Though it may seem egotistical, I encourage you to take a moment to view the forum post that spurred this. There, amid my rambling, is the poem that started my mind turning. The piece, the fabulous Under One Small Star by the fabulous Wislawa Szymborska, is undeniably, well... fabulous. For the record, I felt a tad badly at first for having thieved the idea and for, too, mirroring her style - but in the end, I realized that my having done so without conscious intent do so only speaks to the power of her poem. For her clarity, her impact and her mastery, she moved me to this. As a poet myself, I cannot help but think that I would be deeply honored if my words were so fully embraced and absorbed that they became as much the reader's thoughts as my own. I do so entirely hope that Wislawa would agree.

The link below will take you to the forum post. And when you read Wislawa's poem, I wish for you
the same sort of osmosis that I experienced. It was, for me, quite healing really.
Forum post

My apologies to the teenage-me for having forgotten
who you were for so very long and for having thought I should grow up.
My apologies to my childhood home for sometimes returning
to it temporarily and for having lacked the bravery to do so permanently.
My apologies to history for looking forward more often than back.
I beg you, those I've not made time for, forgive me for making time
for something else.
Forgive me, time, for so often lamenting your delay when you
are so obviously fleeting.
Forgive me, hope, for calling myself hopeless and meaning it.
Don't hate me, passion, that I so restricted your definition
for all those years.
Forgive me, words, that I avoid you sometimes.
Don't disdain me, silence, that I don't always
respect you.
Please understand, love, that I do so love you
though I never simply say as much.
Forgive me, faith, that mine wasn't what it should be.
My apologies to my soul, that I only sometimes celebrate you.
My apologies to my heart, that I only sometimes hear you.
My apologies to my mind - that I don't fully use you.
Forgive me, God, for ever suggesting that this
is the best I can do with what I have been given.
Forgive me, Fate, for sometimes acting as if
I thought I could control you.
My apologies to light, that my darkness sometimes distorts you
and to darkness, if I've suggested you were not
as important.
Forgive me, health, for not tending to you
as well as I should.
Patience, please have mercy on me.
Innocence, help me to know your wisdom.
And truth, please forgive me my weaknesses.
I apologize...
to every tear I didn't cry for having thought
that I was supposed to smile
to every smile I only half smiled for not
really having wanted to in the first place
to today, for looking forward to the dawn
to yesterday, that I must let you go to
greet tomorrow
and to the moments in between for so often
struggling through you.
My heartfelt apologies to every dream I ever put on hold
for having thought that there was still time
and to myself, for not believing I deserved more
and to everyone-that-isn't-me, if it appears
that I think only of myself.
Forgive me, friends, for needing to do this
and don't scorn me, privacy, for choosing to do so in this way.
And lastly (at least for now),
my sincerest apology for the apologies...
that I have not yet made. [comments] => 8 [counter] => 649 [topic] => 50 [informant] => Silent-No-More [notes] => [ihome] => 0 [alanguage] => english [acomm] => 0 [haspoll] => 0 [pollID] => 0 [score] => 25 [ratings] => 5 [editpoem] => 1 [associated] => [topicname] => ApologyPoetry )

Sincerely, Me Contributed by Silent-No-More on Monday, 25th June 2007 @ 02:21:55 AM in AEST Topic: ApologyPoetry Though it may seem egotistical, I encourage you to take a moment to view the forum post that spurred this. There, amid my rambling, is the poem that started my mind turning. The piece, the fabulous Under One Small Star by the fabulous Wislawa Szymborska, is undeniably, well... fabulous. For the record, I felt a tad badly at first for having thieved the idea and for, too, mirroring her style - but in the end, I realized that my having done so without conscious intent do so only speaks to the power of her poem. For her clarity, her impact and her mastery, she moved me to this. As a poet myself, I cannot help but think that I would be deeply honored if my words were so fully embraced and absorbed that they became as much the reader's thoughts as my own. I do so entirely hope that Wislawa would agree. The link below will take you to the forum post. And when you read Wislawa's poem, I wish for you the same sort of osmosis that I experienced. It was, for me, quite healing really. Forum post My apologies to the teenage-me for having forgotten who you were for so very long and for having thought I should grow up. My apologies to my childhood home for sometimes returning to it temporarily and for having lacked the bravery to do so permanently. My apologies to history for looking forward more often than back. I beg you, those I've not made time for, forgive me for making time for something else. Forgive me, time, for so often lamenting your delay when you are so obviously fleeting. Forgive me, hope, for calling myself hopeless and meaning it. Don't hate me, passion, that I so restricted your definition for all those years. Forgive me, words, that I avoid you sometimes. Don't disdain me, silence, that I don't always respect you. Please understand, love, that I do so love you though I never simply say as much. Forgive me, faith, that mine wasn't what it should be. My apologies to my soul, that I only sometimes celebrate you. My apologies to my heart, that I only sometimes hear you. My apologies to my mind - that I don't fully use you. Forgive me, God, for ever suggesting that this is the best I can do with what I have been given. Forgive me, Fate, for sometimes acting as if I thought I could control you. My apologies to light, that my darkness sometimes distorts you and to darkness, if I've suggested you were not as important. Forgive me, health, for not tending to you as well as I should. Patience, please have mercy on me. Innocence, help me to know your wisdom. And truth, please forgive me my weaknesses. I apologize... to every tear I didn't cry for having thought that I was supposed to smile to every smile I only half smiled for not really having wanted to in the first place to today, for looking forward to the dawn to yesterday, that I must let you go to greet tomorrow and to the moments in between for so often struggling through you. My heartfelt apologies to every dream I ever put on hold for having thought that there was still time and to myself, for not believing I deserved more and to everyone-that-isn't-me, if it appears that I think only of myself. Forgive me, friends, for needing to do this and don't scorn me, privacy, for choosing to do so in this way. And lastly (at least for now), my sincerest apology for the apologies... that I have not yet made. Copyright © Silent-No-More ... [ 2007-06-25 02:21:55] (Date/Time posted on site) Advertisments: Previous Posted Poem         | |         Next Posted Poem