(Mechelen, 21 February 1944 – Lisbon, 22 May 1997)
Better known by his pen name Herman de Coninck, he was a Flemish poet, essayist, journalist and magazine publisher. Herman de Coninck is known as ‘the man who taught his people to read poetry’, following in the footsteps of the 19th-century writer Hendrik Conscience, who ‘taught his people to read’. The pen name is usually spelled with a lowercase ‘d’.
Herman de Coninck.Photo hermandeconinck.be
Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch.
Photo: Johen Redman. Meaning 🤔: This is a beautiful and very visual expression. It means:Complete optimism: The person is positive and cheerful through and through. Not a speck of negativity: There is not a single spot (not a ‘square centimeter’) to be found on or in this person that is not sunny. Authentic cheerfulness: It is not a mask; the positivity is in their entire being, down to the smallest detail. 🖋️ The Author:Herman de Coninck (1944–1997). The saying is attributed to Herman de Coninck, not Walt Whitman, as is sometimes wrongly suggested. Who was he? A much-loved Flemish poet, essayist, and journalist. His Style: De Coninck was known for his accessible yet profound poetry. He always sought the precise balance between: Big, abstract words (such as ‘sunny’ or ‘happiness’). Ordinary, concrete words (such as ‘square centimeter’). His Figurative Language: His similes and metaphors were often original and surprising, just like this saying. 🔍 Origin and Evidence: Why are we fairly certain that it is by Herman de Coninck? Characteristic Language Use: The specific measurement “square centimeter” occurs frequently in his work. Example: He once wrote about Dutch poetry that the poems “have only one square centimeter as a basis.”The Combination: Linking an emotional state (“sunny”) to a hyper-concrete measure (“square centimeter”) is a typical ‘De Coninck-ism’. It makes the abstract tangible. Conclusion: This saying is a beautiful example of Herman de Coninck’s unique voice: poetic, precise, and full of admiration for human nature. ☀️📐
Door Pieter
Mensenmens, zoon, echtgenoot, vader, opa.
Spiritueel, echter niet religieus.
Ik hou van golf, wandelen, lezen en de natuur in veel opzichten.
Onderzoeker, nieuwsgierig, geen fan van de mainstream media (MSM).
