I have not read much in the past few days. Sometimes you just have to let your mind empty out. Once emptied, it can be used and filled up again. Emptiness is often thought of as a negative condition, but I am thinking of it in the positive sense. It seems to me that Kay Ryan’s poem relates to the condition I am describing.
“Emptiness”
Emptiness cannot be
compressed. Nor can it
fight abuse. Nor is there
an endless West hosting
elk, antelope, and the
tough cayuse. This is
true also of the mind:
it can get used.
(from The Best of It: New and Collected Poems)
See my previous blog on Kay Ryan, our national Poet Laureate. Also somewhat related is John P’s posting about Reader’s Block.
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