…it is winter here.
Look how white everything is,
how quiet, how snowed-in.
I am learning peacefulness, lying by myself quietly
As the light lies on these white walls, this bed, these hands…
To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty.
How free it is, you have no idea how free——
The peacefulness is so big it dazes you,
And it asks nothing, a name tag, a few trinkets…
~ Sylvia Plath, from Tulips in Collected Poems
Notes: Poem Source – Poetry Foundation, Photo: Donata Wenders (in the snow)
Live & Learn 
I think it’s more hopeful to read this with no knowledge of Plath’s struggles. There is something eerie and discomfiting when thinking of her pain; something freeing and peaceful when reading this with an open mind…
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Interesting you mention that. I thought same but forced myself to compartmentalize. See the Beauty. See the Beauty. See the Light. See the Light.
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Right there with you both. As soon as I read this, I thought, “Ahhh yes, but the poor girl…”
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P.S. Love your ‘holly, jolly header’ pal….😉😉
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You noticed! That is Susan’s shot near Radio City Music Hall. She suggested I put it up as a header.
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Good call–it’s wonderful!
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I love the shot Susan took, that you are using as your header!
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She’s got a great eye!
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Here’s her full shot:
http://thrive.davidkanigan.com/post/154601371565/new-york-city-december-2016-susan-kanigan
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She does have a great eye…such a stunningly beautiful full shot…thanks for sharing…
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all it asks of you is to breathe.
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Sylvia Plath, in her young life made a choice(s) to see the beauty and find the peace…in her chaotic world…it is as if she and Mary Oliver have a secret in, to sharing wisdom and beauty…their gift of thought, observation and penning of words, is such a gift…
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So true Christie.
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Maybe it is only when we are in a chaotic world or a world that is hurting us, that we finally surrender to precious moments like Sylvia describes. “The peacefulness so big, and yet it asks nothing.”
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Yes. Nicely stated.
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