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Gezhifu Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
What does "o ever" mean?
Hi everyone,
I read this in Jack Kerouac's novel The Dharma Bums:
"Now comes the sadness of coming back to cities and I'e grown two months older and there's all that humanity of bars and burlesque shows and gritty love, all upsidedown in the void, God bless them, but Japhy you and me forever we know, 'O ever youthful, O ever weeping'. Down on the lake rosy reflection of celestial vapor appeared, and I said 'God, I love you" and looked up to the sky and really meant it. 'I have fallen in love with you God. Take care of us all, one way or the other."
I don't understand the phrase "o ever" although I know it's something like "forever". What is the difference between "o ever" and "forever" (given that they mean basically the same), and what is so special about "o ever"?
Thank you!
I read this in Jack Kerouac's novel The Dharma Bums:
"Now comes the sadness of coming back to cities and I'e grown two months older and there's all that humanity of bars and burlesque shows and gritty love, all upsidedown in the void, God bless them, but Japhy you and me forever we know, 'O ever youthful, O ever weeping'. Down on the lake rosy reflection of celestial vapor appeared, and I said 'God, I love you" and looked up to the sky and really meant it. 'I have fallen in love with you God. Take care of us all, one way or the other."
I don't understand the phrase "o ever" although I know it's something like "forever". What is the difference between "o ever" and "forever" (given that they mean basically the same), and what is so special about "o ever"?
Thank you!
Top answer
It's a poetic usage. "
- It's a poetic usage.
- "
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4 Answers
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It's a poetic usage. "O" could be positive, = "Ah," or negative, = "Alas." (for example)
"Ah, always youthful." "Alas, always weeping."
"Ah, always youthful." "Alas, always weeping."
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Hi Avangi,
if we cut the "o", then the sentence will be "ever youthful, ever weeping", is that still correct?
Thanks
if we cut the "o", then the sentence will be "ever youthful, ever weeping", is that still correct?
Thanks
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Let's say it would be no less correct.
But "correct" has a special meaning for stuff like this, which lives somewhere between prose and poetry. Some of it is "stream of consciousness," and like poetry, may or may not observe the rules of syntax.
You can be describing your new girlfriend in perfect English, and throw in, "Ah, what a girl!" I'm sure there's a correct way to cate
But "correct" has a special meaning for stuff like this, which lives somewhere between prose and poetry. Some of it is "stream of consciousness," and like poetry, may or may not observe the rules of syntax.
You can be describing your new girlfriend in perfect English, and throw in, "Ah, what a girl!" I'm sure there's a correct way to cate
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Hi Avangi,
I got it. Thanks a million. You are so nice!
Best wishes!
Ben
I got it. Thanks a million. You are so nice!
Best wishes!
Ben
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