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mary g.'s avatar

Dear Questioner who writes Love Poems, who writes Poetry: I love you for this. I love your question and I love your willingness to ask it. You say you are an old woman and that you are disillusioned by the behavior of your fellow humans, and I want to ask: are you really? For if you have lived a long time, you have lived through terrible times, yes, but you have also seen change happen, positive change. The road to beauty is pocked with holes and sand traps, but it’s always there. That’s not to say that I, too, am not also disillusioned. I am out of my mind at the current moment. And I am something I’ve never been before in my life. I am somewhat panicked. I calm myself by looking around, by grounding my reality, by drinking the coffee my husband brings me, by gazing at the olive tree in my yard. I am okay, right now. I am here. And I am communicating with you, you lovely old woman, who worries for the future. I extend my hand toward yours, right here, right now. I tell you we will get through these awful times. I imagine you writing a love story right now. It is the story of your life. It is a long, intricate poem, with many ups and downs. And it sings in harmony with my story, with my long, intricate poem. Am I crazy? Or are we here, together? I hope you will write what you will write, as George says. There is no right or wrong, only the page and your heart on the page. Be well.

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Kurt Lavenson's avatar

Just when I get tired of calling Story Club Therapy Club, a situation arises that makes it inevitable. This place is so incredible. I have tears in my eyes after this one. Thank you gifted and sweet questioner for allowing yourself to be so vulnerable in public, to share this with us, thousands of your closest friends. And thank you George, you incredibly f---- wise and insightful teacher and observer of life, who can take someone's wail of pain and reflect it into a song of hope and beauty. I mean really, how did I get here? I am too lucky. This place is too good.

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