Friday, September 10, 2010

Darkling Plain






Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night





--Matthew Arnold, from "Dover Beach," 1867

visit Sarge's September 11, 2009 post here

19 comments:

L. D. said...

Each person has their own way that they deal with that day. I can appreciate your expression in words.

Pearl said...

Never read that before. It was exquisite.

Pearl

savannah said...

I read Sarge's account again and I know I'll re-read it every time you post it. Thank you again, Sarge and Leah. xoxoxo

Tracey said...

Sarge's post just crossed my mind about twenty minutes ago. I remembered the date, and I wondered if I should post something about it. Then I remembered Sarge's post.

I won't be posting on the subject, but I love yours.

mapstew said...

I remember driving up the side of a mountain in county Kerry, trying to find a remote cottage, to deliver some lost luggage to a 'returned yank' who was visiting his brother. I remember listening to the news as it happened and thinking that it couldn't possibly be so. I remember parking my van on the side of a beautiful mountain, and crying.

I remember.

California Girl said...

One of my favorite poems in college.

C.M. Jackson said...

here's to peace and healing--c

Princess said...

Exquisite Leah, Thankyou.
I have just read Sarges elloquent account and have tears rollong down my cheeks. I missed his reccollections the first time around...
I have vivid memories of the day as I was working as a nurse on a night shift in psychiatric ward as live footage was streaming in via the Tv. It was like watching some sort of disaster movie. As the sonambulists arose I had to reality check them that this was not a movie it was happeneng before us live... It was very painful to be a witness to such a soul shattering event let alone living through it. Tears were shed by all witnessing.
I went home thinking about the words uttered by one of my patients as the footage was rolling again for the umteenth time...
"Where do we all go from here?"

It is a big question...

Love to you all XXX

Betsy Brock said...

That photo says it all, doesn't it.

Perfect words to match it, too.

Brian Miller said...

poignant post...i remember his post...thansk again for all he did...i was in the air that day and got put down in ATL...a very surreal week...

Martin said...

This is the first time I've read Sarge's post. As with many first hand accounts of traumatic events, one question lingers. Why?

Snowbrush said...

Well, if that isn't just one hell of a great poem!

"don't fake it baby lay the real thing on me"

And upon reading this, the mind boggles. Some of that which is real can be given out here, there, and everywhere, and in this, that, and the other situation, but you ask for something deeper, I take it, but what, and in return for what?

nick said...

A very sombre poem, and very appropriate. I can hardly imagine the sheer horror that descended on Manhattan that day. Ignorant armies clash by night indeed.

Warden Files said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

This picture and those words,wow!

Pat said...

What vision he had.

Madame DeFarge said...

Take care. And I still think Sarge's post is wonderful.

Leah said...

Snow: that, my man, is a very good question. What, and in return for what? I will have to think about it...

metaphors are one thing; reality something else entirely...

Warden, thank you for the poem/song. Even deleted. I think it was very a propos, and I have it in mind now.

xoxox

INNER VOICES said...

whoah...