You have that gift, all wrapped up in human, warm, open sharingness and I feel privileged to be a part of your audience. Truly magical :-) Baz
RocketOfDesire 4 years ago
Thanks, Baz, that's awfully high praise.
I hope you'll at least ponder my argument that narrative skill is learned, not a gift, and that any voice can be used effectively and well with training and practice.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Hi Urgelt, thanks for your response, that's really kind of you.
I think maybe narrative skill can be learned as you suggest and yet I still feel I haven't the "voice" (timbre/depth/diction etc) which I do perceive as a "gift". Perhaps a gift can be learned as well as be an attribute one is born with, or develops naturally without formal training.
Either way, every time I hear your voice, I truly feel in awe of what I perceive as a "gift". You're one awesome dude.
RocketOfDesire 4 years ago
How marvelous. I never thought of Robert Service like this. Thanks for producing and posting this.
mistryel 4 years ago
Mr. Service was much more than a rough-and-tumble frontier poet - though of course that's in his resume. For example, his poems about World War I are agonizingly beautiful.
Urgelt 4 years ago
i enjoy ur poetry readings very much urgelt.
AntaresInScorpius 4 years ago
Thank you, Antares, I'm glad you do.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Once again you are amazing. You have a prefect reading voice. You bring the poetry to life. Thanks for making this world a better place.
lady72501 4 years ago
Thank you, Lady. I'd like to think what I'm doing here is helping to make the world a better place - though of course it's by a very tiny amount.
Urgelt 4 years ago
do you know how to open rar files please i need help
MULE1981 4 years ago
You can download WINRAR (Google for it), and it will open RAR archives and extract files.
You can't create your own RAR archives unless you pay for the software.
Urgelt 4 years ago
In a place where my hands, ears and eyes fool me so many times, i am glad to read such thoughts, and hope that i might understand, the way William Service did. And most rare, is to find these few ones, like yourself, that find such beautiful meanings, in such simple things, like words.
I am a poet, but my book, and all my writings (mostly) are in portugues. If i was able to translate them, i would love if you could read them, in such a beautiful way, like you just did. Thank you.
Axiomas 4 years ago
Poetry, Axiomas, is a performance art.
May I suggest that you post videos of yourself performing your poetry? There are Portugese-speaking viewers here, more with every passing year. Such videos do not grow stale; they are a gift to the future.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Once again your efforts are uplifting and magical, Urgelt. Hope all is well with you. I am much better lately. Marcia
mkrutter 4 years ago
I'm glad you are, Marcia. Thank you for your kind comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
If only every high school English teacher read poetry like this kids would love it.
jtvols16 4 years ago
One of my high school English teachers did read poetry like this - and he let us read it aloud, too. He set my brain on fire.
Mr. D, wherever you are, thank you.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Beautiful.. simply, Beautiful. :)
krimbe 4 years ago
Thank you, Krimbe, I'm glad you think so.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Wow... Poetry and Science Fiction makes a good combination. Great job on doing that.
Alexyvil 4 years ago
If you'll permit me to quibble, it's poetry and science fact, not science fiction, that I'm melding. But I'm glad you liked it, Alexyvil. Thank you for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I really do love your voice.
:]
fickasthuck 4 years ago
Thank you, Fickasthuck, you are kind to say so.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I really enjoyed that. Your voice fits it perfectly. Thanks :)
stevieu83 4 years ago
I'm glad, Stephen. Thanks for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thank you, Blueslaad.
Urgelt 4 years ago
WOW. Thank you. mc
mcurren2004 4 years ago
You're most welcome, MC, I'm glad you liked it.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Huzzah Urgelt! Robert Service is a real Canadian Gem and your artistic expression of his work... sublime. The Hubble images have inspired spiritual awe in me too since I first saw them. Nicely done.
susanbrooksfrank 4 years ago
Thank you, Susan. You've summed up what I feel about Mr. Service's poem and its subject perfectly.
Urgelt 4 years ago
of all your videos, i think this is the best
but i havent see all yet
OJODEHIELO 4 years ago
This is one of my favorites, too. Mixing two of my favorite things - poetry and science - was great fun.
