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Repentance
Dec. 28th, 2020 12:45 pmRepentance
Haven’t the prayers of generations, then,
achieved some mercy from You, God?
Our devotion, ardor,
our lust for You—none of these considered?
God, You greatest mute!
You answer screams with riddles.
You’re no defender of the criminal,
You never say to hatred—“Out! Stop!”
Yet, sometimes rain drips like a tear.
It’s God’s confession in the world—
But I feel: God is sad-embarrassed,
for His sake, and for ours.
But our distress demands: Have mercy!
Instead of tears, give deeds;
Help, not remorse.
Let every hope be Your command,
and every shiver—an alarm.
We—God and man and dogs,
let’s repent together
or each one for the other.
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive You yours.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (translated by Morton M. Liefman)
( Yiddish )
Haven’t the prayers of generations, then,
achieved some mercy from You, God?
Our devotion, ardor,
our lust for You—none of these considered?
God, You greatest mute!
You answer screams with riddles.
You’re no defender of the criminal,
You never say to hatred—“Out! Stop!”
Yet, sometimes rain drips like a tear.
It’s God’s confession in the world—
But I feel: God is sad-embarrassed,
for His sake, and for ours.
But our distress demands: Have mercy!
Instead of tears, give deeds;
Help, not remorse.
Let every hope be Your command,
and every shiver—an alarm.
We—God and man and dogs,
let’s repent together
or each one for the other.
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive You yours.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (translated by Morton M. Liefman)
( Yiddish )(no subject)
Sep. 6th, 2020 08:39 amTheories About the Universe
I am trying to see things in perspective.
My dog wants a bite of my peanut butter
chocolate chip bagel. I know she cannot have this,
because chocolate makes dogs very sick.
Madigan does not understand this.
She pouts and wraps herself around my leg
like a scarf, trying to convince me to give her
just a tiny bit. When I do not give in,
she eventually gives up and lays in the corner
under the piano, drooping and sad.
I hope the universe has my best interest in mind
like I have my dog’s. When I want something
with my whole being, and the universe withholds it
from me, I hope the universe thinks to herself,
Silly girl. She thinks this is what she wants,
but she does not understand how it will hurt.
— Blythe Baird
I am trying to see things in perspective.
My dog wants a bite of my peanut butter
chocolate chip bagel. I know she cannot have this,
because chocolate makes dogs very sick.
Madigan does not understand this.
She pouts and wraps herself around my leg
like a scarf, trying to convince me to give her
just a tiny bit. When I do not give in,
she eventually gives up and lays in the corner
under the piano, drooping and sad.
I hope the universe has my best interest in mind
like I have my dog’s. When I want something
with my whole being, and the universe withholds it
from me, I hope the universe thinks to herself,
Silly girl. She thinks this is what she wants,
but she does not understand how it will hurt.
— Blythe Baird
(no subject)
Sep. 19th, 2011 11:45 pmI am reminded, through conversation with lovely ![[personal profile]](https://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
regyt, that I do in fact love certain poetry, and that certain poetry is, for me, best exemplified by Pablo Neruda.
Originally posted on Dreamwidth. Number of comments so far:
regyt, that I do in fact love certain poetry, and that certain poetry is, for me, best exemplified by Pablo Neruda.Lost in the Forest Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips: maybe it was the voice of the rain crying, a cracked bell, or a torn heart. Something from far off it seemed deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth, a shout muffled by huge autumns, by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves. Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance climbed up through my conscious mind as if suddenly the roots I had left behind cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood--- and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent.Very much also. Also yes this. And of course, the first one I fell in love with.
Originally posted on Dreamwidth. Number of comments so far:
(no subject)
Jul. 4th, 2008 11:46 pmI am not an Independence Day kind of gal. It's always been pollutive noisebombs that prevent sleep; it's never been particularly significant for me.
So, linkage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finlandia_Hymn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Colossus
http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/america.html - to listen to the author speaking it with Tom Waits in the background, go here.
So, linkage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finlandia_Hymn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Colossus
http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/america.html - to listen to the author speaking it with Tom Waits in the background, go here.
(no subject)
Jun. 16th, 2008 07:54 pmThis poem has been posted in the ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
greatpoets twice in my recent memory (so this year, I think), and both times it catches at me, and neither time do I know why.
A large part of my dislike for poetry is this dislike for non-plain speaking. A lot of literature strikes me this way as well, so it's hardly reserved for poetry. But this... is just right, and I can't put my finger on why that is.
Oh well. *♥s it regardless*
greatpoets twice in my recent memory (so this year, I think), and both times it catches at me, and neither time do I know why.A large part of my dislike for poetry is this dislike for non-plain speaking. A lot of literature strikes me this way as well, so it's hardly reserved for poetry. But this... is just right, and I can't put my finger on why that is.
Oh well. *♥s it regardless*
It is a melancholy day.
Oct. 12th, 2007 08:58 amI am not a big poetry fan, but I think I would consume Pablo Neruda, were it socially appropriate to do so.
If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda
Also, Google's logo today says that it's Luciano Pavarotti's birthday.
If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda
Also, Google's logo today says that it's Luciano Pavarotti's birthday.
(no subject)
Jun. 26th, 2007 03:41 pmOne should not read poems while at work.
* "Phone Call" - Tony Hoagland
* "Long Distance II" - Tony Harrison
Hard to read for those who've lost a mother.
* "I Have News For You" - Tony Hoagland
My new favourite poem ever.
* "People" - Yevgeny Yevtushenko
* "Fata Morgana" - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
* "You Fit Into Me" - Margaret Atwood
* "To Have Without Holding" - Marge Piercy
* "Conversation" - Elizabeth Bishop
* "Phone Call" - Tony Hoagland
* "Long Distance II" - Tony Harrison
Hard to read for those who've lost a mother.
* "I Have News For You" - Tony Hoagland
My new favourite poem ever.
* "People" - Yevgeny Yevtushenko
* "Fata Morgana" - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
* "You Fit Into Me" - Margaret Atwood
* "To Have Without Holding" - Marge Piercy
* "Conversation" - Elizabeth Bishop
Today's little pile of awesome.
May. 7th, 2007 11:29 am* Poem about My Rights by June Jordan. Once I got past the formatting (I am restricted in my brain by preferring rhyme schemes and such), I found I adored the poem.
* If you read nothing else today, read about what happens when we switch from active to passive voice. From comments, tigtog says:
If it makes no sense to make objections that reports that "a man robbed a bank" are accusations that all men are potential robbers, then it simply doesn't logically make sense to make an objection that "a man attacked a woman" is an accusation against all men: it's such a simple and irrefutable example of the double standard.
* "It's not the empty street that causes rape." Goddamn, today is awesome for linkage.
Originally posted at Xtinian Thoughts. Comment here or there.
