words

"Let the beauty we love be what we do." Rumi

The great book purge continues and yesterday I came across similar sentiments expressed by two poets/writers who probably never met.

"...in a time lacking in truth and certainty and filled with anguish and despair, no woman should be shamefaced in attempting to give back to the world, through her work, a portion of its lost heart."

Louise Bogan, 1897-1970
The Writer on Her Work, edited by Janet Sternburg

"In times of extreme peril, confusion and insecurity there seems to be something that we can draw on; and one face of this capacity is the belief in the power and sanity to be found in the creative work. That whatever the poem, the painting, the song appears to be saying in any literal sense, it is part of a language, a communication between ourselves and the world, and without which we as a species have not even the sense and dignity of a grasshopper."

John Haines, 1924 --
Writing in a Nuclear Age, edited by Jim Schley

I have no idea where or when I picked up either of these books...perhaps at a library book sale (the last time I donated many and brought home fewer). Both collections were published in the 1980's. Skimming them in preparation for making my decision -- stay or go -- I was stunned to see the dovetailing of these two writers. Whatever the impetus and whenever they were penned, their messages spoke to me.

When I looked up Louise Bogan's dates I discovered that today is her birthday. Hmm...
Are these synchronicities gentle wake-up calls? The decision: "The Writer on Her Work" stays. "Writing in a Nuclear Age" goes.


"Spring Giddiness" (Rumi)

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don't go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.

Don't go back to sleep...