Click on the photo to enlarge it, and you may have to enlarge your screen even further after that. Or just read the text below:
My Own Heart let me more have Pity on
My own heart let me more have pity on; let
Me live to my sad self hereafter kind,
Charitable; not live this tormented mind
With this tormented mind tormenting yet.
I cast for comfort I can no more get
By groping round my comfortless, than blind
Eyes in their dark can day or thirst can find
Thirst's all-in-all in all a world of wet.
Soul, self; come, poor Jackself, I do advise
You, jaded, let be; call off thoughts awhile
Elsewhere; leave comfort root-room; let joy size
At God knows when to God knows what; whose smile
's not wrung, see you; unforeseen times rather - as skies
Betweenpie mountains - lights a lovely mile.
Amy has today's roundup at The Poem Farm.
6 comments:
What a thoughtful daughter you have, Ruth. It's beautiful, took me a few reads to really "hear" what he was saying, but worth the time to ponder it. Love the "leave comfort root-room". It's soul-searching, isn't it? Thank you!
Oh, and even when your daughter is away, she texts you poetry. So beautiful. Making me think of that "perfect love" you have written about. I wish you soon-equilibrium and the gifts that will come from not having had it too. Thank you for sharing these words today - Happy Poetry Friday. xo
Thanks for sharing! More than the poem itself (which, for me, demands multiple readings), I love that your daughter texted you that poem; that poetry connects the two of you. What a gift to each other! ...Hope the words of the poem minister to you. Think that's what your daughter was hoping, too? God bless you! (Feeling trapped inside a whale, myself, I needed the lighter message of "The Belly of a Whale." Hope that one brings a smile to your face, too!) God bless you!
Oh, a million million thanks for the perfect poem at the perfect time! My self had this same conversation with my Self yesterday, and I came to the exact same conclusion (but less poetically): "let joy size/At God knows when to God knows what." For me, it was more like, "Have a lovely breakfast of fresh pear with smoked swiss on crackers, and then BE HAPPY even if you are in 'The Belly of the Whale.' "
Just like everyone said: beautiful, perfect. This is a great call for faith.
This is an amazing poem. I have a family member who is struggling with anxiety right now. I want to whisper this poem into their ear.
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