Just a poem...but what a poem!

Let me share with you a poem written by Murdoch, on the back of a menu of the RMS Medic.
All officers have signed the menu on September 9, 1900. But for some unknown reason Murdoch was the only one to sign on September 10. Some officers have written a small words like "when this you see remember me", and others, as Lightoller, were content to do their best signing.


Murdoch wrote:

Whatever obstacles control,
go on, true heart, thou'lt reach the goal.

Mackay

W. M. M. Murdoch 10/09/00



The author of this poem is a Scottish poet. Until then, there is nothing unusual that Murdoch quotes this man, but John Henry Mackay was an anarchist poet. He was also gay (shocking for it's time?) and particularly interested by theosophy. For historians who have studied Murdoch, this poem remains a mystery...

Susanne Störmer wrote herself:

"Quoting an author usually means that one has read something written by that author. If Murdoch had really read mackay, it would be remarkable, because the world Murdoch knew was very hierarchical. And it would also show that Murdoch was open-minded enough to get to know and also to think about theories of social structures."



John Henry Mackay

Yes... But what else? What do you think about that?

Oh look!
Mackay has the same strange mustache of Conan Doyle. A Scottish habit?


Conan Doyle.

Too bad that Murdoch had not the same.

Sexy ! I want the same !

LittleTony87 a écrit:Sexy ! I want the same !

Yes, just do it!

I believe Murdoch had some ideas who were'nt with his time so that why his wife could be a teacher

( I am sorry i believe i make an error !)

Yes, I think Murdoch had read Mackay's books, even if it was just one, otherwise why would he cited this author? As Störmer said, it proves that he had some ideas that might have been ahead of its time.

Anyway, he seems to have been enough open minded.

So, the Murdoch's favorite poet was John Mackay, and the quote he wrote aboard the Medic is fairly consistent with his personality.


Lowe also had a favorite poet, named Robert Service. In the biography of Lowe, Sheil quoted a text of this poet, who seems to describe Lowe himself :

"Since I have seized my own liberty I am a fanatic of freedom. [...] I have worked hardeer than ever I did and discouragement has slapped me on the face. Yet the year has been the happiest of my life. And all because I am free. By reason of filthy money no one can say to me: Do this or do that. "Master" doesn't exist in my vocabulary. I can look any man in the face and tell him to go to the devil. [...]"


At sea, men become poets.

Tiphaine a écrit:Oh look!
Mackay has the same strange mustache of Conan Doyle. A Scottish habit?


Conan Doyle.

Too bad that Murdoch had not the same.

What a well done and classy mustache!!!!