Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and the hashtag is #IWSG.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG posts. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
March 2 question - Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?
The awesome co-hosts for the March 2 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn,Pat Garcia,Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
I’m skipping this month’s question because I don’t have an answer. I can’t remember being conflicted about including a scene. Now, I’m scratching my head because I’m wondering if I should have had this experience and somehow missed it.
For those who want to continue playing with WORDS FOR WEDNESDAY, please carry on. This is one long-lived meme!
It’s Ash Wednesday, so when that dawned on me, I turned my thoughts to what that day means for so many. Because my mind seems to skip around a lot, I re-read one of my favorite poets, Mr. T. S. Elliot, and then wrote this post.
The practice of marking people’s heads with ashes from the burnt palms of Palm Sunday gave this day its name. As I remember, the ashes are a symbol that represents man’s mortality. “From ashes you came and to ashes you shall return.” The ritual of this day is meant to remind Christians that while they are physical beings, they are also spiritual beings.
T. S. Elliot, had long been dissatisfied with the materialistic world of his day, and set out to explore this dissatisfaction in his poetry (The Waste Land and The Hollow Men). In his poem, Ash Wednesday, Elliot speaks to hope for human salvation in a faithless world. In it, the point of view character, begins as one who is hopeless and distraught about his human error. As the poem continues, it moves on to address what Elliot himself was striving for, an acceptance of true love. This was about spiritual love, not worldly love.
It seems that by the time he penned this poem, Elliot had turned from the materialistic world toward the spiritual one. He wrote, “Because I do not hope to turn again.” I take that to mean he believed he was on the right course away from the world he’d left us in with The Hollow Men and The Waste Land and was now headed toward one that was full of meaning and hope and spiritual fulfillment.
I’m sure my take on this is simplistic, but this is how I’ve always thought about these poems and T. S. Elliot who grappled with one of man’s largest choices in life. I’ve always been fascinated with how brilliantly he put such an important philosophical journey into words for others to consider.
If you’d like to read the entire poem, here’s a LINK that will take you to it.
Quote of the Week: “When the whole world is running headlong towards the precipice, one who walks in the opposite direction is looked at as being crazy.”- T. S. Elliot
Oh! It’s been a long time since I read that poem, I should reread it, even though we’re now past the third Sunday of Lent… I loved TS Eliot when I was younger, back in the days when I had time to copy out entire poems in longhand because I loved the words and phrases so much.
A fascinating post and I think T.S. Eliot was a great writer and thinker. I’m also interested in spiritualism, not within a specific religious structure, but the idea there is a greater meaning and purpose to it all. The way the world is going, we need to strive for that more than ever.
Eliot is a favorite poem. Generally the words used as the sign of the cross is made is “Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return.” which comes from Genesis 3:19. A fun Lenten read that isn’t that religious, but incredibly funny is “Handling Sin” by Michael Malone. His story takes place been Ash Wednesday and Easter.
Glad to know you’re reading “Thunderstruck” and curious about your take on the book.
I’ll have to look for Handling Sin.
I’m about a quarter of the way through Thunderstruck. I’m not as impressed with it as I was Devil in the White City, but I’m fascinated by the Marconi story.
“The Devil in the White City” is one of the best all around non-fiction books I’ve read. While I really liked Thunderstruck, I’m sure part of it was my interest at an early age in radio.
Now I am reading Anne Applebaum’s “Red Famine.” It’s well written but also difficult to read because the subject matter (nearly 4 million Ukrainians starving because of Stalin in the 1930s). She does help provide an understanding in what is happening now.
It seems the Ukrainians (well all countries in that region) have suffered because of Russia. I’m almost finished with Thunderstruck, and now I see the connection between the Marconi story and the one about Crippen.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Ash Wednesday and its meaning. Thanks for the T.S. Elliot link and quote as well.
It reminds me of the saying: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” This is because we existed in spiritual form before we were born into this physical world.
I think it’s from a French philosopher… not too sure.
Might Decartes. It has been years since I’ve read his philosophy.
Elizabeth Mueller says
Hi! I had no idea about ash Wednesday. Thanks for sharing the wonderful poem!
