while I make myself legible to the world
my body, who has only one owner
is learning to rebel
someone holds the book, another gets to ask
the question and I learn to answer
without making things up
I am not a child, haven't been one for years
you teach me my past tense, I learn how
to bear being human
________________________
Pic: Today's sunset along the Red Cedar. Late afternoon walk with Big A.
15 comments:
These are indeed thoughtful. And that third especially resonates with me.
Yes, we are all learning these things all the time.
Oooh this is very thought-provoking, Maya. xo
Nice.
I love the verb choices in this poem. They seem, on first read, to be simple: make, holds, gets, learn, teach, etc. Each one, however, is actually more profound than it seems. They are fundamental actions that are the building blocks of a Life. Each one leads skillfully to the last clause of the poem, which is the power of it: I learn how/ to bear being human.
The poignancy and plaintiveness of that simple infinitive "to bear" makes the entire poem bigger and more emotional.
This is so touching, maya. It's like a modern psalm, so resonant.
So beautiful. How much we learn to bear the unbearable.
Gorgeous, Maya!! Bearing the unbearable… something too many have had advanced lessons in.
Thank you, Nance <3
Thank you, J. Yes, sharing one's self with the world... even in a safe place among loved ones... or because you're sharing with loved ones and have to manage their feelings too. And our slower bodies. I was struck by how resale cars and boats and houses list how many owners--we have only one... lol. (Have to laugh at ourselves sometimes.)
<3 It is a tough time, but we are tougher, Jeanie.
Sadly.
Thanks, Nicole! XO
Thanks!
And how we get used to it...
I really wish people could take each other's burdens for a while so the other person could take a break...
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