Jack Gilbert is my new favorite poet, thanks to my friend KR. I’ve been reading his collection, _Refusing Heaven_, and through the reading (as well as my own meditations), I’ve come up with some questions I’ve written in my journal.
There’s a mindful quality to Gilbert’s work that motivates me to reflect about how I live my life.
Questions:
What moment is worth the sorrows yet to come?
When did you last feel joyful?
What is June silence?
Why were you angry?
What do you fear?
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“A Brief for the Defense” really cuts to the heart of things and answers the first question I think.
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You’re so right. “…To make injustice the only/measure of our attention is to praise the devil.” That poem made me not want to write another melancholy line for a while. In fact, I’ve been purposely trying to notice what brings me joy. Imagine that! 🙂
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He’s been a favorite of mine for thirty years or so: for a long time, the only modern poet I took seriously.
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i like him very much, too!
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hello Christine~ great questions to ponder. glad you’re enjoying Gilbert’s work. have a great night.
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An awesome poet! I should have read this post first. I just worked myself up into a lather with my other comments…haha! But I love how you always make me think.
The questions are great. An answer instantly popped into my head with the first one. The moment I met my husband and the moment my daughter was born. I don’t mean they have brought me sorrow, but certain incidents in our lives have. They are both worth it all, and I’d do it over again without a moment’s hesitation.
I also love the June silence question. You planted a seed of inspiration for me today. Thank you so much for reminding me of the joy!
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