Voodoo
There’s a game I play once a week called Universal Charity Shop Roulette. I generally leave the house feeling out of shape, discombobulated, and I walk to the shop and buy a paper, tobacco – whatever it is a need – and then as I walk home I pass the magical charity shop and find myself pulled in. Standing in front of the bookshelves, filled with books standing three rows deep, I ask the universe to give me what I need, and without fail the books I need to read will be there. It’s uncanny how this works every time I do it. Today I found Essays in Love by Alain de Botton, Eclipse by John Banville, Instances of the Number 3 by Salley Vickers and The Fahrenheit Twins by Michel Faber; I sense there is something in each of these books I must absorb, especially the first one. I will miss this shop when I leave here… there’s definitely some freaky kind of voodoo going on in there.
Thank you for the kindness and support you have shown me during the last few days. It’s helped being able to pop over to this blog to see who’s said hello. Today’s poem for Poetry Thursday is by Sharon Olds, and I dedicate it to R.
Ecstasy
As we made love for the third day,
cloudy and dark, as we did not stop
but went into it and into it and
did not hesitate and did not hold back we
rose through the air, until we were up above
timber line. The lake lay
icy and silver, the surface shirred,
reflecting nothing. The black rocks
lifted around it into the grainy
sepia air, the patches of snow
brilliant white, and even though we
did not know where we were, we could not
speak the language, we could hardly see, we
did not stop, rising with the black
rocks to the black hills, the black
mountains rising from the hills. Resting
on the crest of the mountains, one huge
cloud with scalloped edges of blazing
evening light, we did not turn back,
we stayed with it, even though we were
far beyond what we knew, we rose
into the grain of the cloud, even though we were
frightened, the air hollow, even though
nothing grew there, even though it is a
place from which no one has ever come back.
~Sharon Olds, The Dead and the Living
Beautiful poem but I think I need to read the ‘Essays in Love’ most of all. Thank you.
x x x x x
Beautiful poem but I think I need to read the ‘Essays in Love’ most of all. Thank you.
x x x x x
New books are the best! And Sharon Olds is wonderful :)
New books are the best! And Sharon Olds is wonderful :)
I love your game with the magical charity shop … the universe truly does give us what we need when we take the time to ask :)
Essays in Love looks wonderful and I will definitely be picking that one up … and Sharon Olds is so very lovely …
I love your game with the magical charity shop … the universe truly does give us what we need when we take the time to ask :)
Essays in Love looks wonderful and I will definitely be picking that one up … and Sharon Olds is so very lovely …
susannah…does it surprise you that i have my own version of magical charity shoppe? i love that you have a little ritual that can ease your heart a little when it needs…and since it’s a bit uncanny in that certain voodoo way, don’t worry about leaving it – it’s just the universe’s way of telling you that you are part of it, and london is part of the universe too.
and the poem…rarrrrck. (yes, undefinable noise there). you know how i love sharon olds (i think; well i do)and as i let myself be rocked up each level of the poem i just found myself aching more and more with the beauty of it. here’s to you, and here’s to r.
susannah…does it surprise you that i have my own version of magical charity shoppe? i love that you have a little ritual that can ease your heart a little when it needs…and since it’s a bit uncanny in that certain voodoo way, don’t worry about leaving it – it’s just the universe’s way of telling you that you are part of it, and london is part of the universe too.
and the poem…rarrrrck. (yes, undefinable noise there). you know how i love sharon olds (i think; well i do)and as i let myself be rocked up each level of the poem i just found myself aching more and more with the beauty of it. here’s to you, and here’s to r.
This poem gave me chills: just beautiful. I’m glad you keep finding books that speak to you when there’s something you need to hear. I sometimes find that happens amidst my own collection of books, many of them unread. When I need a certain message, I pick up a book waiting patiently for its turn and voila!
This poem gave me chills: just beautiful. I’m glad you keep finding books that speak to you when there’s something you need to hear. I sometimes find that happens amidst my own collection of books, many of them unread. When I need a certain message, I pick up a book waiting patiently for its turn and voila!
I’ve missed you. Sorry I’ve been gone. I’ve not had much energy for anything other than the bare minium lately.
I’m still in the midst of catching up…hope you know that you do not owe blog land any sort of ta-da moments. You and your grief are your business to share with us or not. There is no statute of limitations on emotions dark or light. I look forward to hearing of more healing and the one post where you’ve met someone…until then I still am transfixed by these initimate generous offerings from someone across the ocean.
Do what you need. I’m sure we all are here for you.
love
anna
I’ve missed you. Sorry I’ve been gone. I’ve not had much energy for anything other than the bare minium lately.
