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Comments:
Dirtgrain - 2004-08-06 18:06:14 Dirtgrain, thank you so much for introducing me to a poem of his I'd never read before, or forgot long ago--and thanks for making the links. I like In a Dark Time. A Roethke bio notes that he was periodically hospitalized for manic-depression, and this late-career poem seems to speak to that. Bio excerpt: "Throughout his subsequent career Roethke used these periodic incidents of depression for creative self-exploration. They allowed him, as he said, to "reach a new level of reality." Several lines I especially love: "I live between the heron and the wren,/Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den." "A night flowing with birds, a ragged moon," Dark, dark my light and darker my desire." After reading Dolor,I dimly remembered reading it in high school and remembered thinking it spoke to education and schools. Now when I read it again, I see a wider and more sinister meaning: standardization drives us mad or robs us of our humanity. I see the pencils, pad, manila folders to symbolize standardized modern life--all artificial, lifeless things without individuality or spirit. I think Roethke is saying that if we live such lives so far divorced from nature, in contrast to your comment, "I'd rather be a farmer," then we do so at our humanity's peril--I see the grey institutionalized folk at the end as not students, as I once thought, but madmen, like the people Roethke probably met during his hospitalizations. I am lucky to have a job I love, and I know there are few more difficult jobs than farming, but I must say I unrealistically daydream about being a farmer. With chickens--chickens are a must. Thanks again Dirtgrain.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dirtgrain - 2004-08-07 11:07:42 As a teacher, "Dolor" reminds me of the importance of doing interesting, active, new things in the classroom every day. David Edwards' book, Burning All Illusions has a chapter that questions psychology and psychiatry. It's that "sane person in an insane world" idea. He's pretty convincing in arguing that so many of the psychological maladies for which people are treated are just natural reactions to this disconnected world that we have created (spiritually disconnected, too). Instead of fixing the world, we medicate the people. I think that goes along with your interpretation of "Dolor."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-08-07 21:30:59 A good book recommendation--Howard Zinn certainly seems to like it, and it sounds very interesting indeed. It's on the list--thanks Dirtgrain. There is a whole new post or two here, exploring the idea of the disconnected world. I agree with you--instead of fixing the world, we medicate the people. As for me, mucking around in my gardens does a lot to keep me sane and down to earth. Cheaper than Paxil (it'd be a cold day in hell before I'd take any of that poison). At any rate--thanks again for book info Dirtgrain.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |