I am reminded, of course, of the infamous Vanity Fair in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” and the haunting poetry of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market“.  Both texts speak in some capacity about the universal onslaught of the strange and often spiritually dangerous sensations of the world.  Here’s one of my favorite sections of Rossetti’s piece:

Laugh’d every goblin

When they spied her peeping:

Came towards her hobbling,

Flying, running, leaping,

Puffing and blowing,

Chuckling, clapping, crowing,

Clucking and gobbling,

Mopping and mowing,

Full of airs and graces,

Pulling wry faces,

Demure grimaces,

Cat-like and rat-like,

Ratel- and wombat-like,

Snail-paced in a hurry,

Parrot-voiced and whistler,

Helter skelter, hurry skurry,

Chattering like magpies,

Fluttering like pigeons,

Gliding like fishes, -

Only imagination can translate the flurry of wild shapes and animalistic action of the lines.  But it’s such a fun description.  Is it terrifying?  Delightful?  A… delightful terror?

I don’t want to make too much of my own version, especially in light of what has already been done, but I thought it would be fun to point out some of the literary inspiration for a few goofy drawings.  Hope you enjoy!

I wanted to mention a few things about my plans, just so expectations are not shattered. I plan on keeping up with the pace I’ve set – updates roughly once or twice a week. I also plan on updating the webpage and making it look as visually stunning as you, my wonderful readers, deserve. I do, however, expect things to pick up as a) the academic semester ends (praises be), b) I get back into the routine (which is well underway).

I deeply appreciate the comments and positive feedback. It’s great to be back.