When I was in Umi's situation, in hospital after a suicide attempt and
having what they called a 'mental breakdown', I received more comfort and
positivity from George Harrison's My Sweet Lord than anything or anyone
else. (It was a hit at the time and played endlessly on rotation on some
radio station.) Strange now to hear the song and have no emotional
connection to it, but back then it just lifted me up and took me out of that
hospital. It helped me heal - no doubt about it. Pills and a good schrink
also contributed (as did gardening and losing weight, which I suspect was a
by-product of not drinking while on the pills) ...
My point is, although My Sweeet Lord isn't a poem as such, it does have a
chant in it and uplifting music, so is in a similar vein. I felt a
connection to other people through it - not all other people, obviously -
the nuns at the hospital couldn't see my attraction to the song - but for me
I had a connection to SOME other people. My alienation from others and
solitariness were part of the problem before, so this was a very good
result. (People who know me today wouldn't believe that! I'm a gregarious
chatterbox, funlovin' fool.)
Yes, just the right poem can help. And it could be a shit poem but if it
connects, then it will work. Of course, even a poet might help :-) Your help
and friendship is absolutely important, David.
Hare Krisna -
Andrew
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Vincent" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 7:05 AM
Subject: Re: People as a broken objects reassembled:
>
> When somebody is 'over the top', drugs and containment trump language.
> Poems, healing come later. As to people who are clearly on their way to
the
> other side, the presence of well read poetry can be transfiguring and part
> of the process. Then there are the poems for us who participate and
survive
> each of these passings.
>
>
> Stephen V
> Blog: http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
>
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