Saturday, October 4, 2008

Together





Twelve years married today, almost 18 years together. I just adore that Sarge, and I believe he's my bashert, a Yiddish word for destiny--the one who is divinely ordained as one's soulmate.

I thought I'd revisit a poem by Allen Ginsberg, one of our favorite poets, that was read at our wedding party:


Song

The weight of the world
is love.
Under the burden
of solitude,
under the burden
of dissatisfaction

the weight,
the weight we carry
is love.

Who can deny?
In dreams
it touches
the body,
in thought
constructs
a miracle,
in imagination
anguishes
till born
in human--
looks out of the heart
burning with purity--
for the burden of life
is love,

but we carry the weight
wearily,
and so must rest
in the arms of love
at last,
must rest in the arms
of love.

No rest
without love,
no sleep
without dreams
of love--
be mad or chill
obsessed with angels
or machines,
the final wish
is love
--cannot be bitter,
cannot deny,
cannot withhold
if denied:

the weight is too heavy

--must give
for no return
as thought
is given
in solitude
in all the excellence
of its excess.

The warm bodies
shine together
in the darkness,
the hand moves
to the center
of the flesh,
the skin trembles
in happiness
and the soul comes
joyful to the eye--

yes, yes,
that's what
I wanted,
I always wanted,
I always wanted,
to return
to the body
where I was born.

San Jose, 1954

13 comments:

Kookaburra said...

LEAH and SARGE,

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Congratulations and best wishes to you! Enjoy your day!

Mark.

Leah said...

Hey Mark! It seems there are a lot of anniversaries around this time of year!

kylie said...

have a wonderful day, all of you
xx

Shutterspy said...

Tintin! A picture of Tintin with Captain Haddock outside Marlinspike! :-D

A day-late 'happy anniversary!' to you both :-D

muralimanohar said...

Happy Anniversary. Here's to many more. :)

Gig said...

Belated Happy Anniversary to you and Sarge, many, many more!!

Wonderful post as always...

I am trying to catch up with everyone, loved your last post with the pictures of your family members. I too have many pics of fami ly that I never was blessed to know, but am here today because they were here on this earth.

Take care, hope that you have a great week.

xoxo, Gig

Suzanne said...

Happy Anniversary!!!!!

I love the poem. I'm going to print it and place in my studio. I want to read it every day. It's stunningly beautiful.

Love you. XO

Too Little Time said...

Happy Happy - our's is Monday the 6th. :) K

Skeeter said...

Happy anniversary kids :-)

Best wishes,

Skeeter

The Mistress said...

As soon as I feel better I'll raise my glass to you!

Team Jolias said...

Happy anniversary! I still remember how giddy the judge was who married you--he could tell it was a great day! and how gorgeous you both looked.

CSI Seattle said...

Hey , Happy Anniversary!!

I'll bet the time went fast.

INNER VOICES said...

congrats!!!