"To Frances"

I chanced upon this epic piece of literature by G.K. Chesterton. I was astounded by the seriousness in which he presented the objects he intended to carry and the future home he sought to describe. Then the punch line came and I realized, this was a love letter written by Chesterton. Having always looked at "love letters" as something decidedly trite and unworthy of writing, my reality was jarred by the fact that one of my favorite literary figures had stooped to such a low level.

However this was not the case because then it hit me. Chesterton, in his very chestertonian fashion, had not actually written a "love letter" but instead had taken the concept, flipped it on its head, and rewrote the boundaries. He had once again, taken something so common, so basal, and in converting it, had restored it to a level of nobility once again. Just as the Bible is much like a love-letter from God to us, Chesterton took a simple setting and wrote quite exquisitely to Frances.

What is now stuck in my head is the concern as to whether I could write even to half the standard of Chesterton's. I could, if you will, easily replicate his pattern by soulfully devising my own checklist of carry-ons as I regale you of my intended flight and picturesque future. However, that would simply be me taking an already understood pattern from a highly literary individual and re-using it. It would not be me pouring out my thoughts and designs into a carefully crafted mold formed by my very heart. It would not walk the guise of my own fairyland.

I wonder in fact, how then I would translate the general points of a chestertonian love letter into my own literary fashion. It, like Chesterton's, would need to be personalized because otherwise it would still be left hollow and generic. However, the remaining content of the letter, the matters of literary value, are something that as of yet escape me. I will think on it for now, and work on something at a later date when there is a date in mind. So, for now, I leave you with this quote:

"...we come to a box of matches. Every now and then I strike one of these, because fire it beautiful and burns your fingers. Some people think this a waste of matches, the same people who object to the building of Cathedrals." ~ G.K. Chesterton from "To Frances"

Go and Set the World Ablaze