Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Emerson
The idea of life as a journey is a well worn theme in poetry and it’s the focus of our show this week. And
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Emerson
The idea of life as a journey is a well worn theme in poetry and it’s the focus of our show this week. And what’s the message? What great wisdom can we expect from our featured poets? Well, I guess it’s that life is a trip we have to take, no matter how bad the roads or the accommodation! In his poem The Journey, American poet James Wright finds the secret to living in this world, in a quiet moment of reflection while visiting the medieval village of Anghiari. Accepting life for what it is, its experiences and burdens but not being weighed down by them is the message he imparts to us. ‘Step lightly all the way through your ruins’ he says. We have a tendency to over-criticize and pick holes in every little thing we do, hold on to negativity and not let go of the baggage of the past, but Wright urges us to walk free from all of that and just be. Be here now.
Life is is a voyage of discovery, of ourselves and others and we have nothing to fear on this journey only what we’ve conceived in our minds before we set out. We spend so much time worrying about what might happen in the future that we’re sometimes blind to the magic that is happening around us. Greek poet C P Cavafy prepares us for a great adventure to Ithaka, metaphorical destination and home of the legendary Greek king Odysseus. I think Ithaka is about enjoying the pleasure of being alive – the people we meet, places we visit and knowledge we gain along the way. Dreams and goals are important but I think the real value is gained through the process of living.
In Journey To The Interior, Margaret Atwood compares the rough Canadian landscape to the inner journey of self-discovery. Something not to be undertaken lightly as ‘only few have returned safely’ she warns. I can completely relate. Sometimes these inner journeys can be tough to navigate, there’s a fear of going too deep, of making discoveries you wish you hadn’t, but the reverse is also true and can lead to some self-illuminating moments. Sometimes I find I just need the distraction away from myself though and take a journey out of my own psych