And where you recline I shall recline,
For every armchair belonging to you as good as belongs to me.
~Henry N. Beard, from Leaves of Catnip
photo by akari.eiri
Turning to Uncle Walt today:
Weave in, My Hardy Life
by Walt Whitman
Weave in, weave in, my hardy life,
Weave yet a soldier strong and full for great campaigns to come,
Weave in red blood, weave sinews in like ropes, the senses, sight weave in,
Weave lasting sure, weave day and night the weft, the warp, incessant weave, tire not,
(We know not what the use O life, nor know the aim, the end, nor really aught we know,
But know the work, the need goes on and shall go on, the death-envelop’d march of peace as well as war goes on,)
For great campaigns of peace the same the wiry threads to weave,
We know not why or what, yet weave, forever weave.
***********
Plus one by Jennifer Chang:
Pastoral
by Jennifer Chang
Something in the field is
working away. Root-noise.
Twig-noise. Plant
of weak chlorophyll, no
name for it. Something
in the field has mastered
distance by living too close
read the rest here
***********
Beyond Literacy Link has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Carol!
14 comments:
Oh Uncle Walt! Don't forget to weave in a few surprises, too. Thank you, Tabatha! (btw, I don't think I've ever told you this, but I always have to check myself on the spelling of your name because I have several Tabatha/Tabithas in my life, and sometimes I get befuddled!!) xo
Yes, Uncle Walt is still a voice to be reckoned with. Keep weaving even when we don't see the way through.
Hadn't seen that Whitman poem before. Wonderful and thought provoking! When I first read "Uncle Walt," I thought you meant Disney. :D
Leaves of Catnip. I snorted!!
I do love Walt Whitman and enjoy reading the poetry which we didn't get at school. He was a man who had a wandering, wondering mind, and I really love his work.
Walt Whitman is revered here on Long Island but I never read this poem before. Thanks for the deep dive, Tabatha. Oh, by the way, if you have a winter playlist can you please send it for my winter gallery. I have a few songs but could use more. Thank you.
I'm with Tanita. I didn't get any Uncle Walt in school that I recall. And, I was a kid that would have blossomed with poetry. Thank you for sharing some today. Your cat has a great sense of humor, btw. Give him a nice hug from me.
Whitman is a perfect companion for me today - I need his expansiveness in the winter when I'm usually pulling inward. Thanks, Tabatha!
Wonderful post, as always!
Cats do have a wonderful wave to weave themselves around you, especially through your legs when you're trying to walk. :)
It's been soooo long since I've read Walt Whitman and his Leaves of Grass - I shall have to find a new edition, that hopefully, will find my sixteen year old at a time when she is ready for it. Happy New Year, Tabatha! Sending you warm and positive thoughts from across the miles.
I just read some thoughts on work/life balance and I agree with one point -- there is no such thing. Work is life, all things are woven, we should make the most beautiful pattern, and now I think we should include sounds in our pattern, sounds of tree sap flowing and leaves transpiring and roots competing or collaborating, plus the usual sounds of wind rattling the porch light and dogs barking at deer in the easement and tires whishing on the wet street.
That was a lovely one by Uncle Walt, Tabatha. Chang is a new poet to me, I shall have to read more of her work - she has a fine voice.
"Root-noise. Twig-noise." Some of my favorite sounds there for sure! Tabatha, I received your postcard, and I have to tell you, it fit my poetry heart so well! This. "fire-folk" My hope is to write a poem from this postcard soon! Thank you!!
In the tapestry of our lives, your blog is one of my favorite threads, Tabatha.
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