Photo by Moses Pendleton
Here’s a poem dedicated to all floundering writers, frustrated artists, inhibited dreamers, all those shy or quietly in love.
RISK, by Anais Nin
And then the day came,
when the risk
to remain tight
in a bud
was more painful
than the risk
it took
to Blossom.
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Candy, I am so with you on that one! I say something too after the people walk away, but the hubby brushes it off (good business practices/PR?). I get annoyed that the people don’t at least apologize for interrupting our meal. Ann, I give you great credit for being married to a celebrity and being able to handle the attention. I don’t know if I could be that gracious!
Barbara,
I too have the “relatives” that want to be there for “..and the award for best performance goes to..” So there is no wake, and the. Memoorial service is private. My Ex Mother in Law made it quite clear…If you can’t find the time to talk with me while I’m alive, don’t you dare show up with crocodile tears when I’m gone. Therefore her wishes will be adhered to.
Barbara, thinking of you, xoxxo. Wendy, I have a very similiar situation with my husband and I too find people most annoying and always put in my two cents to my husband when they are gone.
Barbara: My deepest sympathy.
Hey Eveyone…Barbara please accept my Condolences on the sudden loss of your brother.”Ast week I lost my ex-mothr in law. We remained closen she was my oldest ones grandmothern and even accepted my son as one of her grandchildren. We had our differences after the Divorce but we agreed on one thing..Her son threw away the best thing he ever had. My mother in law is in a better place, not suffering. Be thinking happy thoughts for you. You too. AnnXOXO
Barbara all my best… so sorry for yr loss.
I appreciated what Harvey said about poms. I still burst into tears for Beau and it is weeks now.
I don’t twitter but got the basic drift that someone had been mean to Ann. The average dog is much better than most people present company accepted.
It is always so hard to lose a family member my prayers are with you Barbara. It would be a better world if someone could be as loyal/loving as a dog
Barbara, I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. You’re both in my heart today.
Barbara, please accept my condolences too. A sudden death shatters one to the core.
Warm thoughts going out to you and your family.
Ann, I just read your tweet about the two words that would make the one you love walk out. Hilarious!
Oh yeah, if that doesn’t work – “Go Rangers!”
Kathy C, My wife and I lost our 14 year old Pom, Hannah, about 2 years ago. I understand what you are going through. I never really wanted a dog. I thought I was a cat person. It was supposed to be my wife’s dog! Needless to say however, she endeared herself to me right away. Poms are really wonderful dogs. And so portable. When she didn’t feel like walking, I’d carry her around everywhere. We became inseperable and losing her was very hard. People who love their pets know that the loss of a beloved pet is extremely difficult. People who have never bonded with an animal don’t get it. “What’s the big deal? It’s just a dog,” they think… Well, I get it. I still miss Hannah very much. But I will say, it does get better with time. I know how it feels and I’m very sorry for your loss…
You are so right on, Rose! It is a shame that people disappoint us, but they do, so we just need to process the disappointment and hurt and move on. I have this situation to a lesser degree, as my hubby is not famous, but important in his work environment and national committees, and people think nothing of coming up to us when we are eating lunch (or dinner out) and start chatting him up, while I sit there being invisible. It annoys me no end.
Barbara, I am so, so sorry for your loss.
Barbara, so sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time and may you be comforted by the wonderful memories you have of him, as he will always live on in your heart and mind.
My condolences Barbara for your loss…
Barbara so very sorry xxxxxx
Dearest Barbara, so sorry about your brother. xo
I like this poem. Makes me want to write. Must turn off “America’s got talent” and create something…
My wife has all of Anais Nin’s diaries and enjoyed reading them. She was a complex woman, famous for her journals,her erotica, and her relationships…but this is not a complex poem. Short and sweet and cut right to the point.
