Lazarus, sort-of
I was looking at Barnes and Noble this afternoon and came across a book of poetry by Louise Gluck (who has become one of my favorites). One of her poems from her chapbook "The Wild Iris" really resonated with me.
Snowdrops
Do you know what I was, how I lived? You know
what despair is; then
winter should have meaning for you.
I did not expect to survive,
earth suppressing me. I didn't expect
to waken again, to feel
in damp earth my body
able to respond again, remembering
after so long how to open again
in the cold light
of earliest spring--
afraid yes, but among you again
crying yes risk joy
in the raw wind of the new world.
5 comments:
Louise Gluck is one of my all-time favorite poets. Thanks for the poem. I'm going to go back and re-read her.
Have you read Seamus Heaney? He too is wonderful.
I'm glad spring is here for you, Carrie.
No, haven't heard of Seamus Heaney. I will definitely check him out. But Louise Gluck is my favorite poet.
Her words are amazing. . .
A
Beautiful!
My "wild iris"'s are now shriveled, but the green stems are strong. Another colour-symphony is about to happen at appointed intervals scattered anywhere in the yard...
But something more central also resonates-- the roots-- deeply grounded, connected. They are intact and remain, almost unnoticeable; while the pretty, eye-catching blooms beckon for fertilization, taking their annual que- now have completed this season's cycle.
Without the roots, bio-active sustenance and deep ecological activity underneath, there would be no beautiful iris, no brilliant tulip, the basil the tomato, the curry plant would not be what they each uniquely are, and why we love the distinct colours, textures and flavors that each bring collectively.
Thanks for sharing this and your beautiful-unique take on things, Carrie!
XO-
What a beautiful and touching poem. Thanks for sharing. Wow, Seamus heaney... I remember studying his work for A-Level English... I doubt I appreciated him as much as i should have at the time!
Z
Post a Comment