Day 14 - A Love Song - by William Carlos Williams

When people become discouraged about what they want to do in life, especially when they are entering their middle years or feel they are past their prime, I always remind them of my favourite story of Dr Albert Schweitzer.

Dr Schweitzer is famous because at the age of 77 he won a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work in Africa.  People tend to think this is because he spent his whole life being a doctor, establishing a hospital in rural Gabon and devoting his life to healing.  This is true.  But what most people don't know is that before he was a doctor, he was a famous pianist who performed concerts in Europe.  At the age of 30, feeling a need for change, he enrolled in University to obtain a medical degree.  Yes, at what  most people would consider too old to establish a new career, he challenged that and established what would become his legacy.

It just goes to show, you are never too old - for anything.  (Go, do it!)

Like today's poet, who was also a medical doctor.  William Carlos Williams (1883 - 1963) had a passion for poetry and prose.  He felt he was overshadowed by other contemporary poets, but I think this poem is really magical.

Here is my spoken version of it:
https://soundcloud.com/raindrop-11/a-love-song-by-william-carlos-williams

***********************************************************
A Love Song - by William Carlos Williams

What have I to say to you
When we shall meet?
Yet—
I lie here thinking of you.

The stain of love
Is upon the world.
Yellow, yellow, yellow,
It eats into the leaves,
Smears with saffron
The horned branches that lean
Heavily
Against a smooth purple sky.

There is no light—
Only a honey-thick stain
That drips from leaf to leaf
And limb to limb
Spoiling the colours
Of the whole world.

I am alone.
The weight of love
Has buoyed me up
Till my head
Knocks against the sky.

See me!
My hair is dripping with nectar—
Starlings carry it
On their black wings.
See, at last
My arms and my hands
Are lying idle.

How can I tell
If I shall ever love you again
As I do now?

*******************************

Listen again.  Can you hear the message?  I have no other goodies for you today.