I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

9 June 2016

The Measure of Commitment

How you spend your days is how you spend your life
– slightly misquoted from Annie Dillard

How young I was, only seven, when I vowed to myself, 
'You will be a poet!' I already was, but I meant I would always
spend my life on poetry, even when I grew up. It would be my life.

'Your little poems,' my elders said, and trotted me out to recite them –
days not so much of glory as embarrassment. Then they put it to me:
'Is that what you want to be? But darling, you can't BE a poet like that.
How will you earn money? You will have to do it like a nice hobby.'

You perhaps did not know, dear parents, the word 'vocation'. Not
spend my life in poetry? Impossible! My jobs were my necessary hobbies.
'Your occupation?' I was asked. 'Poet,' I wrote, defiantly. Now, I don't even have to.
Life is, first, poetry: it's 'what I do’ – daily and lifelong, my glorious commitment.


Written in response to the prompt 'Commitment' from Poets United's Midweek Motif – in the form of a first word acrostic.

17 comments:

  1. So wonderful to know so early and devote a lifetime to your passion for poetry... makes me wonder how long I really will keep writing...

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  2. Knowing vocation is such wonderful thing. Mine was to teach, and it may still be. Wonder why I just can't stop writing! I enjoy the detail in your poem.

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    1. Perhaps we can have more than one vocation? Teaching (adults) has been a big thread in my life, too. Writing workshops, meditation groups. Reiki, Tarot, Qabala....

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  3. teaching was my vocation too but i have moved on to devote my times to reading and writing alone and it's wonderful...but kudos to you to make the decision at such a tender age...simply wow...

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  4. Pity us then that came on the playing field with so much to say and so little time!

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  5. A glorious commitment and a wonderful truth. And we are all the richer for it.

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  6. A/men/women and magic to that! Work makes the money to buy the pens in order to write the poetry which is life..and love and breath itself!

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  7. What a strong commitment you have had from childhood, Rosemary!
    I admire this very much. You knew who you were and LIVED it!

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  8. It's remarkable to KNOW what you want at such an early age. Clearly, you were born to write poetry. I rather envy that. I started writing poetry late in life. I'm still a novice. But your commitment is beautiful and is demonstrated in all your writing.

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  9. I absolutely love this.. the fiery determination to follow and honor what you love since a tender age is incredible. Beautifully penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  10. Á glorious commitment'indeed!!The most important thing is to do what we love... because that, my friend, is the only thing that makes us truly happy. I am glad, I get the chance to read your beautiful poems, Rosemary!

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  11. We are blessed to be able to fufill our glorious commitment and more importantly bring and comfort to others. A poet is a nurturer ,healer and sage.A very important person:)

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  12. A lovely commitment!
    May we all find strength to uphold what we love- poetry!

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  13. A noble commitment for the love of poetry and more so to allot time for sharing. Keep at it Rosemary!

    Hank

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  14. A stalwart commitment to that which is you. So glad you shared about this deep founded love.

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