There's an interesting phenom I've noticed of late. Folks are either ditching their blogs entirely or ditching them for a season. There's guilt about this, from the readers and the writers...I haven't blogged enough, I've blogged too much, I can't keep on keeping on. Even I took almost a week off.
While at first I had real issues with this (I'm addicted to reading y'alls blogs), I think I've come at least ALMOST full circle. And these are a few of my thoughts:
Posts are like letters. And Lord knows we don't write enough of those. They should be a delight to the writer and the reader.
(and yes, if you read me via Bloglines, I did just pull a post I wrote this morning.)
I'm feeling a little too vulnerable right now. Which is okay. I think part of our collective problem is that we are too quick to brush off--How are you? I'm fine.
Well, I'm not fine, and neither are a bunch of folks in Blacksburg, VA, though their problems and mine are not the same at all, they share one component: they are human problems. Problems with this broken, shattered, falling apart world.
So, as it is after all National Poetry Month, I leave you with these:
Gerard Manley Hopkins: Spring and Fall: to a young child; God's Grandeur; Carrion Comfort.
Elizabeth Bishop: One Art.
Oh, and Happy National Library Week.
It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there. (William Carlos Williams)
2 years ago
11 comments:
i know that there are many wonderful bloggers who don't fit this scenario, but i think some people think that just because they start a blog they should have 100 readers instantly and don't want to do the work of cultivating the relationships that come from reading other's words and interacting with their writing too by leaving comments and getting to know other bloggers. just my 2 cents...
An awful tragedy in Blacksburg, I just heard about an hour ago.
I just can't imagine.
I hope you're feeling better soon SL.
I like blogging and I like your blog, so if you post I'll read.
And maybe sometimes comment.
Ok? :-)
bobbie--that's quite a soap box. I don't want 100 readers--I'd be happy with fifteen. Which I probably have.
Paula--I have friends who got married in Blacksburg and live here. I was on the phone for some time with my friend, just sharing the load of the pain with her...her words were "God was not surprised at this evil act."
Here in da Burgh, it is still windy, windy, windy.
Thanks SP! And I'll try to be a little less jealous that you live in Hawaii...
Just happened across your blog. Love the poetry links. I'll stop by again.
I'm sorry that you're "not fine."
Most of the time, when I am not fine, I find comfort from the poetry (and wisdom) of the Bible. But, since I do not know you yet and do not want to seem audacious, I send you another poem from Tolkein:
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
JRR Tolkien
what I love about blogging (both the reading and the writing) is that it continually reminds me that we are all broken, but that we all help each other mend.
And Blacksburg, oh how my heart breaks.
People should not be fine. My hair is fine (and really quite a mess!) I hope that you take comfort in the fact that while you may not be "fine" you are loved.
I like to say "taking a blogging break". I just finished a two week "vacation" from mine and am feeling very refreshed by it. Stop by when you can - I've written a little about Briar Rose.
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