Oh, it's so visceral. It can torment, level and just as quickly set free, depending on the choice of course. That inner voice. Will it be claimed or be drummed out by the external voices and those entanglements that in one moment comfort and in the next confine. (I can feel it in my gut right now.)
Well-captured, by both talented authors here. Thank you.
Really great choice of image too. I shall in coming days imagine myself on that star-lit path, accompanied by the many other noble souls who are rising to to the challenges of the times - including your good self, and Vincent, of course!
This is beautiful, Mary. I love the poetry of both Marys. :) I will add, though, since you asked, that we are all such different animals. I have done some major leaving in my lifetime and maybe it's because at my core I'm an introvert that being in solitude has brought me peace and contentment, without regret. I have blossomed fully into myself by being alone. Of course, if my newly-married 20 year-old self had read this, I would have had a much different answer.
I would add that my age (69) helps, but there are many lonely 69 year-olds and so I'm just grateful that I'm not one of them. 💗
I am quite certain that your solitude is serving you well! Your peace and contentment radiate, Barbara. AND I feel like you and I are walking together, even far apart as we are.
Well, aside from the fact that you continue to outdo yourself on a regular basis, this one really spoke to me after having had an exchange with my husband just last night about this very issue. I tried to suggest it might be good to become connected with some kind of community or group of like-minded people as we go forward into the unknown. He responded rather gruffly "NO!", I'm not trying to save anyone else here, only just our family. My heart sank hearing him say that, but I knew it was because he was just so angry and discouraged that so many people are still not connecting the dots. This could have developed into quite an argument, but my newer self stopped my old self. I figure that he will eventually discover the reality that we can’t/won’t make it alone, and that’s the whole point of this experience we’re going through, isn’t it? To reconnect ourselves to ourselves and to one another, and to God, or to whatever name you use. Thanks again, Mary. xox
Yay for your newer self! I do think this mess is to raise our collective consciousness, or as you put it, "reconnect ourselves to ourselves and to one another, and to God." We all -- including your husband -- come to that process in our own way and own time. Good on you for your patience.
It's a conundrum, really, which is why I felt I wanted to respond to Oliver's poem. I've always been so inspired by it, and I think it's emboldened me, too... but I'm by nature a social creature, who likes to collaborate and have community around me.
Thank YOU, Rocket. Always happy to "see" you here. xox
I completely understand the sentiment as so many connections fell apart through the last few years. But just because these cycles we go through begin and end doesn’t mean we go at it alone. It’s just that the older I get the less time I want to invest in just anybody. I let the connection be natural and organic and at whatever length and depth it wishes to be. And acknowledge it might ebb and flow in between.
I know what you mean. My husband and I had dinner with some neighbors, very nice people, but afterwards I was exhausted. I felt like it was an effort to keep the conversation going. I don't need a whole lot of that in my life...
Thanks, Tonika. I wasn't sure if you agreed with my sentiment, or my husband's, or both but I do agree regarding not wanting to invest your time in relationships with just anybody. I did have to let go of some connections because they were doing me more harm than good. Some of them have come back around and I think I'm learning to allow them to proceed as they will (with the ebb and flow ,as you say) and not to have any particular expectations. This has been quite a learning experience for sure.
Hey, don't forget to to check out the Rev.'s site for some recent pieces that may be of interest.
Hey, thanks for this! I didn't want to ask, but I was hoping you would see what I wrote to Tonika and check it out yourself. I kinda knew I could count on you. That's not having expectations, is it? LOL. Hope not!
I like what you said about reconnecting ourselves etc. as another way to say raise our collective consciousness, each in our own way and in our own time. Nice.
I wanted to add that I did read that God does have a plan which he will complete when the time is right, to bring all creation together; everything in heaven and on earth with Christ as head. At least that's what the scripture says anyway. I'd like to believe that. xox
It’s reading poetry like this that rushes hope into my tired soul and lifts my spirits to the stars. How can anyone refuse a walk along with you, sharing stories, weaving memories, waving at the stars? What good is it to save yourself if you’ve got none to share yourself with? Thank you for this respite from doom.
Btw, I had never seen that Gough painting before. Is that the sun and the moon up in the sky at the same time? 😍
that is quite a poem there. I don't know you as a writer, I just clicked on the suggestions at the right margin. Pretty easy to understand. When the view through rose-colored glasses ends, you had better move on.
I love this Mary Oliver poem and it's a very worthy sequel. I think my favorite line is "And though burning stars do light my path, no one would call them sociable." The long slog after the dramatic door slam, that's the story not often told. Glad that you're giving it voice.
Thanks so much, Tereza. I'm obsessed with the "THEN what?" question. I wrote about it in my play The Buddha's Wife, when I found out that Siddharta left his wife Yasodhara and their newborn behind when he set out to seek enlightenment. In the play, one of the characters talks about how Casablanca always made her crazy, even though it's one of her favorite films. She wanted to know what happened after Ilsa got on that plane -- did she spend a noble lifetime suffering with a man she didn't love? Or did she come to some deeper acceptance of her life's purpose and find joy? Or both?
