Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Wednesday May 10, 2011 Magpie



Magpie #65

A Saint
Awaken
Open your eyes
Allow the beauty
Of the world
To come unto you
You are not alone
Care for others
Allow all creatures
That crawl, walk
Swim and fly
Freedom to pursue
Their own happiness
Allow them space
Speak up for those
Who cannot speak
For themselves

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For the Young Who Want to
Talent is what they say
you have after the novel
is published and favorably
reviewed. Beforehand what
you have is a tedious
delusion, a hobby like knitting

Work is what you have done
after the play is produced
and the audience slaps.
Before that friends keep asking
when you are planning to go
out and get a job.

Genius is what they know you
had after the third volume
of remarkable poems. Earlier
They accuse you of withdrawing,
ask why you don't have a baby,
call you a bum.

The reason people want M.F.A.'s,
take workshops with fancy names
when all you can really
learn is a few techniques,
typing instructions and somebody else's mannerisms

is that every artist lacks
a license to hang on the wall
like your optician, your vet
proving you may be a clumsy sadist
whose fillings fall into the stew
but your''re certified a dentist.

The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an investigation like phlogiston
after the fact of fire,
Work is its own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.
--Marge Piercy

6 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Annell, I LOVE both of these so much! LOVE the poem about allowing all creatures the freedom to live their lives. And love Marge Piercy's poem about being an artist - so right on. I love Marge Piercy. Lovely to find these two gems in here this morning! Thank you.

Helen said...

Your Magpie is a gentle magpie.

signed...bkm said...

Wow, I love this Annell...I really needed to hear your words this morning and Piercy's...you have filled me with renewed inspiration thank you so much...bkm

Elizabeth said...

Back in Parochial school, I thought St.Francis of Assisi was one of the most relevant of all the saints. He made sense to me, and the wild within me. And Marge Piercy makes so much sense, rings those bells of truth loud and clear. Thank you so much for both of these pieces today. And thanks for visiting the collab.

Elizabeth

Suz said...

love your magpie Annell
and yes Marge speaks truth

But there is a society so to speak
that are gatekeepers
So many talented people so few slots
but write on

flaubert said...

Saint Francis is my confirmation name, Annell. Love this.

Pamela

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