I would like to be the air that inhabits you...

[RetroLounge]

Variations on the Word "Sleep" - Margaret Atwood

I would like to watch you sleeping,
which may not happen.
I would like to watch you,
sleeping. I would like to sleep
with you, to enter
your sleep as its smooth dark wave
slides over my head

and walk with you through that lucent
wavering forest of bluegreen leaves
with its watery sun & three moons
towards the cave where you must descend,
towards your worst fear

I would like to give you the silver
branch, the small white flower, the one
word that will protect you
from the grief at the center
of your dream, from the grief
at the center. I would like to follow
you up the long stairway
again & become
the boat that would row you back
carefully, a flame
in two cupped hands
to where your body lies
beside me, and you enter
it as easily as breathing in

I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.

RL

[bicentennial_baby]

1. beautiful...

thank you for that :)

:hug:

[RetroLounge]

2. Hello my friend.

I'm glad you like it. I discovered this poem the other day and it has crawled into my psyche and just sits there, gorgeous and perfect.

:hi:

RL

[bicentennial_baby]

3. i can see why

and i plan on sharing it with others :)

good to see you! :loveya:

[Callalily]

4. So glad that you discovered

this poem and decided to share it with us. It truly warms my heart.

[RetroLounge]

5. It is quite nice, Isn't it.

and us fellow Wisconsinites will need to be warmed up soon!

:hi:

RL

[RevCheesehead]

6. You already permeate every pore of my being...

If you want the air, could you please bring extra oxygen with you? You're making me woozy in the knees. :loveya::loveya::loveya:

[RetroLounge]

10. Swoon...

:hug:

RL

[RevCheesehead]

11. That, too.

:* :hug: :loveya:

[In_The_Wind]

7. How very beautiful!

Thank you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Oh my dear RetroLounge.......

This is so very beautiful....thank you so much for sharing it with us.

It is a keeper.......

What a lovely and sweet guy you are....Mrs RL is a very lucky lady, IMHO......

:loveya: :hug:

[RetroLounge]

16. Peggy

Thank you for saying so. I'm glad you like the poem. I've decided my world needs more beauty in it. This poem is a start.

:hug:

RL

[swimboy]

9. A perfect thing

how wonderful

thanks!

[RetroLounge]

12. Kicking

because I want to see something beautiful on the front page...

:kick:

RL

[RevCheesehead]

13. OK - you asked for it:

[RetroLounge]

14. Sigh.

:loveya:

RL

[RevCheesehead]

15. C'mon, Alec - don't be shy..

Let's see some of that WI lovin'!

[SeattleGirl]

17. Wow, that is so beautiful, so sweet....

Thank you for sharing this. I don't even know what else to say....

[progmom]

18. really beautiful

thanks for posting this. :hug:

[RevCheesehead]

19. A "Kick" for beauty...

:*

[GoddessOfGuinness]

20. Deep thought...

"I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary."

I will ponder that when I sleep tonight.

Thanks for the lovely bedtime poem, RetroLounge! :beer:

[RetroLounge]

21. Yes, I love that line...

:hi:

RL

[Heidi]

22. Because this beautiful post has dropped to Page 2,

I'm kicking it and adding, "Exactly."

[RetroLounge]

23. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[RevCheesehead]

24. Because the world is beautiful...

something of beauty to share. :loveya:

[WCGreen]

25. And it is especailly precient to me....

My life line is connected to an Oxygen tank that I am able to keep from overwhelming me but also that is neccessary for me...

I love the way Margaret Atwood approached life, her style...

That is such a wonderful way of talking about the special connection between two people...

[In_The_Wind]

26. I agree with you Chris.

"That is such a wonderful way of talking about the special connection between two people..."

Thank you for keeping me company while you were working last night.