Jeanne Melchior on wed 9 sep 98
I have been following the whining thread with some interest, as I too, have
great occasion to whine, and even rage at fate. There are times when I
think it's important to whine and howl and get it out. Most of my
occasions to whine involve lonliness and overwhelming responsibility. I
have found the poetry cure to be very effective. When I read the words of
one of my personal favorites, Gerard Manley Hopkins about his own battle
with fate, calling himself..."time's eunuch who makes not one work that
wakes..." I can really pray with him to the lord of life to "...send my
roots rain." Thomas Hardy's "Darkling Thrush" is another---"So little
cause for caroling, of such ecstatic sound, was written on terrestrial
things, afar or nigh around, that I could think, there trembled through,
his happy goodnight air, some blessed hope whereof he knew, and I was
unaware." When things get too bad, I go to Job, the old patriarch to whom
god speaks out of the whirlwind, and every time I read the O.T.passage
where God reminds Job---"where were you when I created the stars--how can
you possibly have understanding---" I feel humbled and things fall back
into perspective. I wish some of you whiners lived near here--I'd fix
dinner for you and we could sit outside at dusk and listen to the screech
owls and and coyotes, and yowl and howl and rage and mourn and do a lot of
good natured whining, and get emptied to be able to go back to work. But
this must do. Check out your favorite poets--most of them probably have
whining days too. We're all connected in spirit. Sincerely, jeanne
melchior jmelchior@indian.vinu.edu
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