There is so much here. Aside from the beautiful poem, your words about polishing our individual needs and how the American self-help industry exploits us into believing in individual "cures" for our deepest longings, strikes a chord. I just finished "Heartbreak" by Florence Williams, a brilliant writing about the physical and psychic effects of trauma, in her case, divorce. She talks about that very thing - the people who recover best are those who connect to the world via feelings of awe and being ok with not knowing.
Mar 20, 2022·edited Mar 20, 2022Liked by Devin Kelly
Your work remains essential. Everything here pierces, moves, and compels me. As Rilke wrote : “You see, I want a lot. Maybe I want it all: the darkness of each endless fall, the shimmering light of each ascent.”
Such a beautiful poem, and meditation on the imaginary, on light, on tending. This line: "A society where trying is the norm, and suffering is the result." Yes. That feeling though of continuing to be so gobsmacked by the world that love is the only word you can feel alongside the weight of all that we try to carry. Thanks for this.
There is so much here. Aside from the beautiful poem, your words about polishing our individual needs and how the American self-help industry exploits us into believing in individual "cures" for our deepest longings, strikes a chord. I just finished "Heartbreak" by Florence Williams, a brilliant writing about the physical and psychic effects of trauma, in her case, divorce. She talks about that very thing - the people who recover best are those who connect to the world via feelings of awe and being ok with not knowing.
Thanks so much, Leanne! Will add that book to my list -- it sounds lovely.
Your work remains essential. Everything here pierces, moves, and compels me. As Rilke wrote : “You see, I want a lot. Maybe I want it all: the darkness of each endless fall, the shimmering light of each ascent.”
Thank you, Troy! Rilke always said it better than anyone
Such a beautiful poem, and meditation on the imaginary, on light, on tending. This line: "A society where trying is the norm, and suffering is the result." Yes. That feeling though of continuing to be so gobsmacked by the world that love is the only word you can feel alongside the weight of all that we try to carry. Thanks for this.