He was an interesting poet who shared his spiritual journey in his poetry. Glad you liked the poem.
Thank you for widening my world with this poem. I read it, but need more readings to absorb and appreciate it more deeply. Poetry’s eloquent language seems to raise us up and away from hum-drum days. I used to write a lot of poetry, but always rhyming—June, tune, spoon. You’ve inspired me to read more poems and try writing some more meaningful thoughts.
Poetry is a medium I’ve always admired for how much it says so beautifully and often so briefly.
I am deeply comforted in the promise of the symbolic ashes. So many times in my life, I’ve thought things couldn’t get worse. Or better. The older I get, the more I realize all things are temporary conditions…both the good and the bad. And as someone who has said farewell to people I love, I count on the promise that our time here on earth is short and almost meaningless in comparison to what awaits us on the other side.
I agree. Beautifully said.
I’m glad you’ve found comfort in this symbol.
One of my favorite poetic lines of his is
“For the last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.”
Isn’t that beautiful? I’m so glad you posted them here. Thank you.
It’s certainly something to reflect on. Ash Wednesday has always been part of my upbringing, but has also always been a bit odd to me too. Instead of ashes and dust, I always think on Yoda’s word “luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.” 🙂
That is a contrast in images. I like the luminous idea so much more than the drab “ashes.”
Very cool moon picture! Poetry seems like a good way to mark the day.
Hope you’re having a great day! My latest blog post has my theme for the April #AtoZChallenge (I’m writing speculative fiction and looking for prompts).
At Operation Awesome we have the #PassOrPages query contest going on (friends or enemies to lovers Romance).
Looks like I’ll be very busy the next few weeks!
March quote: “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” - Mark Twain
What a perfect quote! And how great that you’re getting set up for the #AtoZChallenge! I’m looking forward to seeing what you have going on this year.
A very inspirational post, Lee. I never read that poem before. Beautiful, thought-provoking. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Diane. I’m pleased you liked the post and enjoyed the poem.
Wonderful. I hadn’t heard that last quote of Elliot’s before. It’s so perfect!
I like to look to what others who have lived before me and had the courage to share their experience. It seems that T.S. had quite the journey while he lived.
This month gives us all a challenge, the least of which seems to be this month’s question. I dodged answering it as well . . . but having the chance to reread beloved T. S. Elliot is always a treat. Thank you for reminding us all that poetry heals.
So well said, Beth. Poetry does heal and it serves as a guide for things that we struggle with. I think we all travel the same path, only we each have different experiences and certainly very different lives. Reading the unique stories of others is the closest I’ve come to time travel.
We can find meaning in all sorts of places.
As we should.
The moment I realized I was a spirit being, I cried with joy. The knowledge gave me such hope. I also believed in life after death, sort of. But it’s one thing to agree with what you’ve been taught your entire life; it’s quite another to feel it and live it. Great post, Lee.
It’s the awareness and acceptance, isn’t it? I remember your outward bound journey and admired you when you took off on your own to a place far way from your comfort zone. Perhaps that’s when you felt and lived what you’d only intellectualized before.
It seems nothing changed since Elliot wrote those words. :((
Thanks for the reminder.
Everything changes around us, yet everything remains the same. All we have to do is live long enough to see that. Of course, we never get the “big picture.” That’s beyond us…me!
That quote of T.S. Elliot is great, isn’t it?
Absolutely.
Getting the ashes used to be a regular part of my life. Today, just a simple prayer service. It has been many years since I’ve read Ash Wednesday. Eliot’s words have a much deeper meaning for me now, as I reread it, so thanks for sharing.
Reading poems or stories in our younger days is one thing; reading them after we have some life behind us is another. I agree. The meaning is deeper. We can relate.
I’ll read that poem later. I like T.S. Eliot, but don’t recall that one. Somebody said something like this, but I don’t know who: Always remember we are spiritual beings with a body, not physical beings with a soul.
Getting the right order is important.
A life full of meaning and hope and spiritual fulfillment is what many of us hope for. A wise man.
We are definitely a work in progress.
