Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Wednesday's Poetic Journey


I heard on Friday that a friend had lost her long battle with cancer. She lived just a mile from me on the most wonderful ranch with her husband Ed. She taught yoga in her second story studio overlooking the ponds and the mountains. After much traveling in search of new treatments she came home. She has been able to enjoy her life for far longer than the original estimate so I am sure she saw every new day as a gift.

My weekend was crowded with busy stuff and until now I really have not had time to sit and contemplate or life and death. So today when Poem Hunter sent me John Keats last sonnet I saw it as a wonderful gift for me and Rebecca.

His Last Sonnet

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art! -
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night,
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like Nature's patient sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors -
No -yet still steadfast, still unchangeable,
Pillowed upon my fair love's ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever -or else swoon to death.

John Keats

More poems from John Keats

My So-Called Life


Catfish Tales

Under the Cabbages


Catherine SweetPotatoe

Rural Diva at Rurals Shore Life

NicholasV on Intelliblog

Liana's World

5 comments:

  1. Such a tender poem. It touches the heart.

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  2. Friends are very precious so it's always sad to lose one.

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  3. Losing a friend is always sad beyond description. My condolences to you hoping that you will find a way to celebrate her life as time goes on.

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  4. A beautiful sonnet, and a wonderful tribute to a friend. May you be well and remember Rebecca, Jacqui. I am sure that her life was full and she enjoyed living it. When death knocks on our door and we have the luxury of not admitting him for a while, we make the most of the time that is left to us...

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  5. I am so, so sorry that I didn't get to this post earlier. Jacqui I am sorry to learn that you have lost another friend to cancer. Yes the sonnet is a gift. Treasure the memories.

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I appreciate all kind comments on my art and poetry.