Monday, September 22, 2008

pms poem monday

monday and pms together.

good stuff.

but not quite as good as monday, pms and a migraine -- which some would argue go hand in hand -- and then go ahead and add bitter cold wind, overcast skies, and intermitten rain.
one thing about monday, pms and a migraine, plus stormy weather is it really makes you grateful for all the other days of well-being.

and isn't that part of what life is about? experiencing the sad, and the sorrow, and the hard stuff so that we can really know joy and happiness and the difference between well-being and the other?

I just found this poet, Jane Kenyon. She was a modern poet, and really wrote some quite beautiful stuff. "8 Credo" is an excerpt from her poem Having it out with Melancholy. The whole poem is really . . . thought provoking. It also reminds me of the sections in Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert where she personifies depression sitting in her room and snuggled up next to her in bed. Interesting, sad, sorrowful stuff.


Here is the promised poem.

8 Credo

Pharmaceutical wonders are at work
but I believe only in this moment
of well-being. Unholy ghost,
you are certain to come again.

Coarse, mean, you'll put your feet
on the coffee table, lean back,
and turn me into someone who can't
take the trouble to speak; someone
who can't sleep, or who does nothing
but sleep; can't read, or call
for an appointment for help.

There is nothing I can do
against your coming.
When I awake, I am still with thee.


For me, today, I am happy that the pharmaceutical wonder called ibuprofen exists to help me manage my migraine, that I can go to lunch with PB&J and friends, and that the sun always manages to break through the clouds.

(like this picture? I took it in Hawaii. You just can't feel bad in Hawaii. It's a state law. Or should be.)


Last Friday, at the Middle Carrotstick's soccer game, the skies spit rain on us for about 10 minutes. But when it was done, the setting sun rewarded us with a glorious full magical rainbow. Unfortunately, the only little leprechauns I saw running around were wearing soccer cleats and chasing a ball -- not lucky charms -- around the soggy field.

But. I don't think we would have enjoyed or appreciated the rainbow as much if we hadn't been sitting out on that field, enduring the rain (without umbrellas) first. There is joy in the contrast.

Sorry. This ends Waxing Philosphical (with unoriginal thoughts) by the Lunch Lady. We now return you to your regularly scheduled whatever.

overcast picture originally downloaded by Patrice Balard

9 comments:

Head Nurse or Patient- you be the judge said...

um- relating a bit too much to your poem today- lots of overcast skies in my neck of the woods lately- and not just my personal universe-if you know who I mean.

Allyson said...

I am really like the poem, very well suited to a rainy start Monday.

Amber said...

You really should get paid for your wise thoughts. But then if you published in some fancy magazine, we wouldn't have such a fun place to share.

Off topic: my girls have you on a pedestal. "She is YW President and so calm." They think that is way cool and something to strive for. Calm that is.

Amy said...

I love overcast rainy days..something about the smell of rain..PMS days and rain seem to go hand in hand.

Shem said...

Calm! Hee Hee. I don't feel calm at all. I am glad Lunch lady is calm for all of us.

the lunch lady said...

teaching yesterdays lesson would make it difficult to remain calm, cool and collected!

kninsa said...

For the record, I don't have PMS. But I suppose I care that you do. Try some pickled okra; that always makes me feel better.

the lunch lady said...

kninsa, you don't have to care about my pms. it's really ok. and I think the only thing pickled okra could do is make me feel even worse while eating and better when it's gone. I suppose it's a matter of perspective.

pickled okra. bad.

very very bad.

Amber said...

If you are interested in trying Rubus drops, I have some you are welcome to try. Rubus is PMS sanity at our house.

It is a homeopathic, non prescription and not too serious- yet...it sells by the bundles from a guy in Orem because it works for so many people. Better than Christmas.

It has to be better than pickled okra.

signed, pmser's anonymous