Urgelt 4 years ago
yo .. very nice presentation .. i really enjoyed it .. urgelt you have a good voice for the narrating .. "a million gods or so to guide each vital stream .. with overall to boss the show .. a Deity supreme" .. indeed .. He is supreme -peace
KingsPawnn 4 years ago
Glad you liked it, KingsPawnn. Thank you for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
It's interesting to consider a grain of sand not literally so much as analogously to a single human life; looking at ourselves in the "grand scheme" of things makes our existence seem as inconsequential and insignificant as a single grain of sand on a beach.
FronzelQNeekburm 4 years ago
It's really a sort of paradox.
On the one hand, you're right. We're tiny beings on a mote in a vast universe. Humbling thought.
On the other, to an atom, or even to a microbe, we are unthinkably vast.
And finally, however small, we are witness of things vast and tiny, gifted with sight and the ability to marvel. That in itself is a wonderous thing.
Urgelt 4 years ago
How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn't care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.
joedontwo 4 years ago
Emily Dickenson. Delightful. :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
knowledge = the only thing worth living for
amopian 4 years ago
Knowledge is pointless without feelings and a powerful level of self-aware. It's what I understood from this video: the grain of sand is us. Our own self's: now that's a Universe!
D01dler 4 years ago
life = the only thing worth living for. Please feel free to include knowledge in that. :D
D01dler 4 years ago
DNA - life - is an information storage and retrieval system, knowledge acquired chemically by trial and error over a billion or more years. Knowledge implies life, and life implies knowledge.
But I take amopian's point. In the narrower sense of "knowledge acquired by human inquiry," I find a thing to which I am addicted. I would not care to be deprived of it.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Calming.
fullcipher 4 years ago
Thanks, Fullcipher. That was one of my creative goals for the vid.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Its beautiful how in one's search for knowledge we start from nothing, reach cosmos then back to a mere grain of sand. Let's just say that the search works in both ways: out-wards and in-wards. I think Urgelt is looking through the spy-glass now, and not the telescope.
D01dler 4 years ago
Perhaps so, D01dler.
Whether we look far, or to the smallest scales, all is wonderous and fascinating. Perhaps we shall never comprehend it all; but the struggle to comprehend is exhiliarating.
Arguably, this hunger for comprehension is the single trait which most sets us apart from other life-forms. And that idea has implications. The search for knowledge never strays far from the struggle to understand ourselves.
Urgelt 4 years ago
The search for knowledge has been around since the dawn of humanity. It is my believe though, that our ever expanding search for wisdom is going in the wrong direction. Why search the endless expanse of space, when we know so little of ourselves. I believe that we should be looking inwards at our own beings and begin the search for wisdom there. The search for wisdom begins with you, where are you going to go with it?
Alabamaharrelson 4 years ago
The search for self is also the search for context. Understanding the universe is a part of understanding ourselves, I think.
But I'll agree, there is a great deal to learn about ourselves. That's very important work.
Urgelt 4 years ago
you are right there friend. I belief that humanity will never reach our own potential because of the ignorance of most. Why do we keep killing our own home? Why do we keep killing each other? Our race has went the wrong direction in our evolution, and i do not know if it is to late or not. Let us hope it is not.
Alabamaharrelson 4 years ago
I will join you in that hope.
Urgelt 4 years ago
you seem very wise. i hope you do a video on global warming. i think smart people like yourself using youtube as a medium is a great way to provoke change in thinking and spark intelligent debate resulting in action.
hyphenunderscore 4 years ago
Global warming has been very well covered in traditional media in recent years. The debate about how to constrain our energy consumption and change to alternative forms is on everyone's mind now.
I tend to prefer to touch on topics that traditional media isn't interested in, and ought to be.
But I'm a creature of whimsey. It's not impossible that I might decide to toss in a vid about global warming sometime down the road. I'll give it some thought.
Urgelt 4 years ago
i grew up in the south of new zealand where the ozone hole has a day-to-day effect. i guess seeing the rest of the world start to wake to the problem does make it mainstream. i hope you do have something to say because i have a feeling you will inspire.
hyphenunderscore 4 years ago
the human race has the potential to expand so far. if we can just get our heads around saving this planet and destroying ourselves... when i think of people living even 10 generations ahead of us i wonder if they will be struggling to survive or exploring the stars.
hyphenunderscore 4 years ago
I don't know the answer, Richie. I would like to believe that we'll be colonizing the solar system and beyond. But this pesky gravity well is a real obstacle, and the economic and political stability required to make it in space may be elusive.
