- Published on
Depression rears its head and
I’m overwhelmed and frustrated by
The state of the world
The lack of time
The lack of funds
I don’t know enough
I am not enough
It is cold and wet and raining ice
And then I get to sit in a room with people and sing
Singing is good
Singing with people is even better
It’s good for the soul
And then I go to the post office
And the agent is living her best life
She is smiling and laughing
And acting like helping people send their mail is the greatest job in the world
She shakes my hand with a firm grip
“Have a blessed day! Thank you for being here!”
She really means it.
Then there is a boy in the subway
He is giving away handmade paper roses
He looks confused when I offer some money to take a photo
The awful can feel pervasive
I moved to the United States in time
For the peak of its decline
The toxicity is revolting
But then you recall
You can choose light
No matter how little, how hard, how tough
Choose light choose light choose light.
I’m overwhelmed and frustrated by
The state of the world
The lack of time
The lack of funds
I don’t know enough
I am not enough
It is cold and wet and raining ice
And then I get to sit in a room with people and sing
Singing is good
Singing with people is even better
It’s good for the soul
And then I go to the post office
And the agent is living her best life
She is smiling and laughing
And acting like helping people send their mail is the greatest job in the world
She shakes my hand with a firm grip
“Have a blessed day! Thank you for being here!”
She really means it.
Then there is a boy in the subway
He is giving away handmade paper roses
He looks confused when I offer some money to take a photo
The awful can feel pervasive
I moved to the United States in time
For the peak of its decline
The toxicity is revolting
But then you recall
You can choose light
No matter how little, how hard, how tough
Choose light choose light choose light.
- Published on
I first encountered Eve Ensler,
Well her work,
In my first week at university
A student production of
The Vagina Monologues.
It made me anxious.
Then whilst in London
I discovered V-Day and
Was inspired by the red-lipped dancing women
Joyous and proud
I read In The Body of the World
While walking the Camino
It was B.C., Before Cancer, but
I was still moved by Eve Ensler’s powerful, visceral writing
A year later
I was diagnosed with cancer
Now, A.C.
I found myself sitting in a theatre
With Eve Ensler herself
Speaking her words aloud
Telling her heart-breaking, gut wrenching, soul shaking story
In an extraordinary one woman show
Parts of it made me gasp
Parts of it made me nod in feverish agreement
Some parts I didn’t relate to at all
(I never wanted to be a mother
I have always loved trees
I loved being bald)
But Eve is captivating
She is who I want to be
Powerful, passionate
Emotive, articulate
A true artist connecting the dots
Between the personal and the professional
The self and the world.
The ending,
A total surprise
So beautiful and breathtaking
Eve invited us in
To walk in the garden of Ensler, and
I never wanted to leave.
Well her work,
In my first week at university
A student production of
The Vagina Monologues.
It made me anxious.
Then whilst in London
I discovered V-Day and
Was inspired by the red-lipped dancing women
Joyous and proud
I read In The Body of the World
While walking the Camino
It was B.C., Before Cancer, but
I was still moved by Eve Ensler’s powerful, visceral writing
A year later
I was diagnosed with cancer
Now, A.C.
I found myself sitting in a theatre
With Eve Ensler herself
Speaking her words aloud
Telling her heart-breaking, gut wrenching, soul shaking story
In an extraordinary one woman show
Parts of it made me gasp
Parts of it made me nod in feverish agreement
Some parts I didn’t relate to at all
(I never wanted to be a mother
I have always loved trees
I loved being bald)
But Eve is captivating
She is who I want to be
Powerful, passionate
Emotive, articulate
A true artist connecting the dots
Between the personal and the professional
The self and the world.
The ending,
A total surprise
So beautiful and breathtaking
Eve invited us in
To walk in the garden of Ensler, and
I never wanted to leave.