There is an arid Pleasure—

There is an arid Pleasure—
As different from Joy—
As Frost is different from Dew—
Like element—are they—

Yet one—rejoices Flowers—
And one—the Flowers abhor—
The finest Honey—curdled—
Is worthless—to the Bee—


       -Fr884, J782, fascicle 39, 1864


Pleasure is under the microscope here. There seems to be two, or really three, kinds of pleasures at hand here, all of them elementally different from one another. These three are like the three states of water. There is dry air, wherein the water is evaporated, water in the form of dew, and, finally, frozen ice. 

One kind of pleasure is “an arid” one. It is distinguished from Joy. 

There is an arid Pleasure—
As different from Joy—

As Frost is different from Dew—

Pleasures are shown to be both “arid” like a desert, and icy cold, like frost. Joy, though, is something between the two, something connected to water and life, like morning dew.

The difference between these states of desire is tremendous. Heated desires, the temperature turned up, wants to burn you, and to burn others. Have you ever seen Hedda Gabler? That’s the kind of heat I'm talking about. (The new version adapted by Nia DaCosta is very good by the way. Rent it or see it on Amazon Video if you can.) The other kind of pleasure though, the third kind, is the kind that freezes you. It shuts sense out and numbs itself to the world. This is the pleasure of the addict.

I’m thinking now about that famous Robert Frost poem, Fire and Ice.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Suffice to say, both kinds of pleasure are terrible. 

As Frost's frosty poem shows us, being burned by fire may seem preferable to being frozen, but when it is repeated again, the pain felt the first time leads one to prefer instead the numbness of the frost. That's when you lose yourself in cold pleasures. Candy Crush anyone?

Joy, though, like dew, has the power to slake the thirst of those in the desert. Joy is like morning’s revitalizing elixir that is quenching the thirst of the grass and flowers. Dew is like Frost that has melted. It’s the water of life, coursing in streams through the meadows, neither too hot nor too cold.

So there are two kinds of pleasure. You can tell the difference because one nurtures life and one destroys it. 

Yet one—rejoices Flowers—
And one—the Flowers abhor—

In the second scene of Nia DaCosta’s "Hedda" you see Hedda preparing for a party by getting rid of all of the flowers that have already been laid out by the servants. Hedda, her heart broken past the desire to keep living, wishes for all the flowers to be dead.

On the other hand, Joy rejoices. It makes the flowers of poetry grow. 

The finest Honey—curdled—
Is worthless—to the Bee—

Wait, does Honey curdle? Let's do some research. Yes, says the internet, "if you freeze it it, honey "curdles" (crystallizes) because it is a supersaturated solution of glucose and fructose, causing the glucose to naturally separate and form solid, gritty crystals over time. This process is accelerated by cold temperatures."

Hmm, what happens if you overheat it, internet? "Heating also degrades honey’s nutritional value, destroys beneficial enzymes like invertase, and changes its flavor. While not acutely toxic, high heat turns honey into a bitter, caramel-like substance and reduces its antioxidant properties."

Hey, this poem doubles as a primer on keeping honey. 

If kept at room temperature, however, honey has an infinite (!!!!) shelf life. Just like the joy of a great poem. "A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”  -John Keats

I think this poem is reminding us to notice from where it is we are deriving our pleasures. If we look close we can see that there is an elemental difference between life giving and life destroying pleasures. Which of your pleasures are arid? Which are too cool? And which are perfect for keeping honey?

      -/)dam Wade I)eGraff