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?
“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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Balanced On the Edge 
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