is for Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge
Dear Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge –
I am so in love with you and I just had to write and let you know. Hands down you are the best name EVER. I just read that title and I lose a little bit of my breath; my heart beats just a bit faster; my mind reels at the possibilities; and suddenly I know the world is a better place. Yep, you’re that good!
I know technically you are a fictitious taxonomy of animals described by the writer Jorge Luis Borges This in itself gives me great delight. Because seriously, what is not to love about a taxonomy that classifies animals in the following way:
- those that belong to the Emperor,
- embalmed ones,
- those that are trained,
- suckling pigs,
- mermaids,
- fabulous ones,
- stray dogs,
- those included in the present classification,
- those that tremble as if they were mad,
- innumerable ones,
- those drawn with a very fine camelhair brush,
- etcetera,
- those that have just broken a flower vase,
- those that from a long way off look like flies.
Oh the joyance! Oh the perplexity! Oh the imagining of the most wondrous creatures.
But my love is even deeper than that. Because I know that although you’re already attached to a work of great significance, albeit fictional, that your greatness cannot be confined to just one thing. Oh no!
You are such an inspiration to me that I know I must publish my own magical tome under your banner.
And I hereby publically declare, for the entire world to know, by the magic powers bequeathed by dibs, the title Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge is now mine to create under.
I’m so excited I can hardly think straight. What shall we co-create? Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be a hefty volume. After all there is a lot of benevolent knowledge to share, and the cosmos IS big, and I certainly want my emporium to be filled to the brim with treasures.
I think I may have already created a cover image, or at least one for the inside leaves. What do you think?
I hope you know how thrilled I am to begin this collaboration, and however if unfolds, I trust you know, I love you!
Deborah
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In case your appetite is whetted for some peeks into at fantastical beasts, here are some links:
- Medieval Bestiary
- The blog of Caspar Henderson who wrote The Book of Barely Imagined Beings: A 21st Century Bestiary
And now I’d love to hear from you. What do you imagine the Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge contains? Does the idea make you swoon as well? Is there some name or title or idea that fascinates you and enflames your heart? Do tell – you know I love to hear.