I want to taste and glory in each day,
and never be afraid to experience pain;
and never shut myself up
in a numb core of non-feeling,
or stop questioning and criticizing life
and take the easy way out.
To learn and think:
to think and live;
to live and learn:
this always, with new insight,
new understanding,
and new love.
– Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
Credits: Quote Source: Petrichour. Painting: Ufukorada
I love this poem and studied Plath at Uni. We live in the Northwest of England and have seen her grave a few times which is weirdly compelling with bizarre gifts and pens which have been left by visitors. I’ll take a picture and post it next time I visit if you would like to see it.
Wow, I agree with the characterization of “weirdly compelling.” Yes, if you could send me a picture, I’d love to see it. Thank you for sharing. Your comment will stick with me for some time. (I didn’t study Plath. In fact, hadn’t heard of her until about a year ago. And now, find her writings to be a keen attraction.)
Reblogged this on Writing Out Loud and commented:
One of the best Sylvia Plath comments I had read.
Yes Bob. Agree.
I love this poem as it is exactly what Plath fought against. She did fear pain. She did go numb. And her thinking drove her to the edge.
What a shame too…
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
The best way to live life!!!
Yes!
🙂
yes, what a wonderful quote from this amazingly talented woman who struggled so with all of this.
Struggled and yet able to articulate this struggle is such a beautiful way…
Seen in the context of her eventual demise, this poem reads to me as a desperate cry for help and a release from her demons.
Yes Sarah. I’m choosing to read it in an inspirational path.
it’s amazing how one can describe one’s situation that affects other people. It speaks to me. BTW, i really like your “theme”. I might play around with mine while I “freeze” the site for the summer. Have a wonderful summer, David.
Thanks Perpetua. Enjoy your summer too.
So interesting; I’d just gotten reintroduced to The Bell Jar.
The Bell Jar?
The Bell Jar
Book by Sylvia Plath
3.9/5-Goodreads
4.5/5-Barnes & Noble
The Bell Jar is the only novel by American writer and poet Sylvia Plath, originally published under the pseudonym “Victoria Lucas” in 1963. The novel is semi-autobiographical, with the names of places and people changed. Wikipedia
Thank you Carolann. I’m on it.
Love it.
Me too Vicky.
On Fri, Aug 1, 2014 at 6:56 PM, Live & Learn wrote:
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Lovely poem. That painting is superb.
It is Indira, both wonderful
On Sat, Aug 2, 2014 at 7:41 AM, Live & Learn wrote:
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