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Still Here
By gartenfische | May 15, 2008
You may have noticed I’ve been taking a temporary (probably) sabbatical from blogging. There are several reasons for this: I was in the midst of a poetry workshop and spending much of my free time reading and writing poetry; plus, nothing was itching to crawl out of me and into cyberspace; and, as I wrote before, I have needed to find balance between writing/reading blogs and the rest of life (I think I’m finding it).
So. The poetry workshop has ended. I’m thinking of dedicating myself seriously to poetry and if I do, this will be a long and demanding journey. Satisfying, too, of course, but the work involved is serious. I am not aiming high, but would like to work toward becoming an artist whose medium is poetry. That is different than what I’ve always done, which is write poetry for fun (nothing wrong with that, but there are two paths here and I’m in the midst of deciding which one to take—anybody hear echoes of Robert Frost?!). I mean, what else am I going to do with my life? For me, writing has always been my true vocation. Poetry may be where I am meant to aim my efforts for now. I believe that if this idea pleases God, I will find validation one way or another in my choice. So we’ll see. . . .
Early Saturday morning we leave for here. We’ll be gone almost a week and look forward to immersing ourselves in beauty. Three adults and a dog in the car, plus all our stuff—yippee!
And just for fun:
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:34 am
So nice to read what is going on for you! Your dedication is apparent as you discern where God is leading you. I love this commitment. I wish I had it, but maybe that’s not what God wants me to do, but then I don’t know what God wants me to do. . . .
Have fun on your trip. Sounds wonderful!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Wow, that trip sounds lovely–have a lot of fun and bring pictures!
Yeah, poetry is back-breaking business … but with your dedication and beautiful soul, I’m convinced you can do it.
May 15th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I don’t know, Jan, I usually feel very wishy washy. Maybe having this small bit of determination means something! I don’t know what God wants me to do, either!
Charlotte, Thanks so much for expressing your confidence in me! It means a lot. I think I have an ordinary boring soul, but I love it that you think it’s beautiful! How lovely you are. I hope you’re feeling well.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I think you have the soul of a poet!
May 15th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I have hardly been on the blogs at all, but I was soooo glad to see this.
Your vacation looks like it will be amazing.
As for your time to blog or not - you know in your heart what you need to do. Just know that whenever you post, I will be here.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Yogamum, What a lovely thing to say!!! Thank you.
Fran, Thank you so much for being here. What a blessing you are!
Lots of love to all of you!
May 15th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, dear gartenfische. & for the poem too.
all the best, whichever road you take.
whatever your next step will be.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:27 am
keep writing, GF! and I used to be a poet…well, l guess one never stops being a poet….the last time I was inspired to write poetry was right before I left for India in December, I woke up with it in my head, already written….
I’ve shut down both my blogs….just woke up one morning and said “I’m done.” I might keep writing on LYJ, then again, maybe not….
peace to you,
linda
May 16th, 2008 at 9:32 am
P.S. your trip looks great! and I will leave you with a poem:
BUGS IN A BOWL
Han-Shan, a crazy wonder-filled Chinese from 1000 years ago:
we’re just like bugs in a bowl,
all day going around never leaving their bowl.
I say: that’s right! every day climbing up
the steep sides, sliding back.
over and over again, around and around,
up and back down.
sit in the bottom of the bowl, head in your hands,
cry, moan, feel sorry for your self.
Or, look around. see your fellow bugs,
walk around.
say, hey, how you doin’?
say, nice bowl!
peace out, GF!
May 16th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Ovidia, thanks so much, my friend. Maybe I’ll share a poem or two with you once I’ve got something further along (but not on my blog!).
Linda, wow, I hope you check in every once in a while so we can stay in contact. I’ve really enjoyed your energy, your spirit, and of course, your comments. I’ll miss your blogs.
That’s so beautiful that you woke with the poem written. That’s never happened for me, really, but I get lines.
Love the Chinese poem!
Peace to you, my sister and friend.
May 24th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Good to see you still at it. I have had little energy lately and have been out on the road but always love to see and read what you are doing. I look forward to seeing your poetry posted.