Dark Angels Note 121
Dearest Friends—
Welcome back to our weekly Friday Note.
Observing
This week we are observing the birthday of Sylvia Plath (October 27, 1932 – February 11, 1963), the American poet and novelist. In her tragically short life, she wrote several volumes of poetry and short stories.The Bell Jar was her only published novel. This partially autobiographical account follows her character, Esther Greenwood, documenting her student editorship, social expectations and nervous breakdown.
Watching
“Under her shrewd eye and pen, Sylvia Plath turned everyday objects into haunting images”Watch: Why should you read Sylvia Plath?
Writing
Blackberrying and Mushrooms are two of Plath’s poems which, on their surface, are written about typical autumn sights.Go for a walk. Is there anything that inspires you? The rustle of leaves, the moss on the trees and pavements, or simply the warmth of the mid-day autumn sun.Write a poem inspired by autumn.
Sharing
We Are Nature
We’ll be sharing more of the work from We Are Nature over the coming weeks. This week, it’s Rory O'Donovan’s ‘A conversation between me and a tree.’ [audio m4a="https://darkangelswriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/A-conversation-between-me-and-a-tree.m4a"][/audio]
A conversation between me and a tree.
Where were you
Nature
When I needed you?
When I ached
with a loneliness
that told me
I might never be enough.
Where were you
when the world was cruel,
when friends were unkind,
when sadness filled the silence?
When I was sinking
into grief,
lost and desperate.
When I did wrong,
made bad choices,
and let people down.
Where were you
when my courage failed,
when I couldn’t find the words
that so needed to be said?
Or the time
when I so thoughtlessly
said the things
that I regret?
Where were you
when I had to watch the people I love
in so much pain,
and I was hurting
and I was helpless.
Where were you
when things fell apart?
When I closed the curtains,
locked the door,
and I sat alone in the darkness
with my fear.
The tree replied –
Were you not
held by the ground?
Were you not
breathing the air?
Were you not
woken by the sunrise,
warmed by the sun,
seeing by its light?
Were you not
washed by the water,
and fed by the land?
Did you not hear
the buzzing
or the birdsong?
Were you never cooled
by a breeze?
Did you never rest
in the quiet
of the night-time?
Did the seasons
not change?
Did this earth
not keep turning
around you?
Draw the curtains.
Open the door.
Step outside.
Look within.
I am here.
I always was.
--
Diary
26 Wordstock 2022
Don’t miss 26 Wordstock 2022, happening in London on Saturday 12th November. A great day to meet other writers, hear inspiring authors, join in workshops. Lots of Dark Angels will be there too. Find out more here, Don’t miss Wordstock 2022.
Weekly Tuesday Gatherings
Join us for a reflective hour of reading, writing and communing led by Neil Baker. Everyone is welcome; in fact, invite a friend along. We meet at 7pm UK time. To join us, click here on the night. There’s no need to register in advance and we’ll be using the same link every week from now on. Be well, keep reading, keep writing and know that we’re always here.
From everyone at Dark Angels
Photo by Ste Wright on Unsplash