(Image provided by the Drifter)
Seven Virtues of Studying the Great
“Goodness can be found sometimes in the middle of hell.”
– Charles Bukowski
This Sunday in honor of the American holiday weekend, The Drifter is offering a brief take on a vast topic. These are the opinions of The Drifter and perhaps are not set in stone; but at the same time, none of these suggestions originated with The Drifter himself. They drifted into his mind and through his keyboard via many other figures of the past who are smarter than The Drifter.
Thus, all who read this should know that The Drifter does take responsibility for this, but at the same time he’s doing nothing other than channeling the wisdom of the ages in the form of a brand-new vessel. Very little (or none) of this can be argued with in any rational way. All of it will peak your interest if you are interested in the creative arts AND/OR in the creative living of life (or both).
Now to the list. Seven is chosen because seven is a chosen number. There is a second list at the end which helps explain what The Drifter means by “the great.” Skip down to there if you wish to and come back to this afterward.
Seven virtues of studying the great:
One: You will learn how to do what you need to.
Two: You will come to understand how much it takes.
Three: Your own pain will be eased even as you come to a greater understanding of the eternal truth that “pain is the name of the game.”
Four: You will see how fun the game can be through the eyes of others who are related to you because they are also humans.
Five: When your enthusiasm wanes because of your energy levels (until it comes back again) you can lean on them.
Six: Not studying anyone will very surely and very shortly turn you into a kind of (unhealthy) human vegetable and one should always study the great first because they deserve it. They deserve it because they tried harder than the vast majority of the population (even while “not trying” like Buk said to).
Seven: What could be more worthy of our human study here on Planet Earth than the human and all it entails? (which in my case involves Siberian Husky and Pit Bull spirit dogs; look around you for your own spirit things because they are there).
List Number Two.
The following list is an example of what The Drifter means by “the great.”
In honor of the future-classic, cutting-edge short stories of Irene Leila Allison, the list is comprised of twenty American short story writers.
These are all Americans because I’m writing this on THE FOURTH OF JULY, 2025, A.D., and because I happen to be an American myself, straight from the heart of the heart of the country, as William Gass called it.
All of these short story writers are what is sometimes referred to as “passed on.” At other times referred to as “no longer among the living.”
These people still live. IF nowhere else (which I doubt) than among the literary immortals in the spirit world of the American pantheon.
Washington Irving.
Edgar Allan Poe.
O. Henry.
Shirley Jackson.
Eudora Welty.
Richard Wright.
Ralph Ellison.
Katherine Anne Porter.
Kate Chopin.
Flannery O’Connor.
Langston Hughes.
N. Scott Momaday.
Ernest Hemingway.
William Faulkner.
F. Scott Fitzgerald.
John Cheever.
Raymond Carver.
Barry Hannah.
Larry Brown.
William Gay.
“The Drifter” will return next Sunday with seven more philosophical reflections on the Arts or one more narrative exploration of an artist’s life based on personal experience. Thanks for putting up with this.
Saragun Springs 
Good Sunday Drifter
Wonderful lists, and I sincerely thank you for kind words about me and for the inclusion of Shirley Jackson. Moreover, your mentions of pain and study are spot on.
Well thought out “great” list. Everyone on it deserves her/his place.
I do hope that the Canine Trio endured the fireworks!
Leila
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Hi Leila
The Canine Trio endured the explosive holiday via putting their paws over their ears! I was able to assure them it wasn’t a drone attack and they were fine with it after that. Especially after I was able to assure myself it wasn’t a drone attack.
Thanks for doing all you do to inspire The Drifter and his drifting prose attempts at composing a column. I’ve noticed that The Drifter’s column has an “irregular” aspect to it that was probably inspired by the life and art of Pablo Picasso, which brings us back to that great painting, “The Old Guitarist.”
Thank you!
D
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Hey Drifter
I hear what you are saying about these authors being alive. Their work is alive and that makes them seem alive. Their words are so powerful they resound across time.
I’ve read some of these people and it has been a great and worthwhile experience. Kate Chopin’s “The Night Came Slowly” is a masterpiece of flash fiction. Her other stories about the south challenged the establishment. She is an awesome person to have made the list. Sometimes, I find myself staring at her picture(s).
J. Cheever’s “The Swimmer” is a great short story that makes me want to read a lot more of his work. He’s so famous.
Classic authors are so worth a person’s time it’s kind of unbelievable. I see it as a case of self educating myself beyond what the university or schools might or might not include. There is a whole realm of literature here to take one’s mind to a higher plane.
Excellent column!
From IN
Christopher
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Thank you, Christopher!
Your understanding of great artistic writing is truly an inspired thing that becomes an inspiration for me and, I’m sure, others who read your writing.
FYI, The Drifter has a column in the works that focuses exclusively upon the short story work of an author called Christopher J. Ananias. In this column, The Drifter plans to explore the genius fusion of Stephen King and Raymond Carver that is the work of CJA.
The Drifter’s ideas sometimes tend to gestate for long periods of time after he comes up with them, which is a way of making them better than they might otherwise be if they were tossed off immediately after coming up with the idea. So I’m not sure when the Ananias/King/Carver column will appear, but I’m almost positive it will be in 2025, and maybe this summer. When it appears, it will be good. Keep your eyes peeled!
Thanks for reading The Drifter’s driftings and for entering into this regular and continuous dialogue with The Drifter. Appreciated at every level more deeply than I can frame in words.
D
PS Ananias
I also have an idea for a column about our dialogue about HIM. +++
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Hi Drifter
Wow that would be an awesome honor! Truly humbled!
The Drifter’s column has become part of my weekly reading routine. I also enjoy your weekday post and poetry!
Glad you think so much of my work! I like the way you “gestate” over your ideas. That just sounds cool and practical. Writing is like that. I remember R, Carver saying how he would drop a short story in a drawer and read it in a couple of weeks. Read it cold.
Thanks!
Christopher
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