Very briefly, Andrew, and that was a lovely post, pal, if Umi is kept in the
hospital over the week, only if, me and the rapscallions will go to see her
again there, and if so, my ambition is to get her to play a game of table
football, as they have got a set in the visitor's lounge.
Crashing out now.
All the Best
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Burke" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: People as a broken objects reassembled:
> 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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