Trying To Keep It Light On Election Day! (Sonnet) (Not Nano-ing At this Exact Moment)
Post-Eden
Before the sky, a lovely pale, a boy,
tall on glistening grass, tosses a ball,
and I wonder why it is that joy
is not simply inhaled. Is it the Fall
that keeps us from feeling how it lines
the air we breathe? Is it that first loss
that keeps us toiling within the confines
of our skins, unheeding unhidden cost?
A soft haze, like a blessing, nestles on
the sea, mutes the horizon, brings the far near.
So much within reach. The brain wrestles on
its hardscrabble way, yet slowly fear
unwinds, diminished by sky, sea, view.
An inner hand makes the catch, more too.
*****************************************
Ah. Why is it that joy is not simply inhaled?
In my case, it is partly because I am endlessly fretting. This evening, the eve of the election, however, I am feeling so much better–so very much more joyful – because I’ve made a committment to get up super early and get myself to a swing state where I will work as a poll monitor, helping to people to avoid being disenfranchised. So hopefully I’ll be able to get where I am supposed to be, and hopefully you will to!
The above is an older sonnet which, if I have access to internet, I also hope to link to dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night. (And I’m sorry the pic’s not the sea!)
And yes, I’m trying to take a break from blogging for Nanowrimo – and I will! But for here and now, a wonderful and open-hearted day to all. Take care, and may we all get some peace, wisdom, and sense of unity and pride from all this. Thanks much.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, Stress, UncategorizedTags: election day jitters, Fall from grace, finally doing something concrete, shakespearean-sonnet Manicddaily, sonnet re stress and unwinding, what'son the horizon
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ManicDDaily 
November 6, 2012 at 6:23 am
love how you use the boy to set up your question….at that age joy is so much easier to find because we have not cluttered the way to it you know….i like how you come back in the end…as for me that is the little boy in us trying to get out…
November 6, 2012 at 6:36 am
Thanks Brian.
November 6, 2012 at 8:59 pm
thanks for going down to philly today…and all you have been doing..huge turnout here today….by 10 AM over 1/3 of our registered voters had voted
November 6, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Ha! Well, I actually wept on the street when I was talking to my daughter in Ohio and she told me about Pennsylvania. (Not that I had anything to do with it! But I always review every single mistake or omission happy that it was going well.) Thanks for all you do, Brian. k.
November 7, 2012 at 8:22 am
hopefully the sigh of relief today is enjoyed…smiles….and now we try to heal….
November 7, 2012 at 8:25 am
Yes.
November 6, 2012 at 9:24 am
I love the way you set this scene with the boy and his ball. I love that the haze brings the far near….within reach. Can picture that. And nicely concluded that the fear diminishes and back to the inner hand making the catch, bringing the poem full circle.
November 6, 2012 at 9:27 am
Thanks, Mary.
November 6, 2012 at 2:50 pm
this is beautiful, karin. I love the questions you pose and dearly love the line: “a soft haze, like a blessing, nestles on” ~It’ll be tomorrow soon enough.
November 6, 2012 at 2:55 pm
A lovely and comforting sonnet, karin, and of course as good ones always are, thoughtful and musical both. You are a pearl to go out and work at the polls in the middle of your own chaos, and as both an Obama supporter and a person, I can’t thank you enough. We just got home from voting ourselves, and frankly, if there is some tremendous enthusiasm on the repub side it isn’t showing outwardly here in Red Stateland via political signs(I’ve seen 2 apiece for Romney and Obama,) bumper stickers(ditto) and long lines at the polls (not.) I hope this quiet is a good omen. Safe travels, karin, and a great experience to you tonight, as I sit in front of the tv gnawing my fingernails.
November 6, 2012 at 4:33 pm
What a great question you ask! Why is joy not simply inhaled–I think for some people it is–my husband seems to have that quality about him—I am also doing NanoWriMo–look for me and I will add you to my buddy list if you do that–
Audrey Howitt
November 6, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Hope your poll work went well and you found your way.
November 6, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Simply a great write,
November 6, 2012 at 8:34 pm
this is very beautiful. loved your last line!
(and it is a picture of the sea… just a grassy one. 🙂 )
wonderful poem.
November 6, 2012 at 8:42 pm
I often wonder why joy can’t be inhaled, Karin. A very beautiful sonnet, you go girl… hope things are settling for you and yours.
Pamela
November 6, 2012 at 8:44 pm
toiling within the confines/ of our skins,
Boy, ain’t it the truth. Joy should be the easiest thing…a great idea behind this poem, and great execution in the form. I enjoyed this thoughtful and provocative piece a great deal. I hope your day working the polls was productive and satisfying.
November 6, 2012 at 9:51 pm
I don’t know how productive, but satisfying. For me, it’s always great to just do something.
November 6, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Nice piece. Thank you for volunteering that’s awesome .
November 6, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Wouldn’t that be wonderful, if you could inhale joy but then, I guess we all can, if we see it as such in each fresh breath of air we take.
Loved this. I hope the best person for the job, wins! Well done for helping out too 🙂
November 6, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Sometimes a poem seems to exist to celebrate one line… that line here is of course… I wonder why it is that joy is not simply inhaled. That is so beautiful and inspiring. It just jumped out at me and made me catch my breath… I’m inspired to write and sing and dance and celebrate! Lovely images…
November 6, 2012 at 9:08 pm
This is not light, really, though it is Light. I’m grateful for the work you do for a fair election. I am too tired after the effort, which you can see a bit of over at my place:
November 6, 2012 at 9:36 pm
love the image with the boy, tossing a ball…and often wish this child-like ease and joy of life back…cause i tend to think way too much…and that spoils the fun sometimes…ha…great on working as a poll monitor today…hope you had a good day and everything went well
November 6, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Your candor and honesty touch my heart. And your poem is simply a pleasure.
November 6, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Thanks so much, Kim.
November 6, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Lovely, sonnet, and a good question. I really like, ” The brain wrestles on
its hardscrabble way, yet slowly fear
unwinds, diminished by sky, sea, view.”
And kudos to you for working the polls! :o)
November 6, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Thanks so much, Mary. k.
November 6, 2012 at 10:19 pm
I hear people are still queueing – so you’re doing a great job!
Love the formatting and the dynamics of the content communicate
V.well – making a satisfying shape in my mind 🙂
November 6, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Thanks Aaron. k.
November 6, 2012 at 10:21 pm
PS – I don’t know if I helped much but I’ve gotten very emotional over here. So moved. k.
November 6, 2012 at 10:34 pm
so intense and somewhat pleading…
November 6, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Ha! I think I’m always pleading! k.
November 7, 2012 at 12:17 pm
You just gladden my day with your poetry and vision…and that volunteering with what you have just been through?? Well, you stand amongst the best of people, Karin.
Politics aside, you exude a humanism that gladdens my heart: makes me realize that people like you are not scarce but in full measure of what is GOOD.
Thank you, Karin…..I needed this example today.
Lady Nyo
November 7, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Well, thanks so much, Jane. Very undeserved words but, of course, appreciated. So glad you have your son home for a bit and hope you guys have a great time. k.
November 7, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Thinking of you as this awful weather descends up there, k–hope you come through it safe and sound, and manage to get some rest after a very hectic few days.
November 7, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Thanks so much. You know I am truly blessed here – many are suffering, but although it’s blowing and messy, there’s heat, light, water and internet in my neck of the woods. I am super behind on all fronts, but all is my own doing! Thanks much though for your kind words and concern. k.
November 8, 2012 at 12:53 am
why is joy not simply inhaled…why indeed? Beautiful images and a heartwarming poem..thanks