06 August 2007

Manic Monday - Lie





Manic Monday this week is "Lie". I kept trying to find something humorous or light to do, but this word just wouldn't let me. You are on your own with this one folks. Below is one of my favorite Emily Dickinson poems. It expresses everything I see in the news these days of the people who lie and the dead who lie down, but you will have to come to your own interpretation since The Belle of Amhearst writes to every individual heart.


IT WAS NOT DEATH

It was not death, for I stood up,
And all the dead lie down;
It was not night, for all the bells
Put out their tongues, for noon.

It was not frost, for on my flesh
I felt siroccos crawl, -
Nor fire, for just my marble feet
Could keep a chancel cool.

And yet it tasted like them all;
The figures I have seen
Set orderly, for burial,
Reminded me of mine,

As if my life were shaven
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key;
And 'twas like midnight, some,

When everything that ticked has stopped,
And space stares, all around,
Or grisly frosts, first autumn morns
Repeal the beating ground.

But most like chaos - stopless, cool, -
Without a chance or spar,
Or even a report of land
To justify despair.



GREEN FIELDS OF FRANCE (This is one of the most powerful anti-war songs ever written, because it honors the soldier while damning the war. Do not play until you are ready to cry.) Just so you understand it, "Last Post" and "Flowers of the Forest" are played for British service members.

Green Fields of France



18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love Emily Dickenson--what a great take on this weeks theme.

Sandee said...

Works for me Travis. You are right about the video though. Yikes that was very, very sad. Have a great MM. :)

Sandee said...

Sorry Jamie... I thought I was on Travis' site. I swear I'm not drinking. Honest. I may be losing my mind though.

Travis Cody said...

Powerful, both poem and video.

Durward Discussion said...

Comedy, Finding a lost mind is one of life's true adventures. I manage to catch up with mine just about the time it is ready to go into hiding again.

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Heart wrenching and beautiful! Very well done. I shall have to work on mine now. I may not have it up until Tomorrow though.

~thank you~

Unknown said...

Touching. Good post.

Later Y'all

Schmoop said...

Emily rocks. She and Tennyson may be my two faves. Cheers Jamie!!

Unknown said...

Excellent take on the theme, Jamie! Love the poem - I´m a huge Emily Dickinson fan.

Thank you (for the touching video, too.)

Sarge Charlie said...

No one hates war more than the soldier. It is unfortunate that sometimes we have to fight to survive.

Stine said...

Beautiful poem. And the video says it all.

Anonymous said...

This is a great MM post. Well done, Jamie.

Thanks for visiting my post today. Have a great week.

Anonymous said...

Whoof, woof. Thank you for visiting my bloggy today and saying the woofnderful words to me. I really likes reading your MM post today.

Happy week.

Not So Anonymous Michelle said...

great poem, I have to read more of this kind of stuff! Thanks so much for visiting my blog! :)

Linda said...

Dark - yes, but very well done as always. Thanks for the warning about the video, too!

Claire said...

That is a powerful song but i really loved it, i can imagine getting worked up listening to it in a pub on St Patricks Day.

Head Cookie said...

great manic monday my manic monday pic is up as well.

Anonymous said...

so touching ... really made me cry.
i had an uncle who died in the war .. i never met him.

thanks for dropping by on my first MM! :)