This Reminds Me Of You

[Cockaigne]

Sorry to but into your conversation, but...

Noor

"Failing and Flying" by Jack Gilbert

Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew.
It’s the same when love comes to an end,
or the marriage fails and people say
they knew it was a mistake, that everybody
said it would never work. That she was
old enough to know better. But anything
worth doing is worth doing badly.
Like being there by that summer ocean
on the other side of the island while
love was fading out of her, the stars
burning so extravagantly those nights that
anyone could tell you they would never last.
Every morning she was asleep in my bed
like a visitation, the gentleness in her
like antelope standing in the dawn mist.
Each afternoon I watched her coming back
through the hot stony field after swimming,
the sea light behind her and the huge sky
on the other side of that. Listened to her
while we ate lunch. How can they say
the marriage failed? Like the people who
came back from Provence (when it was Provence)
and said it was pretty but the food was greasy.
I believe Icarus was not failing as he fell,
but just coming to the end of his triumph.

This is, to me, profoundly bittersweet and beautiful. Reading it, I am actually shivering, choked up and fighting back tears.

 

[Learnsmith]

This is, to me, profoundly bittersweet and beautiful. Reading it, I am actually shivering, choked up and fighting back tears.

Jack Gilbert is my poet man-crush. I've read his Collected Poems a half-dozen times by now.

 

[bluebell]

i heart this thread so hard

That warms my heart! I don't think many people read it, so it's nice to know a few like it.

Sweep needs one!

Whut?

You nailed that one!

He. So. Did.

I had a feeling it was on the ballpark.

100% snot on.

 

[bluebell]

Canky

 

[bluebell]

Zumi

 

[bluebell]

NN

 

[unregistered]

 

[bluebell]

Rob. I don't know why, it's just a little goofy and makes me smile.

 

[Not Normal]

Bluebell - I cannot stop laughing at the last few.

I'm asking her right now what she typed into Google to get Canky and Zumi's reminders.

 

[bluebell]

Bluebell - I cannot stop laughing at the last few.

They're pretty funny!

 

[bluebell]

Johnny

 

[Not Normal]

Bluey:

 

[bluebell]

Laurel

 

[bluebell]

NN: Chocolate!!!!! Yum. *grows rounder*

 

[bluebell]

Lori

 

[Not Normal]

Wings

 

[bluebell]

GoFuckYourself.
The brains behind the wheel!

 

[jomar]

Whut?

Glad your back on point, but really? sweepthefloor, nurse janey, The Hospital Pervs! If you ain't read it read it! Should be a sticky!

 

[bluebell]

Jennifer

 

[bluebell]

Glad your back on point, but really? sweepthefloor, nurse janey, The Hospital Pervs! If you ain't read it read it! Should be a sticky!

I have not read it. I have so few brain cells by the time I get home from work that all I can do is read and giggle at short sentences by snarky people.
I am a bad Litster.

 

[jomar]

I have not read it. I have so few brain cells by the time I get home from work that all I can do is read and giggle at short sentences by snarky people.
I am a bad Litster.

Nah, you are a lit gift, a glowing star.

I get the short term tiredness tilt.

I will make an effort to snark on your behalf.

 

[bluebell]

Fata

 

[BonBon1976]

Love this thread ...

subscribed and about to contribute

BB

 

[bluebell]

Brollyanna

 

[BonBon1976]