Urgelt 4 years ago
This gives me consolation as I struggle through a very bad bout of depression...thank you.
colinjohnrudd 4 years ago
Sometimes a little perspective helps, Colin. That's one reason I spend time among trees every day of my life, winter or summer, in any weather, witnessing my little slice of nature.
This poem strikes me in the same way - it provides context. It reminds us of the astonishing beauty which surrounds us, at every scale. We are better for having taken the time to appreciate it.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Billy Blake: The wild and wonderful mystic of his day ! well done.
lenbenhear 4 years ago
All this from a grain of sand? If you get a chance,please veiw my video. THANKS! katherineconner vs Louisiana
katherineconner 4 years ago
I wrote an essay while watching some of your videos yesterday and I was critiqued on the content of my paper today. To be honest, I don't know what it was but from now on, I am going to listen to you read this when I am doing homework *chuckles*. Again, well done on this video.
IIGamePoweredII 4 years ago
Heh! That's a first. Inspiring an essayist, now that's something! :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
i love how you put this together :). i think this was your best reading so far!
i often think about this too-- the magnitute of the universe, and how even the tiniest grain of sand can be further reduced to smaller units perhaps indefinitely (i.e. beyond our comprehension of quarks). and vice versa, how the universe is too vast for us to understand. it's an awe inspiring concept but it can leave one feeling lost and lonely! the human mind can only imagine, but never really understand.
SavannahLioness 4 years ago
Hmm, yes... the disadvantage of our awareness is that we can feel lost in the scale of things. And yes, you can argue that we don't really understand it all.
But we make a valiant effort to understand. We are small, but our daring is large. The struggle to know lifts my spirits.
Urgelt 4 years ago
This is my new favourite video of yours, well done!
lolzore 4 years ago
Yes, this video is very well done.
chrisrave 4 years ago
Thank you.
Urgelt 4 years ago
As I have told before, I have always had difficulty with understanding poetry since I get lost in the 'words' and I don't always have a dictionary handy lol. Your recitation of this was beautiful and the background scenery really enhanced what the poem was about. (what came to mind also was Horton Hears a Who...where an entire world lay in a speck of dust). You can really project what the writer is saying. :)
baybea 4 years ago
That's my aim, Bea. I'm glad you feel I'm making progress.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I was referred to your site by a friend and how happy I am to listen to your opinions. Rather than brutally thrust your thoughts on other people you calmly explain yourself, rationally.
IIGamePoweredII 4 years ago
I'm glad you think so.
I see YouTube as a conversation as much as a podium for self-expression. There's no conversation if I'm ranting.
Urgelt 4 years ago
i have alot of sand in my pockets. i don't know why.
ausshe91 4 years ago
I think it's a "standard feature" of pockets. :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
The comment Juzkins made about children/grandchildren is exactly what I've been thinking. :)
jhorn2qh 4 years ago
Thanks, Jhorn2qh.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Thanks for re introducing me to my love of poetry.
jadedshoul 4 years ago
*smiles*
Urgelt 4 years ago
The poem was deep already, but your voice and interpretation touched my soul and made me understand each letter of it's written word.
A million thanks for this precious piece.
MarkBellinghaus 4 years ago
Thank you, Mark, you are kind.
Urgelt 4 years ago
again, wonderfully done. Thanks.
Dante3044 4 years ago
*smiles*
Urgelt 4 years ago
Very nice. Thanks.
keybdwizrd 4 years ago
Most welcome, Keybdwizrd.
Urgelt 4 years ago
You did a wonderful job on this video. Thanks for all the obvious effort & TLC that you put into making it. It was well worth it & it has great impact & is wonderfully soothing. This should be in the Top 10 videos of the year -- if it's not, I'll be genuinely surprised.
KobyBrandt 4 years ago
Thank you, Koby, but I think it unlikely. There's an awful lot of competition. The YouTube staff doesn't even have time to review more than a small fraction of them.
No matter, I'm happy to just make videos for those who like them.
Urgelt 4 years ago
your voice is like chocolate
mikedrk 4 years ago
Yikes! I have to be careful with chocolate, that stuff is addicting!
