Poetry Friday: The Thing Is | Ellen Bass

DenaSeptember 23, 2011

 

evolutionyou.net | poetry friday

The Thing Is | Ellen Bass

to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.

Comments (4)

  • Stephanie

    September 23, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    BEAUTIFUL poem, Dena! I love it and I stole it so I can reread it often 🙂

    1. Dena

      September 23, 2011 at 5:25 pm

      oh, SO glad that you like it, stephanie. it is my all-time favourite… has carried me through many dark hours.

      have a gorgeous weekend, love. xo

  • Susu Paris Chic

    September 24, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Raw, true, real… life! Having the courage to face it. To live it. Without the shield of an eating disorder or addiction or depression… One day at a time I advance. I’m new to your blog but will surely pop in again.

    1. Dena

      September 24, 2011 at 1:39 pm

      thank you so much for the comment & for sharing a bit of your own journey. you are wonderful. <3

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