Great Advice
Poem: "Advice to Myself" by Louise Erdrich, from Original Fire: Selected and New Poems. © Harper Collins Publishers, 2003.
Advice to Myself
Leave the dishes.
Let the celery rot in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator
and an earthen scum harden on the kitchen floor.
Leave the black crumbs in the bottom of the toaster.
Throw the cracked bowl out and don't patch the cup.
Don't patch anything. Don't mend. Buy safety pins.
Don't even sew on a button.
Let the wind have its way, then the earth
that invades as dust and then the dead
foaming up in gray rolls underneath the couch.
Talk to them. Tell them they are welcome.
Don't keep all the pieces of the puzzles
or the doll's tiny shoes in pairs, don't worry
who uses whose toothbrush or if anything
matches, at all.
Except one word to another. Or a thought.
Pursue the authentic-decide first
what is authentic,
then go after it with all your heart.
Your heart, that place
you don't even think of cleaning out.
That closet stuffed with savage mementos.
Don't sort the paper clips from screws from saved baby teeth
or worry if we're all eating cereal for dinner
again. Don't answer the telephone, ever,
or weep over anything at all that breaks.
Pink molds will grow within those sealed cartons
in the refrigerator. Accept new forms of life
and talk to the dead
who drift in though the screened windows, who collect
patiently on the tops of food jars and books.
Recycle the mail, don't read it, don't read anything
except what destroys
the insulation between yourself and your experience
or what pulls down or what strikes at or what shatters
this ruse you call necessity.
Perfect timing to stumble across this poem. I love it.
Happy Friday everyone.
Pursue the authentic this weekend.
Some of you should be getting some mail from me. It's long overdue.
I have launched my photography business. The website is still on hold until I can get the funds. But, the promotional materials are in the mail! Whoo Hoo!
If you'd like the materials and you don't think you're on my mailing list already...leave me a comment and I'll shoot you an email, gladly.
6 more days until relocation. Yikes.
15 Comments:
i am now addicted to your blog. and i can't wait to see the photography stuff.
you rock.
Erdrich is one of my all time faves.
(Love the new banner.)
SIX DAYS!!!
hey angela! i would love to see your promotional materials...you are an inspiration!
hope the packing is going well...
i can't believe you are moving, launching a business, and dealing with everyday crap all at the same time. you are my super woman! i have to tell you, i keep playing our breakfast date over and over in my head, and i think i'm in love with you! xoxo
I second what melissa said... and beyond all that you got a new fancy banner! Hott!
Oh how I love Summertime when there is a new blog from you everyday!!! Of course you know WE love your photography...You're hired! Love and hugs and all that jazz!
Rachelmae and Bryan
I love Erdrich! She rocks. Love the pic.
rachel- YOU rock. if it weren't for your inspiration...
oh, the joys- the banner. ha. trying something new! : )
laura- thanks!
mel- i was think about breakfast too. we didn't even get a chance to talk about photography! i am sooo in love with you. smooch.
beck- you are napping right now. heh. heh. see you tonight.
rachel- is it true you and bry are breezing thru atl?
kami- i agree. i love that poem. and thanks!
hey angela
i have been searching for the right person to photograph my kids and - SHAZAM- check out your site and see you are starting up your own business. I LOVE your work.. I love my kids... could we join forces??
let me know if you're up for it
wynn
wynnwalter@charter.net
p.s
14 day countdown until we move...
any last minute advice:)
Good luck with everything!
Linda
Cure, The - Doing The Unstuck Lyrics
It's a perfect day for letting go
For setting fire to bridges
Boats
And other dreary worlds you know
Let's get happy!
It's a perfect day for making out
To wake up with a smile
Without a doubt
To burst grin giggle bliss skip jump sing and shout
Let's get happy!
It's a perfect day for kiss and swell
For rip-zipping button-popping kiss and well...
There's loads of other stuff can make you yell
Let's get happy!
It's a perfect day for doing the unstuck
For dancing like you can't hear the beat
And you don't give a further thought
To things like feet
Let's get happy!
"But it's much too late" you say
"For doing this now
We should have done it then"
Well it just goes to show
How wrong you can be
And how you really should know
That it's never too late
To get up and go...
Kick out the gloom
Kick out the blues
Tear out the pages with all the bad news
Pull down the mirrors and pull down the walls
Tear up the stairs and tear up the floors
Oh just burn down the house!
Burn down the street!
Turn everything red and the beat is complete
With the sound of your world
Going up in the fire
It's a perfect day to throw back your head
And kiss it all goodbye!
wynn- let's so join forces. i'll shoot you an email this weekend. oh, and i'm sure i'll have some advice for you by next week about the move! you too? whoo hoo! : )
linda- thank you! we need it!
anonymous- a great poem for a great poem. thank you. i just hope we have the same analysis of the lyrics.
Love your site. I would also love to see some of you promotional material. You take amazing pictures.
Love the post - and I want details on the photo business! (when you have time, of course... things sound crazed right now!)
aimee at greeblemonkey dot com
Congrats!
i'd love the promotional materials. the aerial photo of tim and audrey holding hands is great.
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