Urgelt 4 years ago
I could listen to you all day! Please say you have children or grand children and read them bedtime stories! Nice stuff.
Juzkins 4 years ago
Alas, I do not. I never got around to producing children of my own. But I'm glad you enjoyed my reading, and thank you for your comment, Juzkins.
Urgelt 4 years ago
is there anyway you can make this downloadable in mp3 form? Just the "music/talking" that is. I'd love to have you on my pod.
AsukaInFurs 4 years ago
Sure. You can download the video yourself and convert it using freeware tools, and I don't mind if you do, so long as you don't use it for a commercial purpose.
For Windows platforms, the Firefox browser plug-in "Video Downloader" can grab the video, and "Super" from eRightSoft will convert the audio to mp3. Google to find download sites.
Urgelt 4 years ago
It seems you need to be running FireFox to use "Vido Downloader." Or am I just looking in the wrong place? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
robtran 4 years ago
that was great makes u feel u aint alone i want more good job
MULE1981 4 years ago
Thank you, MULE1981, I'm glad you liked it.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Way to go Urgelt, What a video man, what a video!!!!
rickycobo 4 years ago
Glad you liked it, Ricky. Working with Mr. Service's poems is always a pleasure.
Urgelt 4 years ago
What a beautiful poeam and reading. If only I did have the eyes to see and brain to understand. I do think though, that discovering this reading is helping me on my way. Thank you.
sidra5397 4 years ago
Thank you, Sidra5397, for your thoughtful comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
hello my friend :) this was beautiful.
gemycat 4 years ago
I'm glad you think so, Angie. :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
that was amazing. Those of us that have worked on the vast plains of America's wheat harvest understand such things of soft sunsets laying upon the wheat 40 feet from the earth-my brother's eyes were diamond like in that year. You captured it in a small way.
Rogo
Rogozhin 4 years ago
I understand. The huge skies of the Great Plains invite a person to think about the very large... and the very small. A magical place.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Wow, your voice is really relaxing, makes me want to fall asleep (not from being bored, but from your voice) Reminds me of nap time in Kindergarten, haha.
metalgear8871 4 years ago
Heh, well said. That point has come up before. I know at least one insomniac who uses it to fight his disorder, apparently with some fairly good results. Ah well, putting people to sleep wouldn't be my first choice of talents, but we have to run with what we have. :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
bhahaah...well Urgelt, just think of how many you can get to cluck like a chicken with your hypnotic voice!;)
baybea 4 years ago
Bea... you're feeling sleepy... reach deeply into your soul, feel the creativity there... when you awaken, you will be a wise and great artist.
Hey, it worked! :P
Urgelt 4 years ago
hahaaha..you're funny:D
baybea 4 years ago
in mirror of Willam Blakes poem a poem from Arab poet Jaba'ari(1058-1111):"to see the world in a cell divided and the tapestry of galaxies in a pair of iris' behold the universe at the core of your heart with whats written dried at the blink of your eyes along with its papyrus".
8arsh 4 years ago
Now that is a poetic scale-expander to reckon with. It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I'm sure many people have asked you this before, Urgelt... But have you ever considered going into professional voice acting?
Boggert 4 years ago
Considered... yes. Decided to do it... no. Might do it in the future... who knows? :-)
Urgelt 4 years ago
Arab poet: to see the world in a cell divded with the tapestry of galaxies in a pair of iris' behold the universe at the core of your heart with whats' written dried at the blink of your eyes along with its papyrus...........
8arsh 4 years ago
Another great reading, Urgelt. I'm glad I subscribed. Thanks. It's not just your voice and the inflections you make it do, it's your exquisite taste in poems.
antipax 4 years ago
Thank you, Antipax, I can think of no kinder reception for my efforts.
Urgelt 4 years ago
This makes my mind dream away, your video is that kind of impulse that our soul gets that says, yes! look beyond! and the misteryes of life are in the simple things, aren't they? Peace.
shadowmyst88 4 years ago
I feel the same way, Shadowmyst88. Thank you for your comment.
Urgelt 4 years ago
absolutly beautiful video and narration. urgelt idk what it is about ur stuff but it has deffinetly caught my attention. keep on doing what u do , ur very good at it
xXx13lackcatxXx 4 years ago
Finally, literary art on youtube! Thank you for this.
SentinelSoul 4 years ago