Sara Teasdale
Oct. 20th, 2008 09:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soc_puppetWhat with one thing and another (see: The Quire), I've discovered/been exposed to the poetry of Sara Teasdale. And guys, it's absolutely gorgeous.
I'm tempted to get into a rant about what I feel our school system is doing to poetry - and, by extension, just about everything that can be learned - but that would take too long, be poorly thought out, and distract from the point besides. Instead, I think I'll just share a couple of my favorite poems by her:
Faults
They came to tell your faults to me,
They named them over one by one;
I laughed aloud when they were done,
I knew them all so well before,--
Oh, they were blind, too blind to see
Your faults had made me love you more.
Faults is my absolute favorite of hers that I've been exposed to thus far. Many of her poems have a line or two that give me soul-deep shivers or make my heart quiver just slightly, and a good number of them ring in tone with my beliefs, but this one echoes straight to my core. To love something not despite its flaws but because of them, to take joy in these flaws - to be honest, the first thing I thought of was fandoms, and how often the most flawed are the most fun to play in. But... there's also people like that, aren't there, the sort who do this annoying thing until you find out that the thing they do is actually fascinating and you can't wait to see them do it again and again and again. And the thought just fills me up with warmth inside.
"I Am Not Yours"
I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.
Oh plunge me deep in love - put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.
This was the first poem of hers I was introduced to. We're actually singing it in Quire - you can find a recording of it on the composer's site (number thirty-eight) if you're interested. It's just... beautiful, and the imagery, and I know I don't understand it all, but it still leaves me with a deeper feeling of calm and peace just for having read it. I look forward to singing it every rehearsal, and even plan to memorize it on my own to sing at later occasions. Even if it's not my favorite for themes, it definitely ranks way up there for introducing me to her work at all.
And that's all I've really got today. I encourage anyone who was even the slightest bit interested by the two poems I posted here to check her other poems out at the Gutenberg Project - or even your local library or book store.
I'm tempted to get into a rant about what I feel our school system is doing to poetry - and, by extension, just about everything that can be learned - but that would take too long, be poorly thought out, and distract from the point besides. Instead, I think I'll just share a couple of my favorite poems by her:
Faults
They came to tell your faults to me,
They named them over one by one;
I laughed aloud when they were done,
I knew them all so well before,--
Oh, they were blind, too blind to see
Your faults had made me love you more.
Faults is my absolute favorite of hers that I've been exposed to thus far. Many of her poems have a line or two that give me soul-deep shivers or make my heart quiver just slightly, and a good number of them ring in tone with my beliefs, but this one echoes straight to my core. To love something not despite its flaws but because of them, to take joy in these flaws - to be honest, the first thing I thought of was fandoms, and how often the most flawed are the most fun to play in. But... there's also people like that, aren't there, the sort who do this annoying thing until you find out that the thing they do is actually fascinating and you can't wait to see them do it again and again and again. And the thought just fills me up with warmth inside.
"I Am Not Yours"
I am not yours, not lost in you,
Not lost, although I long to be
Lost as a candle lit at noon,
Lost as a snowflake in the sea.
You love me, and I find you still
A spirit beautiful and bright,
Yet I am I, who long to be
Lost as a light is lost in light.
Oh plunge me deep in love - put out
My senses, leave me deaf and blind,
Swept by the tempest of your love,
A taper in a rushing wind.
This was the first poem of hers I was introduced to. We're actually singing it in Quire - you can find a recording of it on the composer's site (number thirty-eight) if you're interested. It's just... beautiful, and the imagery, and I know I don't understand it all, but it still leaves me with a deeper feeling of calm and peace just for having read it. I look forward to singing it every rehearsal, and even plan to memorize it on my own to sing at later occasions. Even if it's not my favorite for themes, it definitely ranks way up there for introducing me to her work at all.
And that's all I've really got today. I encourage anyone who was even the slightest bit interested by the two poems I posted here to check her other poems out at the Gutenberg Project - or even your local library or book store.
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 02:40 am (UTC)and shel silverstein shut up he's awesome
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 02:43 am (UTC)Dude no judgment here he is totally awesome and also one of my first poets and stuff. *loves all over his work*
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Date: 2008-10-21 02:56 am (UTC)I think I need to read more of Sara Teasdale's works.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 02:59 am (UTC)Exactly my thoughts after our first run through. *flails*
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 03:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 02:58 am (UTC)There will be rest and sure stars shining
Over the rooftops crowned with snow
A reign of rest, serene forgetting
The music of stillness, holy and low
I will make this world of my devising
Out of a dream in my lonely mind
I shall find the crystal of peace
Above me - stars I shall find
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 03:02 am (UTC)This is making me think that I should organize a Teasdale Poem Prompt Fic Fest or something.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 03:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 04:47 am (UTC)My women's choir at Belmont is singing this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kj-o6URKNg). We're the only choir in America with the music for it, as my teacher found this Youtube video, hunted down the composer, and asked for it. XD It's not actually been published yet, as of when she told us this story. And for the record, yes. It is crazy hard.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-22 03:01 pm (UTC)XD You could suggest it maybe?
Ooooo :O A shiny challenging piece that is, yes indeed.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-23 03:03 pm (UTC)Doubt it. XD For one thing, we're a women's choir. And also I'm a freshman. >>;
Yes, yes. :D