They say that love is a many-splendered thing. It is also a very complex emotion in the many ways it manifests itself in our actions and emotions. I'd like to share these words with you. They were cause for some learning and discovery for me.
I think a big requirement is the ability to step back from what our own goals and expectations are, to appreciate the person for who they really are, and not what we want them to be.
I think there needs to be a basic curiosity to find out who the person is and not just an opportunity to show people how much we deserve to be loved. Because everyone deserves to be loved and everyone deserves happiness.
Also, yesterday in English Lit. we discussed this poem. Looking past the morbid overtone, can you see the love?
We Are Seven
William Wordsworth - 1798
A simple child, dear brother Jim,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
I met a little cottage girl,
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That cluster'd round her head.
She had a rustic , woodland air,
And she was wildly clad;
Her eyes were fair, and very fair
--Her beauty made me glad.
"Sisters and brothers, little maid,
How many may you be?"
"How many? seven in all," she said,
And wondering looked at me.
"And where are they, I pray you tell?"
She answered, "Seven are we,
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.
"Two of us in the church-yard lie,
My sister and my brother,
And in the church-yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother."
"You say that two at Conway dwell,
And tow are gone to sea,
Yet you are seven; I pray you tell
Sweet Maid, how this may be?"
Then did the little Maid reply,
"Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree."
You run about, my little maid,
Your limbs athey are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five."
"Their graves are green, they may be seen,"
The litte Maid replied.
"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door,
And they are side by side."
"My stockings there I often knit,
My 'kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit--
I sit and sing to them.
"And often after sunset, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.
"The first that died was little Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain,
And then she went away.
"So in the church-yard she was laid,
And all the summer dry.
Together round her grave we played,
My bother John and I.
"And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side."
"How many are you, then," said I
If they two are in Heaven?"
The little Maiden did reply,
"O, Master, we are seven."
"But they are dead, those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!"
'Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, "Nay, we are seven!"
4 comments:
This does resonate with me as I'm one of '7'.
Well spoken thoughts about love and interesting piece you shared. I think the clearest message in the young maid's response is that we do not stop being connected simply because of death. The lives and spirits of those who have passed live on with our thoughts and smiles.
I agree with misty.
Very well said, and thank you for sharing that beautiful poem with us :0)
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