A poem to center me/you
I cannot find my center. Or so I have been told. I scheduled a session with a chi running instructor so that I could learn to “run without pain”—as the chi running book suggests I can. Chi running is based on the principles of Tai Chi. My “coach” came over yesterday, and we walked down to the Arboretum for our session. He said, “I see by your website that you do not feel centered.” I said, “How did you get that from my website?” He said, “Some story you wrote about not finding home.” Of course, once he said this, I obsessed that my website makes me appear not centered.
In the midst of my uncentered life, I happened to listen to a podcast about Elizabeth Bishop, the poet. Her long time friend, Lloyd Schwartz has put together a new book about her, and that book includes a poem he transcribed from one of her notebooks before she died. I was a bit stunned to learn that she never knew he copied the poem; and now—it is there for all to see. Of course, I wondered about the ethics of his choice until I heard the poem. It is so good. Here it is. For a moment, it centered me. I hope it does the same for you.
“Breakfast Song”
By Elizabeth Bishop
“My love, my saving grace,
your eyes are awfully blue.
I kiss your funny face,
your coffee-flavored mouth.
Last night I slept with you.
Today I love you so
how can I bear to go
(as soon I must, I know)
to bed with ugly death
in that cold, filthy place,
to sleep there without you,
without the easy breath
and nightlong, limblong warmth
I’ve grown accustomed to?
—Nobody wants to die;
tell me it is a lie!
But no, I know it’s true.
It’s just the common case;
there’s nothing one can do.
My love, my saving grace,
your eyes are awfully blue
early and instant blue.”
Comments
Actually, I think the coach was talking about the my story section of the website—which is nonfiction. Mostly, I was amused at his interpretation. Your interpretation is much more to my liking :-)
Jan Jun 4, 07:27 pm
Who’s defensive? Not me. ;)
Anita Jun 5, 11:06 am
I would go further and question what “being centered” even means. Does it mean to be settled? Stable? Focused? Purpose-driven? Being happy seems more important than any of those things.
Nora Brown Jun 18, 01:38 pm
Commenting is closed for this article.
I question the importance and validity of the artist ever feeling centered. Centered seems to represent settled, to me, and how can one remain curious if one is centered? In this unsettled world, is it so important to be centered? I wonder. Balance relies on control of the gravitational pull. The universe continues to roll and rock with the changing of the tides. Shouldn’t its inhabitants be doing the same? I wonder.
Besides, wasn’t it a story your coach read, not your story?
Anita Jun 3, 01:18 am