Tuesday, November 20, 2012

the wonder of suffering

Stone Keyhole (Panorama) by Peter B. Kunasz
Stone Keyhole (Panorama) by
Peter B. Kunasz


Lying in me by Anna Akhmatova

Lying in me, as though it were a white
Stone in the depths of a well, is one
Memory that I cannot, will not, fight:
It is happiness, and it is pain.
Anyone looking straight into my eyes
Could not help seeing it, and could not fail
To become thoughtful, more sad and quiet
Than if he were listening to some tragic tale.

I know the gods changed people into things,
Leaving their consciousness alive and free.
To keep alive the wonder of suffering,
You have been metamorphosed into me.



Although many of you undoubtedly already know of her, I recently discovered this Russian poet. She speaks to/through me. (And the newly-discovered photographer's work is sublime also.)

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4 comments:

Fireblossom said...

I love Anna. I found out about her when I read Kristen Hannah's "Winter Garden", which used a quote from her at the beginning.

Lydia said...

I love her now, too. Am putting Hannah's book on my to-read list. Thanks, you!

Rhiannon said...

I love this poem and want to check into Anna's writings. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Hope your Thanksgiving was nice Lydia. I always think of the Native American Indians on Thanksgiving and feel we took their land (and their souls) from them and feel a kind of "shame". So, it's not my favorite holiday.

Hope your doing well.


Love,

Rhi

Lydia said...

Rhi ~ I just read your wonderful comments again and realized I had not replied (I find that I do that more and more as my time is challenged by simply wanting to read what others wrote). I share your sentiments about Thanksgiving.

I am fine. Sure hope the same is true for you. Love your new profile pic! xo

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