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
Live & Learn 
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.
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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.)
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Reblogged this on Writing Out Loud and commented:
One of the best Sylvia Plath comments I had read.
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Yes Bob. Agree.
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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.
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What a shame too…
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
The best way to live life!!!
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Yes!
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🙂
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yes, what a wonderful quote from this amazingly talented woman who struggled so with all of this.
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Struggled and yet able to articulate this struggle is such a beautiful way…
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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.
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Yes Sarah. I’m choosing to read it in an inspirational path.
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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.
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Thanks Perpetua. Enjoy your summer too.
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So interesting; I’d just gotten reintroduced to The Bell Jar.
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The Bell Jar?
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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
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Thank you Carolann. I’m on it.
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Love it.
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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.
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It is Indira, both wonderful
On Sat, Aug 2, 2014 at 7:41 AM, Live & Learn wrote:
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