The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Sun 1/1/06)

[RetroLounge]

Ode to Sadness

Sadness, scarab
with seven crippled feet,
spiderweb egg,
scramble-brained rat,
bitch's skeleton:
No entry here.
Don't come in.
Go away.
Go back
south with your umbrella,
go back
north with your serpent's teeth.
A poet lives here.
No sadness may
cross this threshold.
Through these windows
comes the breath of the world,
fresh red roses,
flags embroidered with
the victories of the people.
No.
No entry.
Flap
your bat's wings,
I will trample the feathers
that fall from your mantle,
I will sweep the bits and pieces
of your carcass to
the four corners of the wind,
I will wring your neck,
I will stitch your eyelids shut,
I will sew your shroud,
sadness, and bury your rodent bones
beneath the springtime of an apple tree.

Pablo Neruda

**************************

Since I watched the movie, Il Postino, last night, it is only proper to post a bit of Neruda. And this poem speaks to me today. Many thanks to all of you who helped me get thru a bad night last night, and for the emails, PM's and phone calls that reminded me that I am never alone and the world is full of good, loving people. This morning I am full of gratitude to be part of such a great community of souls. May sadness go away for all my friends here on DU and may it not be allowed to cross the thresholds of our homes in 2006.

Happy New years everyone!

RL

[GOPisEvil]

1. Now that poem is a hearty fuck you.

I'm glad you're doing a bit better. 2006 will be a better year - it has to be. Happy New Year.

[RetroLounge]

3. 2006 will be a better year - it has to be

Truer words were never spoken...

:hi:

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear RetroLounge......

This poem starts off so discouraged, depressed even.....

And then ends up strongly rejecting sadness!

We cannot help how we feel....but we can work to overcome those feelings, and get into a better place!

I hope that I have been able, in some small way, to help you get past those sad feelings....

As you have helped me, my dear fellow traveller!

Blessings on you, my dear Paul.....


:loveya: :hug:

[djeseru]

4. I hope you woke up feeling a little better today...

...I was silent yesterday, yes, but concerned just the same. I had the same sadness in my house last night...

I am very happy to see you today though. I like this Neruda...I'm going to keep this one too...

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

19. I did, thank you...

I hope the same for you.

:hi:

RL

[CTyankee]

5. Excellent choice

My sadness is that I lost my mother this year (April 24th, 2 days after her 94th birthday). I still sometimes think to myself "Oh, I'll have to tell Mother about that" when something happens that she'd be interested in. I have her pictures everywhere in my home as a young woman and as an older woman. She's here beside my at my computer desk in a four generation pic with me, my daughter and 2 granddaughters, all together and smiling.

I think I'm going to have to go and read that poem again now...

[khashka]

6. Good gods, dude!

You are on a total downer!

I was searching for poetry to cheer you up but decided to say this instead: You are valued. Very muchly. And very much appreciated. It might not always be apparent but you give a lot of people a lot of happiness - something I can only hope to aspire to.


If you don't cheer up, I swear I'll kiss you and then you'll be sorry! :)

Khash.

[RetroLounge]

7. Yo Khash!

Reread the poem! It is just the opposite. It is saying NO to sadness. No more. Be gone.

and I am cheered up, so kiss away, my friend...

RL

[SeattleGirl]

8. I'm glad to see you are feeling a little better

And you are right -- you are never alone, darlin' RL. :hug:

[swimboy]

9. Hello, RL

I'm glad the sun came up today. It's great to see you, pal! :loveya:

[RetroLounge]

10. Hey, good to be seen

:hi:

Couldn't miss my poem thread, even though I slept in until 11:00.

RL

[threehensandacow]

11. yeah

nice to see that you're here. there. whatever.

[Left Is Write]

12. I was thinking of you a little while ago,

wondering how you are today.

I had a dream last night that I was at a big New Year's Eve party in a mansion with hundreds of rooms and sprawling green lawns. Everyone was wearing white, and there were hundreds and hundreds of people there, wandering from room to room. In the dream, I ran across you, and you were wearing a hat and carrying a walking stick.

:shrug:

You have the dubious honor of being in my first dream of 2006.

[RetroLounge]

15. I'm honored!

Was I wearing anything welse besides the hat?

:evilgrin:

RL

[Left Is Write]

16. LOL! Yeah...

You were wearing white like everyone else.

But you looked good. ;)

[RevCheesehead]

13. Now THAT'S an attitude!!!

:loveya::hug:

[RetroLounge]

17. Yeah, lasted about 5 hours...

:D

RL

[Rising Phoenix]

14. Happy New Year!!!

Best wishes for your upcoming year!

[RetroLounge]

18. and to you!

:hi:

RL