I am taking you all on a trip - who's with me?
waffle.... it almost seems too much to bear. It makes me and feel helpless and angry.
You have all grown to be near and dear to my heart.
So let's show the beast who's boss and let's take this trip and enjoy ourselves in
spite of our troubles.
That's why I decided to take you to Utopia, so pack up everyone and join me!
Utopia
Island where all becomes clear.
Solid ground beneath your feet.
The only roads are those that offer access.
Bushes bend beneath the weight of proofs.
The Tree of Valid Supposition grows here
with branches disentangled since time immemorial.
The Tree of Understanding, dazzlingly straight and simple,
sprouts by the spring called Now I Get It.
The thicker the woods, the vaster the vista:
the Valley of Obviously.
If any doubts arise, the wind dispels them instantly.
Echoes stir unsummoned
and eagerly explain all the secrets of the worlds.
On the right a cave where Meaning lies.
On the left the Lake of Deep Conviction.
Truth breaks from the bottom and bobs to the surface.
Unshakable Confidence towers over the valley.
Its peak offers an excellent view of the Essence of Things.
For all its charms, the island is uninhabited,
and the faint footprints scattered on its beaches
turn without exception to the sea.
As if all you can do here is leave
and plunge, never to return, into the depths.
Into unfathomable life.
By Wislawa Szymborska
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1996
She is one of my favorite poets, my refuge on so many days. "Museum" is one of my favorite poems
of her or "Nothing Twice". I hope she gives you some pleasure and lifts your sprit.
Love you all,
Ayse
Comments
-
Ayse,
This was just
Ayse,
This was just beautiful and I, for one, really needed this right now. I too, sometimes feel helpless and angry but then I also read of those that have finished treatments, received the news of NED and who post years of being cancer free (I am nearing 11 years for uterine, 9 for bladder, and nearly 2 for breast) and I realized that there is joy and hope also. It is a roller coaster or perhaps a see saw of events. But reading these words is comforting and it is the one thing that I always take away from this board. How we contribute to the comfort of each other. We are like a big soft blankie for each other. One that we can wrap ourselves in and snuggle with until we feel better. For me it is a big blankie of hope that has been made by more loving hands than I can count, with beautiful faces that I have only seen in photos. It is stitched with love, support, care, concern, fear, hope, anger, tears, laughter, happiness and most of all life and that is something quite extraordinary, something truly beautiful. Thank you all for my blankie. I couldn't do any of this without it.
Stef0 -
Thanks fauxma for joining me!fauxma said:Ayse,
This was just
Ayse,
This was just beautiful and I, for one, really needed this right now. I too, sometimes feel helpless and angry but then I also read of those that have finished treatments, received the news of NED and who post years of being cancer free (I am nearing 11 years for uterine, 9 for bladder, and nearly 2 for breast) and I realized that there is joy and hope also. It is a roller coaster or perhaps a see saw of events. But reading these words is comforting and it is the one thing that I always take away from this board. How we contribute to the comfort of each other. We are like a big soft blankie for each other. One that we can wrap ourselves in and snuggle with until we feel better. For me it is a big blankie of hope that has been made by more loving hands than I can count, with beautiful faces that I have only seen in photos. It is stitched with love, support, care, concern, fear, hope, anger, tears, laughter, happiness and most of all life and that is something quite extraordinary, something truly beautiful. Thank you all for my blankie. I couldn't do any of this without it.
Stef
I would like to sent a special invitation to heidijez, Heidi I will save you the best seat!
Marines911 and Skipper85, please join us, you really deserver this break!
Love,
Ayse0 -
Could you recommend more translations, please?
I might just be visiting Ms. Szymborska's hometown this December and would love to read more of her poetry in preparation. Even I have to push away the history books sometime.
I would also like to reserve two seats on the bus for Moopy and me. If possible, we'd like to have one of the back seats so we can make out when everyone else is too busy talking to pay attention to us.0 -
Oh, necking in the back ofAortus said:Could you recommend more translations, please?
I might just be visiting Ms. Szymborska's hometown this December and would love to read more of her poetry in preparation. Even I have to push away the history books sometime.
I would also like to reserve two seats on the bus for Moopy and me. If possible, we'd like to have one of the back seats so we can make out when everyone else is too busy talking to pay attention to us.
Oh, necking in the back of the bus. I love it. It will be just like high school. I'll bring Den (he could use a nice trip) and RE can bring Colin and Chen can bring Reggie. We can be those scandalous kids that pushed the edge.
I would love to read more of her poetry also. This was so good.
Stef0 -
I have my bags packed, Ayse! Thanks for the invitation!!
I have often thought~ what a time I would have
If the boat to Utopia called me!
I have heard that my cares, any worries and fears
Would be left on the shore, unattended
Discarded like trash, never to be reclaimed
With days in Utopia extended
What oftentimes seems like a lifetime ago
In another safe place called Nirvana
I had Freedom from pain, and worry and cares
Time to study the flora and fauna
The thing I like best about this special sailing
Is knowing my friends travel with me
If I close my eyes I envision us all
Thank you Ayse for this grand unveiling!
Hugs,
Chen♥0 -
Im ready in the words ofchenheart said:I have my bags packed, Ayse! Thanks for the invitation!!
