November, 2010It’s necessary to reserve a secret vice.
This is what comes from forgetting to eat
at the stated mealtimes. You simmer them carefully,
drain, add cream and pepper,
and amble up and down the stairs,
scooping them up with your fingers right out of the bowl,
talking to yourself out loud.
You’d be surprised if you got an answer,
but that part will come later.
- excerpt from Margaret Atwood's In the Secular Night
Oh so, so wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis feels very much like me today.
ReplyDeletealexandria, Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTracy, Me too. I just changed the photograph on this post. I don't think I've ever done that before. It's 2:10pm and I haven't had coffee yet. I'm out of sorts.
As a Canadian who went through English 11 and 12 - both had a very strong focus on Canadian Lit - I am familiar with her poetry. Haven't read it in a long time, though.
ReplyDeletekate, If you'd like to read a poem of hers from 1995, just follow the link "In the Secular Night" at the bottom of the post.
ReplyDeletemmm, like this. "talking to myself outloud" ... yep.
ReplyDeleteI know and adore her novels but no, as guessed, am not familiar with her poetry. It doesn't disappoint.
ReplyDeleteLovely. I find such tiny, unscheduled feasts to be the best.
ReplyDeleteno... i did not know her poems. thank you for the intro
ReplyDeleteI clicked to the link and read the whole poem. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise.
I didn't.... So perfect. Thank you.
ReplyDeletexoox,
-maria
that is a wonderful poem....i wish i could write like her....
ReplyDeleteOh, I know her novels well! And I've read her short stories, but not her poetry - thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am liking it more upon rereading it. The imagery and sentiments are great.
ReplyDeletei really adore her poetry, but haven't read it in forever. thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeletexo Alison
I love Atwood's poetry - I still remember the moment when I was taking my AP English exam and saw "Siren Song" as one of the essay topics. It's one of my favorite poems.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the introduction to a for me new writer. Loved the lines you shared.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, everyone. Sometimes poetry is a nice change of pace. I just recently began Mary Oliver's book of poetry titled Evidence. Her first poem in the book is perfect:
ReplyDeleteYellow
There is the heaven we enter
through institutional grace
and there are the yellow finches bathing and singing
in the lowly puddle.
I had not read M Atwood's poetry--until this moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you Denise. I followed the link to read it in its entirety. A marvel, from simmered lima beans to world's continuous grind, this poem.
oh... i love it!
ReplyDeleteI love Margaret Atwood's poetry. Thank you for reminding me.
ReplyDeleteThat yarn . . . it looks like . . . could it be?
Thanks for sharing this. I need to read more of her.
ReplyDeleteShe is such a wordsmith.
ReplyDeleteUtterly lovely! This has given me an overwhelming urge to make something with cream + pepper and wander the house talking to myself all the while scooping it up with my fingers and eating it....
ReplyDelete