Grand, leave it all behind gestures have always sparked something in me. Clearly, I'm still processing their meaning...
That sounds like a fascinating play! It's always seemed like such a powerful thing to have other people take your words and bring them to life, adding their own creativity. I've dabbled with playwriting and scriptwriting but only enough to be in awe of those who do.
And what a great concept. I didn't know that about Siddarta. I've heard that Gandhi was also not someone you'd have wanted to be married to. All examples that our mainstream religions are missing the feminine half of the brain, imo.
Wow, Mary. You bravely took on a formidable challenge and created a companion that does the original Mary proud.
“The Journey” is one of my favorite Mary Oliver poems and one I share with people who are working up the courage to leave abusive relationships. I also included it in the following piece:
Thank you, MAA! I have so much respect for Mary Oliver; I'm glad you felt I did her justice.
And your "Letter to the Menticided" has been one of my all-time favorites. It's such a generous, rich compendium of sanity! I could just hug you for writing it. Wow, I'm gushing...😂
P.S. I realized yesterday that all of your substacks for the past few months have been going to SPAM -- which is a travesty, when I look at the true crap that DOES make it into my inbox.
I'd been wondering if you were okay, or had just taken a break from writing. 🤦♀️ I have a lot of catch-up reading to do!
Oh my goodness—thank you so much for letting me know about the spam! You're not the first person who's reported this to me. I have been worried that my Substack newsletters have been targeted by major email providers (Google, Yahoo, etc.) because every time I send one out lately, I get a flood of email disabled notifications, some instantaneous. Substack informed me that if the email provider marks my address as spam, the notifications are automatically disabled without the user being aware of it. I realize some may be unsubbing intentionally, but the rapidity and volume makes me suspicious. Can you confirm that your notifications are still enabled, at least? I assume so since they're showing up in your spam but just want to make sure. And hopefully, it won't happen again if you whitelist my email 🙏
Very beautiful, Mary.
The honing in on 'that' moment.
Oh, it's so visceral. It can torment, level and just as quickly set free, depending on the choice of course. That inner voice. Will it be claimed or be drummed out by the external voices and those entanglements that in one moment comfort and in the next confine. (I can feel it in my gut right now.)
Well-captured, by both talented authors here. Thank you.
The cold warmth of starlight. I know it well.
Thanks for the Van Gogh image too!
Thank you Mary... your oxygen hit me with better timing than you can know.
Oh how the world needs poetry just now - and how well your contributions are recieved - not just by me, that I know.
Really great choice of image too. I shall in coming days imagine myself on that star-lit path, accompanied by the many other noble souls who are rising to to the challenges of the times - including your good self, and Vincent, of course!
I was so happy to find that painting!
Glad the O2 tank arrived at the right time! I love how the universe works...
This is beautiful, Mary. I love the poetry of both Marys. :) I will add, though, since you asked, that we are all such different animals. I have done some major leaving in my lifetime and maybe it's because at my core I'm an introvert that being in solitude has brought me peace and contentment, without regret. I have blossomed fully into myself by being alone. Of course, if my newly-married 20 year-old self had read this, I would have had a much different answer.
I would add that my age (69) helps, but there are many lonely 69 year-olds and so I'm just grateful that I'm not one of them. 💗
I am quite certain that your solitude is serving you well! Your peace and contentment radiate, Barbara. AND I feel like you and I are walking together, even far apart as we are.
Yesss! 🩷🩷
Cheers from a not-lonely 66 yr old ;-)
Well, aside from the fact that you continue to outdo yourself on a regular basis, this one really spoke to me after having had an exchange with my husband just last night about this very issue. I tried to suggest it might be good to become connected with some kind of community or group of like-minded people as we go forward into the unknown. He responded rather gruffly "NO!", I'm not trying to save anyone else here, only just our family. My heart sank hearing him say that, but I knew it was because he was just so angry and discouraged that so many people are still not connecting the dots. This could have developed into quite an argument, but my newer self stopped my old self. I figure that he will eventually discover the reality that we can’t/won’t make it alone, and that’s the whole point of this experience we’re going through, isn’t it? To reconnect ourselves to ourselves and to one another, and to God, or to whatever name you use. Thanks again, Mary. xox
Yay for your newer self! I do think this mess is to raise our collective consciousness, or as you put it, "reconnect ourselves to ourselves and to one another, and to God." We all -- including your husband -- come to that process in our own way and own time. Good on you for your patience.
It's a conundrum, really, which is why I felt I wanted to respond to Oliver's poem. I've always been so inspired by it, and I think it's emboldened me, too... but I'm by nature a social creature, who likes to collaborate and have community around me.
Thank YOU, Rocket. Always happy to "see" you here. xox
I completely understand the sentiment as so many connections fell apart through the last few years. But just because these cycles we go through begin and end doesn’t mean we go at it alone. It’s just that the older I get the less time I want to invest in just anybody. I let the connection be natural and organic and at whatever length and depth it wishes to be. And acknowledge it might ebb and flow in between.
I know what you mean. My husband and I had dinner with some neighbors, very nice people, but afterwards I was exhausted. I felt like it was an effort to keep the conversation going. I don't need a whole lot of that in my life...
