Sunday, March 29, 2009

Being Sylvia Plath

I only know that a rook
Ordering its black feathers can so shine
As to seize me senses, haul
My eyelids up, and grant

A brief respite from fear
Of total neutrality.

--Sylvia Plath

Is this the existential fear--that of being irrelevant, neutral?

2 comments:

Cynthia said...

Hmmm...excellent question. I find a fear of not being fully known
or understood, a fear of being
percieved as not being authentic
because I don't fit into society's
or a person I'm "talking to" idea,
because I'm not easily boxed or
my personality and enjoyments
just don't make sense to them due
to the fact that they see a type.

Judith Ellis said...

Cynthia - That is a most thoughtful response. I think it is a fear that many people have. We all want to be understood and not judged. It's funny, though. With such a universal need one would think that we ourselves would seek to understand and not to be understood and not judge less we be judged. This is probably something that requires constant introspection, as it seems natural to think of ourselves first and judge others based on our experiences and not theirs. I so appreciate variance and all types. You, beautiful poet, are most certainly a delight.