Ann, there is no “just” in passing your course’s final EMT exam. That’s a HUGE accomplishment and I know you’ll do great on the state & national exams. You’re probably already aware of this, but I’ve heard that the EMT Training DVD’s that they have out now are VERY helpful when it comes to studying for the practical…I hope you’ll keep us posted.
Barbara, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your brother. I will keep good and strong thoughts going your way that you are able to cope with all that will be required of you these next few days. Life sure can sling some shit our way, can’t it? Damn death!
Barbara, I am so sorry to hear about your brother, and I am sending good thoughts your way. Sounds like the next few days are going to be tough. Hugs….
Gee, maybe I misunderstood Ann’s tweet. I assumed that someone tried to get close to our Ann by being a faux friend to Denis. Was it the other way around??
Oh Barbara, I am so very, very sorry. Please accept my condolences.
Take care,
Lynne
Barbara, I haven’t been on facebook lately. I’m so very sorry to hear about your brother. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow…and always remember what Rose says
Go Rose !!!!!
As some of you know (from my facebook posting), this has been a terrible week foe me. My brother passed away suddenly on Sunday, and the wake and funeral are tomorrow and Thursday. It is a time of so many emotions. But for some of my relatives (and a former one or two), Rose’s sentiment will be perfect. Hope it’s okay if I borrow it for those who really should just stay home—the ones just coming for the “show” and to be able to report back to the non-attendees.
Ann–they are not worth having hurt feelings over……know that they’ll get theirs one of these days !!
Hi Ann,
I read your tweet late last night and a few times today…It saddened me and I tried to come up with a consoling comment while trying to erase the “ick” factor (and some outrage on your behalf) from my own mind…All I can say is I hope Rose’s comment cheered you up as much as it did me!
Now give those newly-trimmed bangs a shake and enjoy the rest of the week! (And Rose, you rock!!!!)
Ann, I’m confused…is your husband someone famous???
I’ll just go with what Rose so poetically said.
XOXO
Rose, Love that!!!!
Hi Ann,
Saw the tweet too, – same thing used to happen to me – my husband is an Architect and I had a number of people who seemed to befriend me, and would invite us to dinner, and then ask my husband to give them recommendations for their particular projects and/or renovations for their houses!!!
As my late grandmother would say – “They have the gaul of a canal horse”.
Saw your tweet,made you unhappy
I do not want to sound sappy
FUCK EM
My poetry for the year.XO
Ann, I saw your tweet too. Who’s the schmuck that would do that? I hope you’ve written this person off.
If it’s any consolation, people use me to get to my company’s Yankee tickets. I’m the most popular gal in the world from April to October. I’m used to it now.
Sorry to hear that your feelings were hurt. That’s kind of a friendship killer.
Ann, I don’t have twitter, but I saw the comment and your post next to the blog.. It is a very sad world sometimes when you can’t trust people to just be honest and have a real friendship for the right reasons. I am sorry that this happened to you. They obviously don’t know you or Denis very well to think that it would actually work. I just hope you didn’t trim you bangs over this =)
Ann, noticed the tweet as well and I too have find myself in that position with my husband and his job, I find it most annoying and all I can offer up is that you can’t let yourself get worked up about it. Must always be alert for mover upers and cling ons. xoxoxxo
Blossom was a really good TV show for kids. Every time I see the title of this blog post, I think of Mayim Balik…
and her many hats. Time for a nap.
Ann, I just saw your tweet. I hope Denis is able to bounce back. I’m sure he has many true friends who value him for his own accomplishments.
Tina, very nice, thanks
ARS BREVIS
There is
one art,
no more,
no less:
to do
all things
with art-
lessness.
Piet Hein (1905-1996)
Late danish poet
I live in a city born of risk — not just born . . . created . . . but based, to this day, and forever after on RISK.
It’s weird . . . but when you live here, you know that you’re not just vacationing, and having a little fun, but if you can survive any length of time — you are a risk taker, you are a GAMBLER — and all that came before, and all that will come after will share in that collective insanity.