It’s hard to feel authentically you if something in the convo doesn’t flow.
Thanks, Tonika. I wasn't sure if you agreed with my sentiment, or my husband's, or both but I do agree regarding not wanting to invest your time in relationships with just anybody. I did have to let go of some connections because they were doing me more harm than good. Some of them have come back around and I think I'm learning to allow them to proceed as they will (with the ebb and flow ,as you say) and not to have any particular expectations. This has been quite a learning experience for sure.
Hey, don't forget to to check out the Rev.'s site for some recent pieces that may be of interest.
I was saying I could see it from your husband’s eyes but ultimately that we need community even as some relationships end, change, or ebb and flow.
I will check out her stacks today!
IMHO, expectations are relationship-killers. And I'll check out Katie's stack, too. I've been remiss in my reading of late...
Hey, thanks for this! I didn't want to ask, but I was hoping you would see what I wrote to Tonika and check it out yourself. I kinda knew I could count on you. That's not having expectations, is it? LOL. Hope not!
I like what you said about reconnecting ourselves etc. as another way to say raise our collective consciousness, each in our own way and in our own time. Nice.
I wanted to add that I did read that God does have a plan which he will complete when the time is right, to bring all creation together; everything in heaven and on earth with Christ as head. At least that's what the scripture says anyway. I'd like to believe that. xox
I love Katie’s stack. Thank you for pointing me in that direction. I align with all she says and will read her back log. I subbed. Thanks, Rocket.
It’s reading poetry like this that rushes hope into my tired soul and lifts my spirits to the stars. How can anyone refuse a walk along with you, sharing stories, weaving memories, waving at the stars? What good is it to save yourself if you’ve got none to share yourself with? Thank you for this respite from doom.
Btw, I had never seen that Gough painting before. Is that the sun and the moon up in the sky at the same time? 😍
Thank you so much, Tonika. Walking with you is a true joy in my life.
Yes, I think Van Gough pulled out all the celestial stops with this one 😂
☀️
👂
🌝
😂
that is quite a poem there. I don't know you as a writer, I just clicked on the suggestions at the right margin. Pretty easy to understand. When the view through rose-colored glasses ends, you had better move on.
I love this Mary Oliver poem and it's a very worthy sequel. I think my favorite line is "And though burning stars do light my path, no one would call them sociable." The long slog after the dramatic door slam, that's the story not often told. Glad that you're giving it voice.
Thanks so much, Tereza. I'm obsessed with the "THEN what?" question. I wrote about it in my play The Buddha's Wife, when I found out that Siddharta left his wife Yasodhara and their newborn behind when he set out to seek enlightenment. In the play, one of the characters talks about how Casablanca always made her crazy, even though it's one of her favorite films. She wanted to know what happened after Ilsa got on that plane -- did she spend a noble lifetime suffering with a man she didn't love? Or did she come to some deeper acceptance of her life's purpose and find joy? Or both?
Grand, leave it all behind gestures have always sparked something in me. Clearly, I'm still processing their meaning...
That sounds like a fascinating play! It's always seemed like such a powerful thing to have other people take your words and bring them to life, adding their own creativity. I've dabbled with playwriting and scriptwriting but only enough to be in awe of those who do.
And what a great concept. I didn't know that about Siddarta. I've heard that Gandhi was also not someone you'd have wanted to be married to. All examples that our mainstream religions are missing the feminine half of the brain, imo.
They sure are, and as you know, it's no mistake!
Wow, Mary. You bravely took on a formidable challenge and created a companion that does the original Mary proud.
“The Journey” is one of my favorite Mary Oliver poems and one I share with people who are working up the courage to leave abusive relationships. I also included it in the following piece:
• “Letter to the Menticided: A 12-Step Recovery Program” (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/letter-to-the-menticided-a-12-step)
Thank you, MAA! I have so much respect for Mary Oliver; I'm glad you felt I did her justice.
And your "Letter to the Menticided" has been one of my all-time favorites. It's such a generous, rich compendium of sanity! I could just hug you for writing it. Wow, I'm gushing...😂
P.S. I realized yesterday that all of your substacks for the past few months have been going to SPAM -- which is a travesty, when I look at the true crap that DOES make it into my inbox.
I'd been wondering if you were okay, or had just taken a break from writing. 🤦♀️ I have a lot of catch-up reading to do!
Oh my goodness—thank you so much for letting me know about the spam! You're not the first person who's reported this to me. I have been worried that my Substack newsletters have been targeted by major email providers (Google, Yahoo, etc.) because every time I send one out lately, I get a flood of email disabled notifications, some instantaneous. Substack informed me that if the email provider marks my address as spam, the notifications are automatically disabled without the user being aware of it. I realize some may be unsubbing intentionally, but the rapidity and volume makes me suspicious. Can you confirm that your notifications are still enabled, at least? I assume so since they're showing up in your spam but just want to make sure. And hopefully, it won't happen again if you whitelist my email 🙏
I will let you know the next time you publish -- this time I'm paying attention!