Embracing My Madness

I didn't sleep well last night, the snipets of chaos invading my mind. Yes, my excitement and my anxiety for my upcoming trip to Europe has my mind in over-drive, of sorts.  I woke up thinking "everything is connected"; that seemed to be the theme of the night's dreaming.  Isn't that obvious?  Now if only I could write a poem, creating images to match my own . . . or at least a few blogs . . .

These are the times I'm envious (minus the tragic outcomes) of Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath and their ability to express their 'madness':  (Yes, there are levels of madness, and yes, I am linking to Wikipedia as a starting point.  As I explain to my students, scroll down for the References and Bibliography for more potentially academic resources.)

"All extremes of feeling are allied with madness" (Woolf). 

"I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart:  I am, I am, I am" (Plath).

"The beauty of the world . . . has two edges, one of laughter, one of anquish, cutting the heart asunder" (Woolf).

"The silence depressed me. It was the silence of silence.  It was my own silence" (Plath).

"A light here required a shadow there" (Woolf). -- Krista is drawn to shadow imagery in literature.

Only Virginia could create such profound thinking by staring at a mark on the wall or a dead moth -- my students just shake their heads -- but I understand those moments -- and I just shake my head.  But I am forever thankful that their words were written and published, so that others may gain strength, knowing that madness is not to be feared or hidden, but embraced and shared.

So I find myself quoting them, to avoid disappointing myself with my lack of words.  I have written poetry, some decent, I think; tragically, however, much of it lost due to technology and faith (long story).  So for now I'll blog, just ramble . . .

Speaking of madness, my obsessions, I am overjoyed to see that two of my favorites from different genres are coming together:  Mumford and Sons (music) and Wuthering Heights (literature).

http://www.wordandfilm.com/2011/05/new-wuthering-heights-adaptation-scores-a-fall-release-and-songs-by-mumford-sons/

Some things just make sense.  And may I add that Heathcliff, a character of madness, was my first literary love.  I see a need to re-read . . .