Saturday 26 June 2010

Not about football

Dear blog readers,
It's World Cup time and the world, or at least Dubai, seems obsessed by it. So, in protest, that is all I am going to say about it.

I often hear how smells are very powerful at triggering memories. I don't know about smells, but for me, it's words and music.

Every now and then I think back to moments or words that have special meaning for me. In particular I remember one poem and one song that hold beautiful memories. My then "best friend" at high school wrote some verses from the Stones song "Wild Horses" on a birthday card. I remember her each time I hear that song. Recently we have connected again, and I wonder if she remembers writing those words so many years ago.

A couple of weeks ago I finally tracked down a poem I had loved when I was a teenager. I can't remember how old I was when I first read it - maybe 16 or 17 and a group of us had gone to a drama camp at Sydney Uni. I met a person there who really brought this poem to my mind. A couple of years back I met another but I couldn't find the poem. Now I've found it. I guess I can't quote it in its entirety - copyright and all that. If you want to look it up, it's e e cummings - Number 30 in 73 Poems.

... but a few lines should be safe.

...
Nobody,it's safe
to say,observed him but

myself;and why?because

without any doubt he was
whatever(first and last)

mostpeople fear most:
a mystery for which i've
no word except alive

-that is,completely alert
and miraculously whole;

with not merely a mind and a heart

but unquestionably a soul-
...

it is my dearest wish for you all that you know at least one person like this.