Final Notations | Adrienne Rich

[exceptindreams.livejournal.com]

"Final Notations"
Adrienne Rich

it will not be simple, it will not be long
it will take little time, it will take all your thought
it will take all your heart, it will take all your breath
it will be short, it will not be simple

it will touch through your ribs, it will take all your heart
it will not be long, it will occupy your thought
as a city is occupied, as a bed is occupied
it will take all your flesh, it will not be simple

You are coming into us who cannot withstand you
you are coming into us who never wanted to withstand you
you are taking parts of us into places never planned
you are going far away with pieces of our lives

it will be short, it will take all your breath
it will not be simple, it will become your will

Comments

[poppyromanov.livejournal.com]

wow.

[two-grey-rooms.livejournal.com]

which collection is this from?

[exceptindreams.livejournal.com]

I believe it's from her Collected Poems: 1950-1995 book.

[two-grey-rooms.livejournal.com]

ah, thanks. would you happen to know in which year it was written? 's perfectly fine if you don't; i can google. just wondering if you knew off-hand.

[exceptindreams.livejournal.com]

No, I don't. Sorry.

[morriganviviane.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this. I love Adrienne's stuff, and this is my go-to when I really need motivation. I find that Rural Reflections (also by her) is an excellent companion piece to Final Notations.