10.3.14

Minimalist Monday: Your Life is Your Life

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The Laughing Heart  
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvellous
the gods wait to delight
in you.

Charles Bukowski
A year ago I mourned the loss of my beautiful friend. I wrote about the strength she gave me in her life and in her death here. A few days ago, almost a year later, I came across this poem and it immediately reminded me of my friend's love for life.

We would talk for hours of our dreams and crazy ideas and egg each other on. I think we both gave each other the courage to take risks and strive to be the best versions of ourselves. Buddhist meditation, yoga, crochet, ukulele workshops, Glastonbury festival, painting classes and holidays, a trip to South America, reiki training and growing veg on her allotment were just some of the things she packed into her last years. You can imagine what an interesting person and amazing friend she was. A year on, I know ours was a precious friendship that I was very privileged to share. 

I don't know if she ever read this poem but I know she would have loved it as she seized every chance she had to let light into her life and beat the darkness.

This poem is for my friend, for the ideals we shared, and for anyone else reading who maybe needs reminding that there is light even in darkness.

Your life, your greatest possession.



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11 comments

  1. Your friend sounds wonderful. I'm glad that you still remember so well the inspiration she gave you. CJ xx

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  2. Your friend lives on in you and the things you shared, all those memories that you created with each other. This poem sounds so perfect for the fun and happy times you shared together :-)

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  3. Wow, that is really quite powerful and just what I needed to read right now. Thank you for sharing x

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  4. Thank you for sharing that, Claire, what lovely memories. I am going to write that poem down as it's just what I need right now. Love from Anne in Chasetown x

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  5. What beautiful poem. Life truly is for living.

    X x

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  6. Such an inspiring poem, Claire. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  7. Such a lovely post, Claire. I included it in my Joyful Reads for the Weekend--the link to it is here:http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2.... Thanks again for creating such a charming and pretty blog!
    Best,
    Joy
    P.S. I also want to thank you--I get a LOT of traffic from your site, thanks to your including me in your sidebar reads! So much appreciated!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Joy for your kind words about this post and my blog. It's a pleasure to include you in my sidebar! Thanks for the link. Happy weekend xo

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  8. Sorry, the link to your post didn't seem to work. I'll try again: http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2014/03/joyful-reads-for-the-weekend-vol-18.html.

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  9. omg, this is one of my favorite poems. i have all of bukowski's books. what a lovely post for your friend who has crossed to the other side. much love, janet

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