We bloom out here in the desert. We may wither, we may lose it all, we may die without a penny to our name in the gutter, but we bloom.
Ann, perfect poem for the day. I actually think it’s something I want to print out (along with the photo, if that’s ok) and post it in my tack room for my younger students…and some of my older ones, too! Poems and phrases such as that can really change someone.
I’d use a photo of one of my own budding sunflowers, but they seem to have regressed back into buds! I am so sad!
Kathy C, so sorry for the loss of your Pom. My thoughts are with you.
I came across this site in the newspaper today. Its called “A Days Outing” and you can find out whats going on in your town from local festivals to plays. Check it out.
http://www.adaysouting.com
One of my favorite quotes ever! I actually thought of it this weekend as I was preparing to go to my 25th HS reunion and remembering that I wasn’t the person in the “bud” any longer.
So few words say so much!
Thank you Ann, hope your days are good.
I too, find it harder to enjoy the months of summer. But – September is but 2 months away – and we are not having the 100+ temps that we had for months last year.
Blessings to you and yours…….
Thank you for the poem, glorious. Simply brilliant timing.
Jan, no,no, o, just passef the final exam for the course. Still have to take the state and national exams. But thanlks
This poem sparked me. I was never fearful of anything. As I get older, I hesitate more and create a world of “what if’s”. I hate it because I’m very conscious of it. When something very exciting happens that I didn’t have time to think about – I’m almost childlike – like “wow” did you see that. Its really kind of pitiful.
Deborah, You just triggered a memory. I bought an Anais Nin book when I was about sixteen years old. I couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was about, so I instead loaded up on Harold Robbins novels to satisfy my insatiable curiosity.
My mother confiscated an Anais Nin book of mine when I was in high school, along with many other items of contraband. I wonder where all that stuff is now?
Dear Ann:
Huge congrats on passing your EMT exam!!! I KNEW you could do it! How was the practical? I was fine with the written test, the practical was the one that gave me fits.
I also wanted to let you know that I posted an entry today about The Simon Foundation and your wonderful story of Puck at my Juggling Crocodiles Blog at http://www.jankozlowski.com
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful organization with us,
What a gorgeus poem. It describes an universal experience. To have the courage to venture outside of yourself.
JB’s position in the household is precarious. He may have to live with my uncle. He has a way of challenging the hierarchy (JB, not my uncle), thinking himself higher on the ladder than he is.
Gloria
Anne I think I read somewhere you had a poodle named Beau so thanks for the comment about losing my Beau. My first dog was a poodle named Pepie. How dear they are as friends. Never can understand how some people don’t get doggie love. I took him to parties as my date with a bow tie
Aw, Kathy C. We understand
Aislinn, I know, fear is such a crippling emotion.
That is a beautiful poem. So meaningful to a lot of us, I’m sure. If only we would recite it to ourselves when we’re wrapped in our buds, afraid.
I say that we should never hold back on anything for fear of failure. Living in fear is worse than failure.
Congrats Ann on passing the test and thanks again for the blog. This helped so much having your readers understand my grief at losing my 16 yr old pom dog Beau. To me he was the most beautiful creature who ever lived. Your words helped… have not felt up to sharing but thanks guys
Thanks Rose, so better for my time with Beau than not but real love is a scary thing. That why I called him Beau (southern slang for boyfriend and French for good). Never said a stupid thing in his life. Not sure if I will ever be up for a man vs dog… love can hurt it is Risk and who is with that jump?
Ann, I love, love, love this poem.
That is a perfect description for those of us, who hold back because of fear, or question our worth. Whether it be in regards to our ability to write, make music, or move forward with new love or even a new friendship.
It’s very scary and painful to open up totally to someone.You leave yourself open for pain and heartbreak. But then again “tis better to have lost at love, than to never have loved at all” I don’t know where this came from….Must be the coffee. Too early to be so philisophical.