5 Comments
Nov 4Liked by Sarah Rose Nordgren

"The descent beckons

as the ascent beckoned

Memory is a kind

of accomplishment

a sort of renewal

even

an initiation..." https://genius.com/William-carlos-williams-the-descent-annotated

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Oct 30Liked by Sarah Rose Nordgren

Incredible work of your words, wonderful sharing of others, and impeccable timing to keep me out of the fetal position this week and walking tall - sharing and supporting with others. Xo Ever hopeful.

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Thank you Kim... walk tall! But also, when you do it, it's not fetal position but CHILD'S POSE. Also totally valid. xoxo

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Oct 30Liked by Sarah Rose Nordgren

Another spectacular piece, Sarah Rose. Thank you so much. Your reference to Notley's subway underworld, made me think about several Murakami novels I have read in which there are dark tunnels, many of them partially flooded, that protagonists must navigate. In the "Wind-Up Bird Chronicle," a protagonist, Toru Okada, finds himself out in a desert, in a deep, dry well where there is no light at all except once a day when the sun passes over. There have been a number of symbolic interpretations of this related to themes of enlightenment and introspection that flow through the novel. For me, the movement of the sun represents hope and the possibility of renewal even in the midst of despair. As our own "descent" into darkness this election season may be exhausting and unavoidable, no matter who wins the election, the sun will shine on us everyday. Modernity and its tyrannical henchmen are whistling past the graveyard. Hopefully you will be folding them up during your lifetime.

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I haven't read a lot of Murakami, but Brandon is a big fan and I'll mention your analogy here to him. And the sun will keep shining yes. Speaking of the sun, when I drive O to school each morning, there's a point in the ride where we have a great view of the sky over by NCCU, and this time of year it coincides with sunrise. I've been making a point of us noticing and appreciating that sky every day on our drive -- a recognition of the eternal quality of beauty.

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