I have a passion for the name of "Mary,"
For once it was a magic sound to me,
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I have a passion for the name of "Mary,"
For once it was a magic sound to me,
And still it half calls up the realms of fairy,
Where I beheld what never was to be.

Proper names are poetry in the raw. Like all poetry they are untranslatable.

Proper names are poetry in the raw. Like all poetry they are untranslatable.

However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It read more

However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are the richest.

In England, I'm a horror movie director. In Germany, I'm a filmmaker. In the US, I'm a bum.

In England, I'm a horror movie director. In Germany, I'm a filmmaker. In the US, I'm a bum.

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business read more

I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to announce it, "Count Basie. Beware, the Count is Here."

The blackest ink of fate are sure my lot,
And when fate writ my name it made a blot.

The blackest ink of fate are sure my lot,
And when fate writ my name it made a blot.

We call a fig a fig, and a skiff a skiff.
[Lat., Ficum vocamus ficum, et scapham scapham.]

We call a fig a fig, and a skiff a skiff.
[Lat., Ficum vocamus ficum, et scapham scapham.]

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving
favour rather than silver and gold.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving
favour rather than silver and gold.

I don't like giving names to generations. It's like trying to read the song title on a record that's spinning.

I don't like giving names to generations. It's like trying to read the song title on a record that's spinning.