(no subject)
Came across this poem, seemed to say something to me.
Well, to be more precise, it made me a bit uncomfortable. But I suppose in a good way? I feel like I'm being called out on...something.
“To Love Life”
Ellen Bass
The thing is
to love life
to love it even when you have no
stomach for it, when everything you've held
dear crumbles like burnt paper in your hands
and your throat is filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you so heavily
it's like heat, tropical, moist
thickening the air so it's heavy like water
more fit for gills than lungs.
When grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief.
How long can a body withstand this? you think,
and yet you hold life like a face between your palms,
a plain face, with no charming smile
or twinkle in her eye,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you again.
Also, I was re-reading "The Dead" and I am tempted to write yet another essay on it for 20th century lit. I read a lot of James Joyce last year. I have been searching for my own copy of Dubliners for so long, I've almost given up. If you see one around, please inform!
Well, to be more precise, it made me a bit uncomfortable. But I suppose in a good way? I feel like I'm being called out on...something.
“To Love Life”
Ellen Bass
The thing is
to love life
to love it even when you have no
stomach for it, when everything you've held
dear crumbles like burnt paper in your hands
and your throat is filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you so heavily
it's like heat, tropical, moist
thickening the air so it's heavy like water
more fit for gills than lungs.
When grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief.
How long can a body withstand this? you think,
and yet you hold life like a face between your palms,
a plain face, with no charming smile
or twinkle in her eye,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you again.
Also, I was re-reading "The Dead" and I am tempted to write yet another essay on it for 20th century lit. I read a lot of James Joyce last year. I have been searching for my own copy of Dubliners for so long, I've almost given up. If you see one around, please inform!