I have often thought~ what a time I would have
If the boat to Utopia called me!
I have heard that my cares, any worries and fears
Would be left on the shore, unattended
Discarded like trash, never to be reclaimed
With days in Utopia extended
What oftentimes seems like a lifetime ago
In another safe place called Nirvana
I had Freedom from pain, and worry and cares
Time to study the flora and fauna
The thing I like best about this special sailing
Is knowing my friends travel with me
If I close my eyes I envision us all
Thank you Ayse for this grand unveiling!
Hugs,
Chen♥
Im ready in the words of luigi "letsa goa" ............... ok my kids grew up with the Mario brothers lol0 -
I am coming
how much do i pack0 -
Beautiful words
That was beautiful and uplifting. Thank you for sharing this poem with us. We all need to hear beauty and see from time to time. It gives relief from the uncertainties.
BL0 -
Do you have room for 4 more?
Do you have room for 4 more? I'll be bringing my daughters along, but I promise there will be no whining and no "are we there yet's?" - as an added bonus my 9 yr old is quite entertaining. We so need a get away from life with cancer. I would be completely happy just sitting back with Tim & watching our girls playing without a care in their little worlds.
Thank you for sharing this with us Ayse
*hugs*
Heather0 -
words escape me. . .
my dear ayse,
thank you for so many things. . .for posting this lovely poem. . .i will have to see if i can get any of her books from the library. . . for saving me a seat on our trip to utopia . . .and for caring so much about all of us! you are a very special woman, and so glad that i know you. . .
hugs from heidi0 -
Powerful words
I was blown away by that poem. WOW... Please sign me and Andy up. We don't want to miss this trip.We can be ready in no time and I promise to bring along my sense of humor and my inner child (She's a real hoot, I am told).Thank-you for the generous invitation and an opportunity to share this experience with all of my Pink sisters.
Hugs,K0 -
I have my MayWest ready
I have let my mind journey on soft clouds moved by gental winds to guide me to Utopia to relax where time, worry, confusion, disappointments are not allowed. Only greetings from warm understand friends who's journey is the same. I regale in the invitation to journey to Utopia if only in our dreams.
Kathryn0 -
thank you both for suchScotch Freckles said:I have my MayWest ready
I have let my mind journey on soft clouds moved by gental winds to guide me to Utopia to relax where time, worry, confusion, disappointments are not allowed. Only greetings from warm understand friends who's journey is the same. I regale in the invitation to journey to Utopia if only in our dreams.
Kathryn
thank you both for such lovely poems! include me on the trip, Joe and Moopy as my kids say"get a room" LOL0 -
Where are my single ladies???fauxma said:Ayse,
This was just
Ayse,
This was just beautiful and I, for one, really needed this right now. I too, sometimes feel helpless and angry but then I also read of those that have finished treatments, received the news of NED and who post years of being cancer free (I am nearing 11 years for uterine, 9 for bladder, and nearly 2 for breast) and I realized that there is joy and hope also. It is a roller coaster or perhaps a see saw of events. But reading these words is comforting and it is the one thing that I always take away from this board. How we contribute to the comfort of each other. We are like a big soft blankie for each other. One that we can wrap ourselves in and snuggle with until we feel better. For me it is a big blankie of hope that has been made by more loving hands than I can count, with beautiful faces that I have only seen in photos. It is stitched with love, support, care, concern, fear, hope, anger, tears, laughter, happiness and most of all life and that is something quite extraordinary, something truly beautiful. Thank you all for my blankie. I couldn't do any of this without it.
Stef
I am feeling left out (ok a little jealous) with all the making out in the back!!!
Don't get me wrong it's encouraged actually. It helps contribute the positve aura.
I will bring us some summer wine and a smorgasboard of goodies to pass around.
And we can gossip about which lady has the hottest guy in the back.
So just a few tips for light and carefree traveling, leave your baggage at home
and dust off you inner child and drag her along if at first she resists! And definitely
come hungry I hear they have the best eat-whatcha-really-want cuisine ever.
Yeah, this is good turn out and I think we'll have FUN, just crazy, mind boggling,
wet myself laughing Fun!
Lets GOOOAA!!!
Ayse0 -
I am So On Board, Ayse!carkris said:thank you both for such
thank you both for such lovely poems! include me on the trip, Joe and Moopy as my kids say"get a room" LOL
I make the best chocolate cake with white chocolate icing on the planet--we'll snack on that and sip some of that summer wine! I loved the poem. Beautiful words from a beautiful girl.
Hope you are doing better than fantastic after your surgery. I'm calling you soon!
Hugs, Renee0 -
LOL I am laughing so hard!!!carkris said:thank you both for such
thank you both for such lovely poems! include me on the trip, Joe and Moopy as my kids say"get a room" LOL
LOL I am laughing so hard!!! You actually included the word BOTH? In case you meant me..I was just carried away by the thoughtfulness of Ayse, and of course, the words by an Actual Poet. My words were simply a silly afterthought...but if you thought the words were lovely~thank you very much, Kindred Spirit! I am smiling BIG! And if you didn't mean me, I am hiding in the corner with embarrassment. But this is the Internet~ no one will ever know! :-) LOL LOL LOL
Hugs,
Chen0
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