I’m still in the midst of catching up…hope you know that you do not owe blog land any sort of ta-da moments. You and your grief are your business to share with us or not. There is no statute of limitations on emotions dark or light. I look forward to hearing of more healing and the one post where you’ve met someone…until then I still am transfixed by these initimate generous offerings from someone across the ocean.
Do what you need. I’m sure we all are here for you.
love
anna
Would anyone want to come back?
I thought that I was the only one who had this weird relationship with books. Sometimes they find their way to me on their own- strange ways. Mailbox, desk, dropped in front of me in the cafe (no- I don’t swipe it). . .
Would anyone want to come back?
I thought that I was the only one who had this weird relationship with books. Sometimes they find their way to me on their own- strange ways. Mailbox, desk, dropped in front of me in the cafe (no- I don’t swipe it). . .
beautiful choice for honoring your R.
beautiful choice for honoring your R.
Isn’t Sharon Olds wonderful???des
Isn’t Sharon Olds wonderful???des
Susannah,
Only one who has felt this can describe it so vividly.
VooDoo, Fate…it’s real. Not everyone is receptive however.
For myself, alot.
rel
Susannah,
Only one who has felt this can describe it so vividly.
VooDoo, Fate…it’s real. Not everyone is receptive however.
For myself, alot.
rel
i want to hop over to that voodoo shop with you.
i need some answers, man!
i love you so much.
xo,
monkey butt
ps. my word verification was “xtsy”. hmmmm…voodoo much?
i want to hop over to that voodoo shop with you.
i need some answers, man!
i love you so much.
xo,
monkey butt
ps. my word verification was “xtsy”. hmmmm…voodoo much?
Sharon Olds is just so good.
Y’know, I bet you’ll find a magical shop like that wherever you end up living next. The Universe is funny like that.
PS..about your comment on my blog, you can come visit here and share my sunsets anytime, sweetie.
Sharon Olds is just so good.
Y’know, I bet you’ll find a magical shop like that wherever you end up living next. The Universe is funny like that.
PS..about your comment on my blog, you can come visit here and share my sunsets anytime, sweetie.
Wow, that ecstasy is really powerful; the poem is beautifully woven.
Wow, that ecstasy is really powerful; the poem is beautifully woven.
I have read this a few times, and am just in love with your voodoo shop and this poem. I agree with Deb, if you believe it in, you will find another magical shop where ever you land. When we open ourselves up to the universe, it is amazing what sometimes lands on our proverbial doorstep.
xoxox to you.
I have read this a few times, and am just in love with your voodoo shop and this poem. I agree with Deb, if you believe it in, you will find another magical shop where ever you land. When we open ourselves up to the universe, it is amazing what sometimes lands on our proverbial doorstep.
xoxox to you.
i wish for a magical voodoo charity shop in my town, especially within walking distance.
sharon olds always delivers with words that resonate deeply.
i wish for a magical voodoo charity shop in my town, especially within walking distance.
sharon olds always delivers with words that resonate deeply.
this sharon olds collection is sitting on my table, waiting to be read. a purchase from my trip to powell’s with meg. her words – she just fucking knows it all doesn’t she?
i love this magical voodoo girl. just love it.
this sharon olds collection is sitting on my table, waiting to be read. a purchase from my trip to powell’s with meg. her words – she just fucking knows it all doesn’t she?
i love this magical voodoo girl. just love it.
If I need answers I often take a book and open it up at a random chosen page. I find it fascinating that the words found on that page are always the words that I need to read, that give me inspiration or even an answer. So I love the idea of asking the universe to give you the book that you need. I might give it a try sometime!
If I need answers I often take a book and open it up at a random chosen page. I find it fascinating that the words found on that page are always the words that I need to read, that give me inspiration or even an answer. So I love the idea of asking the universe to give you the book that you need. I might give it a try sometime!
What a poem. Why don’t people recite them anymore? When I was seventeen I meet a boy who would – at the drop of a hat – cite Goete. He sadly turned into an ogre of an investment banker but I still miss him, the younger boy. He had a beauty that still lingers.
What a poem. Why don’t people recite them anymore? When I was seventeen I meet a boy who would – at the drop of a hat – cite Goete. He sadly turned into an ogre of an investment banker but I still miss him, the younger boy. He had a beauty that still lingers.
That Sharon Olds poem is absolutely incredible … thank you for posting it. I love your Universal Charity Shop Roulette game! I think you’re right, if you open up to the universe, it will provide you with what you need. What a great example of this! hugs, d
That Sharon Olds poem is absolutely incredible … thank you for posting it. I love your Universal Charity Shop Roulette game! I think you’re right, if you open up to the universe, it will provide you with what you need. What a great example of this! hugs, d
I love Alain de Botton’s work! Have you seen his TED Talk? http://samosasforone.blogspot.com/2009/08/alain-de-bottons-ted-talk.html