The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poetry Break, 1/19/08

[BlueIris]

"The Man with Night Sweats"

I wake up cold, I who
Prospered through dreams of heat
Wake to their residue,
Sweat, and a clinging sheet.

My flesh was its own shield:
Where it was gashed, it healed.

I grew as I explored
The body I could trust
Even while I adored
The risk that made robust,

A world of wonders in
Each challenge to the skin.

I cannot but be sorry
The given shield was cracked,
My mind reduced to hurry,
My flesh reduced and wrecked.

I have to change the bed,
But catch myself instead

Stopped upright where I am
Hugging my body to me
As if to shield it from
The pains that will go through me,

As if hands were enough
To hold an avalanche off.

—Thom Gunn

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. yep.

:kick:

[BlueIris]

2. Quick Wiki link on Thom Gunn:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Gunn

[RetroLounge]

3. Thank you for Thom Gunn

:hi:

RL

[BlueIris]

4. Sure thing!

Me likey the Thom Gunn.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear BlueIris!

Nice!

Every time I read it, I get something more, and different, from the last time I read it...

Me like Thom Gunn too!

Thank you...

:hug:

[BlueIris]

6. Thanks, C-Peg!