I have never read this particular Elliot poem, so I used your link to check it out in full. As well as the lines which you chose to feature, this is the passage which most resonated with me…
“Because I know that time is always time
And place is always and only place
And what is actual is actual only for one time
And only for one place
I rejoice that things are as they are and
I renounce the blessèd face
And renounce the voice
Because I cannot hope to turn again
Consequently I rejoice, having to construct something
Upon which to rejoice”
Thank you for sharing your lovely post 🙂
I’m so pleased you enjoyed the post and took the time to explore his poem.
What beauty and eleoquence in his words. I really love, “…what is actual is actual only for one time
And only for one place” A very Zen principle.
Thanks so much for your comment, Yvonne.
If you missed that step in writing then so did I.
Something in common.
Thanks for the link and the explanation. Simplistic or not, it made me a little wiser. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Well then, it was worth posting. Thanks for letting me know.
Hi Lee!
Fantastic post! I loved everything about it. The quote must surely resonate with many of us at this time. I know it does with me.
I appreciate the insight on Ash Wednesday. It was such a solemn day for folks during my childhood, yet I often wondered if kids fully understood why they walked around with a smudge on their faces all day.
Happy March!
As children, I suppose we just follow our leaders without questioning. Fortunately, we grow up and find our way, asking tons of questions…I hope. Thanks for the visit.
I enjoyed The Hollowman, and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. I am turning away from materialism also as I age. I don’t care that others embrace it, it’s just not for me. My daughter took me to an opulent hotel in Tokyo, the night before we flew back to America, to be kind to me. I was physically uncomfortable-sweating, shaking even. I’d never done that before. The idea of people waiting on me, ingratiating themselves to me-I will never put myself in that position again.
This is the arc of life for many of us, so I really hear what you’ve said about your experience in Tokyo. I love what has happened to me as I’ve aged, and I think you do as well.
Yes, definitely. I think it surprised my daughter! Neither of us is conspicuous about our consumption, but it’s never affected me that way before.
Hi,
T.S. Elliot is one of my favorite poets. In my opinion, it is amazing how much his poetry speaks about the things going on in the 21st century. It just shows that great poetry has a deep message that passes down through the ages.
Take care.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I knew you’d appreciate T. S. Elliot. Thanks for being out there, Patricia.
Like other commenters, I really like the Eliot quote at the end of your post. Anytime we go in the opposite direction from the majority, we single ourselves out for judgment. And sometimes it’s hard to know whether we’re right or missing something obvious to everyone but us.
Hi, Janet.
I’m so happy you came over to visit my site and take the time to comment. Please come again.
Thanks for a tour of Eliot’s writing Lee. I feel like revisiting The Wasteland after reading your post. Also, I think I misunderstood this month’s question. I took it as conflicting ideas in the mind of the writer.
I’ll have to stop by your place and see what you wrote.
The Elliot quote is wonderful. I always feel like the odd ball as I tend to take other roads rather than the one traveled by most.
Teresa
Everyone should take a road of his own.
I love the Elliot quote. I’m always the odd ball. However, I read the other day that those who stand out are those who others will pick on. What? 🙂
Teresa
Great quote at the end of your post. I skipped the optional question too.
Thanks Lee for highlighting Elliot’s poem and his explanation for Ash Wednesday … I too will be off to read it … cheers Hilary
T.S. left us with a lot of excellent words to consider.
Love Elliot’s quote at the end. I bet he never got caught up in mob mentality!
He probably didn’t.
Hi, Cheryl-Lee!
Like you, I don’t have an answer to the question of the month. The only thing I can think of that relates to it is my decision this week to bump a post I had scheduled which contains humor based on the relationship between the U.S. and Russia. Thanks for telling us about T. S. Eliot and his journey toward acceptance of higher love. The quote at the end of the post rings true. In a world gone insane, a person locked up for being insane might be the sanest one. That theme is explored in my current favorite TV series Ozark which I highly recommend.
I hope the month of March is gentle as a lamb to you, to me, to us all, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Anything about U.S.-Russia relations should be interesting right now. What a mess we have.
I’ll have to explore Ozark. I’m always looking for recommendations. Thanks.
True love - I will have to go read that poem!
Your philosophies are a match.