Sunday, July 16, 2006

i am vertical



I Am Vertical
by: Sylvia Plath

But I would rather be horizontal.
I am not a tree with my root in the soil
Sucking up minerals and motherly love
So that each March I may gleam into leaf,
Nor am I the beauty of a garden bed
Attracting my share of Ahs and spectacularly painted,
Unknowing I must soon unpetal.
Compared with me, a tree is immortal
And a flower-head not tall, but more startling,
And I want the one's longevity and the other's daring.

Tonight, in the infinitesimallight of the stars,
The trees and the flowers have been strewing their cool odors.
I walk among them, but none of them are noticing.
Sometimes I think that when I am sleeping
I must most perfectly resemble them--
Thoughts gone dim.
It is more natural to me, lying down.
Then the sky and I are in open conversation...



20 comments:

mermaid said...

What an insightful piece you've picked to share with us. This is a universal call for us all to take the time each day to be horizontal, to stop for a moment and inhale the overwhelming beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you, sweet Lorena.

A.P. said...

This is a very deep poem. It fits well with the picture.

Great post!

Pincushion said...

Sylvia Plath..a fav of mine..and yes an open conversation with sky is a divine conversation..and it is exactly what I sought in my post http://painauchocolat.blogspot.com/2006/07/seeking-sky.html#comments

Thank you!
:)

P.S : Your pics are so lovely!

gP said...

the ever majestic Sylvia...

sirbarrett said...

Tristram Shandy, a fictional character says that the throes of passion -both pain and pleasure are best felt in a horizontal position. I'd have to agree -think of all those times you collapse on a bed sobbing or fall over, roaring with laughter.

Is this you Lorena? Nice grass and cute picture overall. It makes me think it was taken in the eighties -something about the shade of the jeans. They are dated somehow in my mind. Maybe not. Just a speculation.

Awesome picture-poem combo as always.

Benjamin said...

Eclectic choice of poem (new to me) and novel shot. You still have such style, Lorena x

Pincushion said...

Hey do visit sometime, methinks Pincushion has been forgotten! :(

Anonymous said...

love those greens and the style!miss your blog too!


kind regards!

Anonymous said...

So profoundly Sylvia. Love her poetry and writing.
Enjoyed the photo.
Missed seeing you at my blog.
Now I have a new address.

Anonymous said...

Excellent pairing of photo & poem! And what a great poem!

DeCoMpOsEd said...

i see your still posting great pics.. very cool keep it up

... said...

I think I'm in love with Sylvia Plath. Is it possible to love a ghost?

Anyway, that photo adds such great dimension to the poem.

S A J Shirazi said...

What a wonderful thought and apt photo. Loved this.

Anonymous said...

This is lovely.

Unknown said...

"Silvia Plath. Interesting poetress whose tragic suicide was mistaken as romantic by college girl mentality"--Woody Allen

Just kidding. I like Plath and I enjoy your posts always!

gulnaz said...

am digressing here, but it reminded me of the one book i have read by sylvia plath...the saddest book i have ever read and scary too...
she killed herself even though she was brilliant...makes me really scared and sad

how have you been sweetie...:)

aa said...

Love S.P.'s work. Almost buried this one. Glad you posted it.

I always liked your pics.

White Magpie said...

Update...Grrrr

Kuan Gung said...

Let the conversation continue...very nice!

Unknown said...

Lorena: Kat Magendie is having Poetry Month at her site in October. Maybe you would like to submit one of your own. Very cool, eh?