Words of pain can spark a sense of hope
Dear Readers:
We all know that becoming an adult is not an easy journey. It's even harder today as our country struggles with some very tough problems: war, poverty, fear, dishonesty, corruption, and loss on many levels. Hope comes from within but must be nurtured in young people. Adults, wanting to reassure kids, too often deny the depth of their feelings. Often, feelings of despair need to be acknowledged, explored, and worked through before hope resurfaces.
A friend and poet, Mary Ruefle, introduced me to a pertinent book of poems targeted to young people and meaningful to all: ''I Just Hope It's Lethal: Poems of Sadness, Madness, and Joy," collected by Liz Rosenberg and her former student, Deena November (Houghton Mifflin, 2005). November writes in her introduction to the collection:
''Feeling unmotivated, trapped, unheard, and suicidal, I began to take pictures, draw, and, most passionately, to write. I found writing to be an outlet for my depression, and it has been my savior ever since. I only hope that everyone who has ever experienced days that seem like hell finds some sort of creative outlet that sparks a passion and motivation to wake up, take a shower, and live out each day.
''The poems in this book have been selected to convey the emotions, thoughts, and tribulations of poets throughout time. I wish that this book had existed when I was going through the insanity of love, aggravation, depression, and the disappointments of being misunderstood by adults and fellow teens during my teenage years."
A sampling follows:
''Do You Think I Know What I'm Doing?"
by Rumi
Translated by Coleman Barks
Do you think I know what I'm doing?
That for one breath or half-breath I belong to myself?
As much as a pen knows what it's writing,
or the ball can guess where it's going next.
''There Is A a Light Seed Grain Inside"
by Rumi
Translated by Coleman Barks
There is a light seed grain inside.
You fill it with yourself, or it dies.
I'm caught in this curling energy! Your hair!
Whoever's calm and sensible is insane!
''The Waking"
by Theodore Roethke
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow,
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
Let your confusion or sadness lead you to feel, think, reflect, question, write, create, act, and help this coming New Year. We need everyone's honest and committed participation.
Beth can be reached at askbeth@globe.com.
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