Oh this is so heartbreakingly ( and by that I mean heart-opening) marvelous. A deep dive into the fathomless complexities of being a human. A study in how to fully occupy a life.
I love how you phrased this..."how to fully occupy a life." It's so tempting to disassociate from the most difficult parts, and it times, it truly is self-preservation. But our lives are beautiful because they are imperfect. We appreciate the joy and love we experience because we know what it's like to be deprived of them.
Yes! Though it would seem to go against human nature to lean into what's uncomfortable, let alone excruciating, think of how we immediately grab a wounded body part- rub the bruise, press upon cuts to staunch the bleeding. I've found that it's exhausting to run from pain. I try to make room for my grief, reserve sacred spaces in which it can stretch wide, open its dark wings, and invite me into its embrace. ♡
I love this poem- it has me reliving our walk through Greyfriars that first morning in Edinburgh. I went back on my last day in Edinburgh after our retreat and sat and soaked in the energy there. It was magical, sitting alone with the ravens and crows (still have trouble telling them apart!), the light misty rain, the patina on all the stones and markers- it helped me to remember that there is magic in every moment if we are open to it.
I went back to Greyfriars after the retreat as well. It was such a lovely place despite its dark history, and I went near sunset when people were milling about and admiring the flowers, crows, and tombstones. There really is magic in the most surprising of places if we keep our eyes open.
In undergrad I did a cross-curricular study unit on 'The Dead Body In Culture and As Culture', which encompassed history, literature, and a bit of medical history and anthropology. I absolutely loved it. We spent a big chunk of time on 'memento mori' culture and the history of graveyards and headstones etc, and also grounded a lot of reading in Edinburgh (where I'd spent the previous summer, so that was satisfying). For my term paper, I did a study of the history of my hometown, as told through the graveyard of its central church (it's a town on the coach road between London and Oxford).
I loved this poem and image, thank you, Danielle! I have written poems with the title "Momento Mori."
I have Memento Mori as a future poem title myself! I'd love to read yours if you're ever willing to share!
I'm hunting for it....
Oh this is so heartbreakingly ( and by that I mean heart-opening) marvelous. A deep dive into the fathomless complexities of being a human. A study in how to fully occupy a life.
I love how you phrased this..."how to fully occupy a life." It's so tempting to disassociate from the most difficult parts, and it times, it truly is self-preservation. But our lives are beautiful because they are imperfect. We appreciate the joy and love we experience because we know what it's like to be deprived of them.
Yes! Though it would seem to go against human nature to lean into what's uncomfortable, let alone excruciating, think of how we immediately grab a wounded body part- rub the bruise, press upon cuts to staunch the bleeding. I've found that it's exhausting to run from pain. I try to make room for my grief, reserve sacred spaces in which it can stretch wide, open its dark wings, and invite me into its embrace. ♡
I love this poem- it has me reliving our walk through Greyfriars that first morning in Edinburgh. I went back on my last day in Edinburgh after our retreat and sat and soaked in the energy there. It was magical, sitting alone with the ravens and crows (still have trouble telling them apart!), the light misty rain, the patina on all the stones and markers- it helped me to remember that there is magic in every moment if we are open to it.
I went back to Greyfriars after the retreat as well. It was such a lovely place despite its dark history, and I went near sunset when people were milling about and admiring the flowers, crows, and tombstones. There really is magic in the most surprising of places if we keep our eyes open.
In undergrad I did a cross-curricular study unit on 'The Dead Body In Culture and As Culture', which encompassed history, literature, and a bit of medical history and anthropology. I absolutely loved it. We spent a big chunk of time on 'memento mori' culture and the history of graveyards and headstones etc, and also grounded a lot of reading in Edinburgh (where I'd spent the previous summer, so that was satisfying). For my term paper, I did a study of the history of my hometown, as told through the graveyard of its central church (it's a town on the coach road between London and Oxford).