under the weather {poetry thursday}

This week’s (completely and totally optional idea) over at Poetry Thursday sounded intriguing. I wish I would have actually left the house this week so I could have had the opportunity to eavesdrop. As I have mentioned before, when I am out in the world, I like to listen in for a glimpse of someone’s story. Who they are. Why people are happy, sad, silly, angry, perplexed, or throwing their head back with laughter. Even though I may not see them again, it gives me a tiny moment to peek into their world. However, this week, I have been sick. In bed, still in my pajamas, not leaving the house sick. And today is not any different.
 
When I was younger and not feeling well, I used to read Shel Silverstein’s book The Missing Piece Meets the Big O. Do you know that one? I haven’t read it in years, but I pulled it off of my bookshelf this morning. When I did, I saw Where the Sidewalk Ends on the shelf next to it, which reminded me of Silverstein’s poem “Sick.” So I looked that one up. Check it out here. I wish, like Peggy Ann’s symptoms, that this sore throat, sinus pressure, gasping for air a bit because I am wheezing was all an act to get out of something. It isn’t an act though, and I am feeling quite grumpy, so “Mr. Grumpledump’s Song” also seems to fit my mood.
 
However, because Thursdays have become one of my favorite days since my journey into poetry began, and because I had originally planned to write something inspired by seeing the movie Il Postino (stay tuned, I will still share these thoughts at some point), I will leave you with this gorgeous poem by Hafiz and Daniel Ladinsky.
 

In A Tree House

 

Light

Will someday split you open

Even if your life is now a cage,

 

For a divine seed, the crown of destiny,

Is hidden and sown on an ancient, fertile plain

You hold the title to.

 

Love will surely bust you wide open

Into an unfettered, blooming a new galaxy

 

Even if your mind is now

A spoiled mule.

 

A life-giving radiance will come,

The Friend’s gratuity will come –

 

O look again within yourself,

For I know you were once the elegant host

To all the marvels in creation.

 

From a sacred crevice in your body

A bow rises each night

And shoots your soul into God.

 

Behold the Beautiful Drunk Singing One

From the lunar vantage point of love.

 

He is conducting the affairs

Of the whole universe

 

While throwing wild parties

In a tree house – on a limb

In your heart.

– Hafiz, version by Daniel Ladinsky

from the book The Subject Tonight Is Love

shared with permission

Enjoy your weekly stroll into the world of poetry...I am going back to bed but will take my laptop so I can blog in bed.

Comments

[Tammy]

I loved "sick" and I was entralled by Hafiz and Ladinsky. Thank you for more intros :)

Feel better soon HUGS

[Left-handed Trees...]

I wish you health and healing...and wanted to say how much I appreciated the wisdom bursting from every one of Hafiz's words.

[M]

I hope you feel better soon! Doesn't sound like any fun, except getting to read all your beloved poetry!
Big hugs oxoxoxo

[Jennifer]

Love each of your poems today. Hope you are feeling better soon.

[jim]

Thanks for sharing these wonderful poems, and I await your poetic play off of Il Postino.

No doubt Blogger has caught your bug, too??

[pepektheassassin]

"Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
that's how the light gets in."

--Leonard Cohen

[Dana]

Jim, Blogger is bad bad, bad. Don't worry. I am punishing it by having it stand in the corner.

Liz Elayne, "... the Big O"? Don't you think that book might have been a little, ahem, mature for you? ;)

[Alexandra S]

Liz, That is one of my very favorite poems. I'm printing it out now to post on the first page of the new journal I am starting tonight. My mom used to read Shel Silverstein to me when I was sick. Saturday was one of my very favorites. I was SUCH a major "fake-sicker" so I could stay home and read! I hope you are feeling much better.

[Deb R]

Oh, I like this poem very much! The line comparing the mind to a spoiled mule made me snort and the rest made me smile.

I hope you feel better soon!

[tinker]

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well enough to post your own poetry this week - but I'm glad you shared these offerings! I always enjoy re-visiting Where the Sidewalk Ends, and I had never read any of Ladinsky's poetry before, and I love this poem. The last line, especially, makes me smile and my heart sing!
Hope you feel better soon.

[acumamakiki]

I got chills reading the first line Liz, love this!

[chiefbiscuit]

oh you poor wee chick - hope you are feeling better soon. Lovely poem - aren't words beautiful sometimes - in the right hands?

[mikim]

Thank you, for bringing a smile to face. I read Shel Silverstein's poetry to my children when they were ill, bored, sad, and more often than not, for the sheer joy of reading poetry.
Your poem choice by Hafiz and Daniel Ladinsky was beautiful. I loved it.

[melba]

I was kind of waiting to comment and read more of your answers to people's questions and thought they might be in a birthday post (It was yesterday right?) Sorry to hear you are not feeling well.
I hope that there was some sunshine and tulips in your day and you were able to celebrated in some way.

Hope you have a wondeful 30th year of life!

[andrea]

I loved so many lines in this poem but I think this is my favorite one:

"Love will surely bust you wide open.."

Hope you feel better soon hon, take it easy and rest, rest, rest.
Hugs,
a.

[gkgirl]

aw.
sorry to hear that you are under the
weather...that sucks...
hope to see you up and about
and happy as a goat soon
:)

and i loved your poetry pick.

[paris parfait]

Liz, I tried four times yesterday to leave a comment - Blogger was completely haywire. I love the powerful poem - the sheer exuberance expressed. Thank you for sharing this one; I shall read it again and again.

I'm so sorry you're not feeling well. Hope you're much better soonest!

[J.Valentine]

Liz,
Thank you for sharing that poem...it brought tears to my eyes.
Joy, surrender and hope......hope.

[rachel]

Hope you start to feel better, in the meantime, bed and computer are ideal companions for recovery
Get well soon
Rachh