For this past week I have been thinking of this line by 20 Prospect “There is something unholy about being able to cross the world in a day,” which succinctly summed up the experience of traveling to the other side of the world and dealing with the consequences, as he so poetically yet accurately described jet lag:
Sitting there in the dark… my heart whistled like an empty shell, waiting for my soul to catch up to my body.
.
While I re-adjust back to the time zone and life back here, and more importantly in the context of this blog, to my role as a virtual resident of the blogosphere, a cog in this massive social network, here is a short post that has nothing to do with my trip…
.
.
Many years ago when I was trapped in the house with a strong-willed, persistent toddler that refused to sleep and to be happy and wanted nothing else but me and my unwaivering attention, I thought about running away. Of course I did not. An old friend from college saved me by asking me to select, translate and edit a book of classic English poems, dedicated to the subject of love. The objective is to have the book published before Valentine’s Day. It is a shame that the book is now out of print because otherwise I could send it to you all in lieu of Valentine’s Day cards: at $99NTD a pop, approximately $3 USD, the book is cheaper than most of the Hallmark cards.
It was an interesting experience working on a collection of love poems, including “How Do I Love Thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, naturally, when I was decidedly not in any mood for love. In fact, my heart was filled with resentment and guilt, anxiety and angst, panic for a life gone wrong, for the roads not taken, for the dreams unfulfilled. It felt surreal when I was writing the afterword: cynicism was out since the filter through which to appreciate a love poem has to be drastically anti-cynicism; I took on the role of an old woman, the future me who was at peace finally, encouraging the married young women to not lose heart, to force themselves to remember what it was like before all this.
Love. I remember.
(Looking back, I now winced at the cheesy English name I picked for the book. My sincere apology)
I do want to share with you my favorite poem from the selection. Taxi by Amy Lowell.
.
.
.
.
Ms. Lowell has another poem that is just as brilliant and packs a powerful wallop of visual punch right to the gut. Here it is:
.
Fireworks
You hate me and I hate you
And we are so polite, we two!
But whenever I see you, I burst apart
And scatter the sky with my blazing heart.
It spits and sparkles in the stars and balls,
Buds into roses – and flares, and falls.
Scarlet buttons, and pale green disks,
Silver spirals and asterisks,
Shoot and tremble in a mist
Peppered with mauve and amethyst.
I shine in the windows and light up the trees,
And all because I hate you, if you please.
And when you meet me, you rend asunder
And go up in a flaming wonder
Of saffron cubes, and crimson moons,
And wheels all amaranths and maroons.
Golden lozenges and spades
Arrows of malachites and jades,
Patens of copper, azure sheaves.
As you mount, you flash in the glossy leaves.
Such fireworks as we make, we two!
Because you hate me and I hate you.
Welcome home, you. I love both of those poems. Thanks.
chickensconsigliere recently posted…A gross story about ears except not really- because then I remembered another story- sort of like an inner ear story
Thank you! I have been worried about your ears. But with a friend like Gi Gi, I know you are in good hands. LOL
Love the fireworks poem – amazing imagery. And really, any blog post that slaps up a good poem or two is making the world a better place.
Thanks for stopping by! The Oscars post is coming later this week – alas, not a medley (man, I wish I could do a medley for every post) and no Gaddafi, but perhaps in the future….
Thanks! I had fun visiting. 😉
that is some rad hate and i like it. i like it a lot. and the colors! i want to memorize all of the colors in that poem so i can draw upon them in my language.
welcome back bee-yotch! can we get back to some hatin in our complicated relationship? for realz, girl. i missed your tight ass.
pattypunker recently posted…like patty hearst and the stockholm syndrome only it’s patty punker loving her hater
Right back at you Someecards celeb writer!
The imagery may keep me awake tonight.
Mary Lee recently posted…POP! Goes the Wiener
SORRY!
I love the “Taxi” poem, it’s so evocative which, I guess, is the point! Plus it’s hard surviving the hours without someone you love. 🙂
Vegetable Assassin recently posted…Please Pay Attention to the Pre-Flight Safety Instructions
That is indeed my one favorite ever since I found it.
I adore the Amy Lowell poem, “Taxi.” God, that’s incredible, just incredible. Thanks for sharing it——————
Hugs from Haiti,
Kathy
Kathryn McCullough recently posted…Top 10 Things to Remember about Letting Go
You are welcome. Her life story is incredible too.
Wow, Fireworks is amazing. I had no idea Amy Lowell was from my own backyard!
Brookline MA!
Hi Lin:
Welcome home!
Thanks for sharing Amy Lowell with us…we have one of her books at the store, but I’ve never opened it (maybe I should!)…
Hugs,
Wendy
writerwoman61 recently posted…Some Oscars People Aren’t Talking About Today…
Go read that book! 🙂
Ah, some people have the gift, don’t they.
lifeintheboomerlane recently posted…How Much Does A Woman Cost
I drank in her words with greed. The imageries are incredible.
I agree with dufmanno.
This post is a masterpiece.
I am not surprised.
Life with Kaishon recently posted…a cell phone camera picture contest! say what
Awww you guys are too kind. *blushing*
How is it you can return from the being in the sky for days and type out this masterpiece?
And as far as those hazy days of ferocious need feeding in the early years of a childs life?
Right on sister.
Never have I felt such a mixture of rage, resentment, fear and blazing love thrown together in one pot.
I’m coming to snuggle with you and Elly.
dufmanno recently posted…Room With a Theme
“a mixture of rage, resentment, fear and blazing love thrown together in one pot” Nicely put!
Snuggle FTW!
Thanks for the poems. Wow. I’ve got a few people like that, mutual hate leading to fireworks. I try to utilize avoidance at all times, which is difficult when considering I have to continue to “work” with them in our local county political party. Fireworks, indeed!
Andrea @ Shameless Agitator recently posted…Faithful
Next time just envision the colors and the force evoked by this poem.
Wow that Fireworks one did pack a punch!
It packed a punch but unfortunately not lunch. 😉
Both of these completely stunned me. Awe-inspiring.
Yup!
It’s raining here and I’m whiny. How about we just cuddle up under this down comforter, order some bad takeout and giggle over issues of Us Weekly? Does noon work for you?
Elly Lou recently posted…Lonely Little Uke
That sounds absolutely lovely!
Heaven, for a Monday morning. Or maybe any morning. (Glad you’re back! Rest! And more Lowell…)
Thank you!
There is a lot more here. 🙂
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=4470831#