Tuesday, April 24, 2012

ABCWednesday

Oh, Oh, Oh  - the letter this week is O


O is for Opulence



An 'Opulent' Hotel in Budapest

Opulence is such an ambivalent word.

The sumptuous beauty and the gilded richness it describes

somehow carry with them a faint hint of Obscenity and Decadence.

Centuries ago Aeschylus said.....

'Human prosperity never rests but always craves more, till blown up with pride it totters and falls.  
From the Opulent mansions pointed at by all passers-by none warns it away,
none cries, 'Let no more riches enter'

And although there is a certain opulence in nature,
in an over-the-top sunset
or a majestic sea-scape
still, I'm with Wordsworth.....

The World is too much with us;  late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.........

I figure that true happiness and sensibility lie in moderation

but a glimpse of opulence is nice
if not our passion!

For more comments on the letter O visit here at ABC Wednesday
with thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt and her Obedient helpers.

13 comments:

Leslie: said...

I agree - it's nice to visit, but my sensible and modest home is best. Nice post for this week,

Leslie
abcw team

Reader Wil said...

Iam glad that we can see all that splendour in museums. At home I prefer simple sober furniture ( bought at IKEA's, Ha, ha...)
But your post is excellent as ever! Have a great week.
Wil, ABC Team.

Roger Owen Green said...

just a little opulence - not too much, pls

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

VioletSky said...

hmmm, it seems a certain Ms Oda also likes opulence!

photowannabe said...

Opulence is a bit too over the top for me.
Wonderful picture though and I do like to see examples of it , but it's just not for me.

Carver said...

Very thoughtful post on the subject of opulence. The picture was perfect to illustrate opulence. Carver, ABC-Wed. Team

Chubskulit Rose said...

Gorgeous!

O is for....
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Unknown said...

i like opulence in small doses. great take on O.:p

The Weaver of Grass said...

Interesting thoughts Hildred. I was sitting here trying to think of an example of opulence in nature - maybe those big scarlet poppies, which I love, are rather 'over the top' do you think?

EG CameraGirl said...

Perfect O post. I agree that moderation is the way to go.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Once in a great great while I enjoy a touch of opulence (or at least I think I would if I could afford it ;>)!

Kay L. Davies said...

Very interesting, Hildred and Charles. I certainly agree with you about opulence.
We are having the kitchen re-done in our little old house, not to make the house more opulent but to make it easier for me to manage. No one outside will be impressed, however.
Interesting post for the letter O.
K

Dimple said...

I'm one who prefers the open spaces and beauty of the natural world. When I encounter opulence in these places, I am blessed indeed.