Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 24, 1871

Overview

Richard arranges his writings chronologically in order to control how he is understood and avoid being treated merely as poet or author. Cosima teaches the children, and Nietzsche visits before Richard accompanies him to the station. The children's burial of a dead canary, with Loldi's plain funeral words, brings a small household lesson in mortality.

Content

Wednesday, May 24:

R. is arranging his writings, which he intends to publish in chronological order, since he does not wish to be regarded as a poet or an author. I teach the children.

In the afternoon a visit from Professor Nietzsche; R. accompanies him to the railroad station. Grief over the death of a canary, which the children bury. Loldi speaks the funeral oration: “Now you will fly no more and must be put in the ugly earth; we shall not see you again,” etc.