Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Adrienne Rich has died

"For The Dead"


I dreamed I called you on the telephone
to say: Be kinder to yourself
but you were sick and would not answer

The waste of my love goes on this way
trying to save you from yourself

I have always wondered about the left-over
energy, the way water goes rushing down a hill
long after the rains have stopped

or the fire you want to go to bed from
but cannot leave, burning-down but not burnt-down
the red coals more extreme, more curious
in their flashing and dying
than you wish they were
sitting long after midnight


6 comments:

JS said...

I am so sad. She will be deeply missed.

Bill Cameron said...

Very sad news. I'll mourn her passing by spending some time with my well-thumbed copies of The Dream of a Common Language and What Is Found There.

Ann Landsberger said...

What a tremendous loss for all of us. I had the opportunity to attend several of her lectures as an undergrad. She was a treasure.

Cindy C said...

One of my favorite poems from one of my favorite poets.

Robin Ruinsky said...

Brilliant writer and activist. She leaves behind a powerful legacy.

Hollie Sessoms said...

Sad. Just plain sad.