Monday, December 20, 2010

what we do when we're alone

November, 2010

You know her novels, but do you know her poetry?
It’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

24 comments:

  1. This feels very much like me today.

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  2. alexandria, Thank you.

    Tracy, 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.

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  3. 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.

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  4. kate, 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.

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  5. mmm, like this. "talking to myself outloud" ... yep.

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  6. I know and adore her novels but no, as guessed, am not familiar with her poetry. It doesn't disappoint.

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  7. Lovely. I find such tiny, unscheduled feasts to be the best.

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  8. no... i did not know her poems. thank you for the intro

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  9. I clicked to the link and read the whole poem. I loved it.
    Thanks Denise.

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  10. I didn't.... So perfect. Thank you.

    xoox,
    -maria

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  11. that is a wonderful poem....i wish i could write like her....

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  12. Oh, I know her novels well! And I've read her short stories, but not her poetry - thank you!

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  13. I am liking it more upon rereading it. The imagery and sentiments are great.

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  14. i really adore her poetry, but haven't read it in forever. thanks for reminding me!

    xo Alison

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  15. 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.

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  16. Thank you for the introduction to a for me new writer. Loved the lines you shared.

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  17. Thanks 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:

    Yellow

    There is the heaven we enter
    through institutional grace
    and there are the yellow finches bathing and singing
    in the lowly puddle.

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  18. I had not read M Atwood's poetry--until this moment.
    Thank 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.

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  19. I love Margaret Atwood's poetry. Thank you for reminding me.

    That yarn . . . it looks like . . . could it be?

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  20. Thanks for sharing this. I need to read more of her.

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  21. Utterly 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....

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