Thursday, January 23, 2014

Poetic One Little Word

             Tara Smith at A Teaching Life is hosting Poetry Friday today from the snowy east, and it's her birthday!  Thanks Tara, and happiest of birthdays to you this special Friday!

         At the beginning of the month, when I shared my One Little Word here, more than one person shared a poem with me that connected, and several times since I have discovered other references to my word, which is wander.  I now have, through my own discovery and through gifts, a growing file of poems and a few quotes that have some connection to wander. The word is "hanging on", so much that some poems have been now appearing more than once! Serendipity, destiny?  Whatever the reason, I am thrilled to have discovered so much just here in January, and I'm starting a scrapbook of sorts about the word in all its permutations.
photo credit: rottnapples via photopin cc



          I was first sent this poem, The Song of Wandering Aengus by W.B. Yeats by Tabatha Yeatts of The Opposite of Indifference, always kind and someone who shares beauty in poetry often, among other things that make us think!  I have researched it, found that most who write about it share its Celtic background with the poem's character connecting to the god Aengus Og, including other leanings toward magic and fairies, the thoughts of eternal longing for someone or something. If you are interested in more, good articles/posts are numerous.  Here is one link by author Kelly Fineman.  I love the poem for my own interests of course, for my word's connection and that despite the fact it speaks of a man with eternal longing for a woman, I read it with the idea of a life's quest, wandering to see what can be made of the rest of my life.

            Finally, just last week, the poem surfaced again on The Writer's Almanac, and here you may hear Tom O'Bedlam read it. Also, Judy Collins has recorded the poem as a song, although she has changed some of the words.  Please wander through the different links and enjoy the beautiful words.

The poem begins:

I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;

       and the rest can be found on The Writer's Almanac, link above.
Photo-LBaie


24 comments:

  1. The audio was wonderful for reinforcing the sense of longing. This is an old favorite, however, I knew no background, so I look forward to delving deeper after work today.

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    1. I'm happy that you've liked it for a long while, Diane. Enjoy the 'extra'!

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  2. Beautiful poem, Linda. It reminds me of Poe's "Eldorado" -- that longing for the elusive dream. Speaking of wandering... a certain package of postcards has ended its journey. Thank you! Email later.

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    1. And so I'll look up 'Eldorado' Laura. Thank you! So happy to hear the package arrived-I always wonder…

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  3. I wandered around the links, listened and read the poem again and again. Such luxury a snow day (without snow) brings. I may just wander through this day...

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    1. Computers have been working oddly at school, sorry I haven't gotten back to you-so happy to hear you have a "day" in which to wander. I hope to wander through my weekend too! Thanks Margaret!

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  4. What a great photo! Enjoyed learning more about the background of this poem, and happy to see you discovering so much serendipity with your OLW. The eternal quest for life's meaning, or longing for love pretty much drives all human beings. It's all about what we discover through our wanderings. :)

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    1. Yes, hoping my 'discoveries' will be important to me, Jama! Thank you-so glad you enjoyed the poem and background.

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  5. Linda,
    What a great story! That's so wonderful that your word inspired poetry and now the poetry can inspire you as you live the word.

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    1. Thank you LIz-it's going to be many things this year, I suspect, and one of them is indeed serendipitous!

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  6. Serendipity is wandering through the Poetry Friday posts today. Thanks for sharing where your wanderings have led. =)

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    1. You're so welcome, Bridget! Isn't it fun about the feline connections? Thanks for stopping in!

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  7. I loved that poem when it landed in my inbox the first time, and it's fun to see it again through the lens of your word!

    Great photo!

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    1. Just great to hear, Mary Lee. When poems like this touch me, I am simply thrilled. It's so nice to have the discovery!

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  8. Glad the poem was fruitful for you, Linda! I really like the photo you took of the shadow.
    I think if I were choosing OLW, I might want it to be "serendipity"!

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    1. From what I know from your activities and your blog, the word seems to fit very well, Tabatha. And yes, I loved the poem, so thank you again!

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  9. I love it when things appear and reappear, as if there are secret messages to be received. May your year of 'wandering' lead you to many good places!

    Violet N

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    1. Thanks Violet, I love it too! And it happens often enough to make one believe!

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  10. I love to hear about all of these gifts wandering their way to *your* door! It's funny what can happen when you open yourself to the universe. Thanks for all the great links, Linda.

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    1. You're welcome, Michelle. It was great fun discovering about this poem!

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  11. It's so cool that your word in showing up in many places. That's a great feeling!

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    1. Yes, it's really been fun, the journey is beginning!

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  12. I'm glad you're making a scrapbook -- you will have tales to tell at the end of The Wander Year. :-)

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    1. Oh, I like that-The Wander Year! Thanks Keri!

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