I would like to be the air
That inhabits you for a moment
Only. I would
like to be that unnoticed
And that necessary.
-Margaret Atwood (1939- )
Poetry is a sort of dream. And dreams have the strange power of art. Canadian poet Margaret Atwood wrote a terrific poem of Love called "Variation on the Word Sleep." It is a stunning tribute to loving presence: "to be that unnoticed/and that necessary. I have been saving this poem to share with you...
Variation on the Word Sleep
I would like to watch you sleeping,
Which may not happen.
I would like to watch you,
Sleeping…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 and 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 and 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
And that necessary.
NOTE for Nashville area
readers: Come to a special new program - Final Friday Radio Theater
will be debuting at 7 pm May 25 at Vine Street Christian Church
(directly across from St. Thomas Hospital). It will be hosted by Erie
Chapman and will include music, jokes, poetry, and the old time radio
feeling.
