Friday Favorites. Lines from Poetry: I Grow Old
Friday Favorites will feature lines from a poem, article, or book that I have read and enjoyed. This is the first installment.
When I was in college, I was fortunate to hear a recitation of poems by T. S. Eliot in Boston, Massachusetts. Seeing him in person and reading many of his poems was thrilling. He became a personal favorite.
Today I took a picture of something that brought back memories of reading “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot in my college class.
I grow old… I grow old…
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
This poem has delicious lines and is well worth reading. Written in a stream of consciousness style, it reflects the thoughts of a man looking at his life, recognizing the unfulfilled expectations, and realizing what his life has come to in the end. A poem that hints of mystery, misery, and sadness but with many beautiful, quotable lines.
On a more humorous note, T. S. Eliot wrote another of my favorite books: Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (1939). Many of you have seen the play CATS.
Here is the book the play is based on. If you love cats you will enjoy reading it.
When I began my first blog, I included this favorite poet in my post:
The Naming of Blogs is a Difficult Matter, a take-off on T. S. Eliot’s poem “The Naming of Cats.” The borrowed line:
The naming of cats is a difficult matter.
Note on the picture:
My brother Adam, 81, blind, physically immobile and confined to wheelchair or bed, lives in the “medically needy” unit at Wesley Manor, in Ocean City, NJ. Despite his circumstances, he makes the best of his situation by teasing his tablemate at meals and the attendants who assist him during the day and evening. His all-around good attitude makes him a bit of a favorite with the staff.
And indeed, some days his biggest decision is whether to roll his trousers or not. Though he does have moments of sadness, and though he sometimes lives in his memories, he smiles as he faces each new day. He is a brave man, and I am proud of him.
I have written about my brother in other posts:
B: Big Brother’s Bits about Being Blind
VIP: Visually Impaired Person in the News Again
Elderly, Blind, and Living in a Big Black Box
Tips for Caregivers of Visually Impaired Persons in Care Settings
Chewy, A Therapy Dog for Elderly and Handicapped
Your Turn:
What is your favorite line from something you have read this week. Or what favorite line from a poem, article, or book has stuck in your memory?
Janice Heck Writes 