Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ideas, by Kathryn Starbuck
Giacomo Puccini - "Nessun dorma," Turandot with Mario del Monaco
I was the lonely one in whom
they swarmed in the millions.
I was their creature and I
was grateful. I could sleep
when I wanted.
I lived a divided
existence in sleepdreams
that lit up a silence as dreadful
as that of the moon. I have
an overly-precise recall of
those solitary years before
I opened the curtain and drew
upon a universe of want that made
me so strong I could crack
spines of books with one hand.
From Poetry (Poetry Foundation), March 2009, Volume cxciii, Number 6, page 517
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6 comments:
From Poetry (Poetry Foundation), March 2009, Volume cxciii, Number 6, page 517
I read this in my university library today.
Very moving image of 'a universe of want'
Her other poem in that volume, 'A Gift' is also extraordinary.
A Gift
Who is that creature
and who does he want?
Me, I trust. I do not
attempt to call out his
name for fear he will
tread on me. What do
you believe, he asks.
That we all want to be
alone, I reply, except when
we do not; that the world
was open to my sorrow
and ate most of it; that
today is a gift and I am
ready to receive you.
^_^
And I read your comment in my university library today...
I feel like she directs a laser-like gaze on herself - and us.
I'm glad for your visit.
that
today is a gift and I am
ready to receive you.
that is so beautiful, and it has stayed with me today, thanks julian
That we all want to be
alone, I reply, except when
we do not;
I cannot argue with this, and hope I never want to.
Also, you're most welcome Manuela. You have an amazing blog. You're idea to marry poems with a piece of music is great. I only wish I wasn't such a classical music dilettante. I also read some of your poems. Very nicely done.
I will come back and say hi
Thank you, Julian, this has been a very quiet (!) blog, and it is wonderful to have you visit and comment - come and say hi anytime!
I am moved to hear you read some of my poems, and glad you like the combination of music and poetry. I know shockingly little about classical music myself, mostly I go by what feels like the right music for a poem or poem for a piece of music- which is why it would probably be different for someone else, and that's part of the fun.
I searched for info on Kathryn Starbuck, and, my goodness, did she grieve! I was so moved to read how she said she found some joy in the middle of her grief through poetry...
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