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| The Curse |
I was Five, You were Eight
You always knew so much
Too much
My insights proven incorrect
My knowledge full of holes
Out by the woodpile
I had enough
I would not stand
I told you something you didn't know
Someday---One day, in Fact
I would grow older, taller
than you
I would be wiser
looked-up-to
know all
and--it happened, I became
old and tall
and wise
now, omniscient but deficient
I was searching (remembering?)
all that I knew (and you knew?)
in never never land
when I was Five and You were Eight
PS I should have wished to know how to write poetry
"Remember, poetry is life distilled." Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet Laureate 1985 USA
ReplyDelete"The most important and beautiful poem you will ever read will be your own..." begins the poem on pg. 9 in my book By Hand Unseen.
I abide in gratitude for your poetry of faithfulness to your Muse in various media that evoke others to consider theirs. Thanks, Martha
I've struggled to get these thoughts expressed, and I've considered a variety of vehicles--short story, embroidery, children's story etc. I gave poetry a try and am certain that I will continue to attempt to capture these sentiments. Until then, I found what Anna Quindlen, on the radio program "Fresh Air with Terry Gross," had to say very interesting. She quoted from her recent book "Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake" which reflects on the lessons learned during the last decade of her life as she approaches 60.
DeleteShe reads:
"It's odd when I think of the arc of my life - from child to young woman to aging adult. First I was who I was. Then I didn't know who I was. Then I invented someone and became her. Then I began to like what I'd invented. And finally I was what I was again."
She closes the interview with this comment:
"I just feel like with every passing year I've sort of become more myself. I've sort of circled back to that little five year old girl, you know, who was kind of full of herself and didn't take a whole lot of guff and did what she wanted to do and was comfortable in her own skin."
At any rate I find her words encouraging and am certain that I look forward to meeting that five year old at the center of labyrinth.
For entire transcript or to hear the interview:
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=150738848