E27: Do Not Close Your Eyes - Dragos Radu
01/08/23 • 1 min
Dragos Radu - Do Not Close Your Eyes
Written: 27th December 2022, Bucharest
Theme & Story:
This poem was inspired by a sentiment of longing and emptiness for one person in my life whom I got to know for only the first 6 years of my life, my grandfather. Since I was a child, I have been looking up to him; he was a pilot, so, at that time, I desired to become one too. Thanks to him, I know how to play chess and ride a bike. When I was 5 years old, and he was teaching me chess, I used to steal some of his pieces from the board; he was never happy about that, as aside from learning chess, he wanted me to be a fair and honest person. No actual winning comes with shortcuts. It's all a process. I realised all these things through the years, yet most at the previous year's end when I visited his resting place. Why then? Well, I was different. I sat down there and talked. Went there like a child, the 5-year-old that once made his life difficult where he made my life unforgettable. It was one of the first people in my life, aside from my mother and grandmother, that had an impact on me, left a trace, and truly loved me. I have never forgotten him, so I wrote this poem in his memory and in the memory of all of you listening who had or have such people in your lives who play(ed) an irreplaceable role.
Enjoy, and thank you for being here.
Dragos
Poem:
Do not close your eyes while the sky is still blue,
As then, the sound of the birds is sweetest.
Do not close your eyes when there is no hope,
As then, something new is born.
Do not close your eyes when you’re overwhelmed by loneliness,
As then, someone who’s once loved you is there with you.
Do not close your eyes when the sun is setting,
As then, stars will come up to show your way.
Do not close your eyes when your heart is broken,
As then, light will seep inside you.
Do not close your eyes while we are together,
As we do not know if we will ever meet again.
Credits: Dragos Radu, 2022 / The Diary Of A Nobody, 2022
Dragos Radu - Do Not Close Your Eyes
Written: 27th December 2022, Bucharest
Theme & Story:
This poem was inspired by a sentiment of longing and emptiness for one person in my life whom I got to know for only the first 6 years of my life, my grandfather. Since I was a child, I have been looking up to him; he was a pilot, so, at that time, I desired to become one too. Thanks to him, I know how to play chess and ride a bike. When I was 5 years old, and he was teaching me chess, I used to steal some of his pieces from the board; he was never happy about that, as aside from learning chess, he wanted me to be a fair and honest person. No actual winning comes with shortcuts. It's all a process. I realised all these things through the years, yet most at the previous year's end when I visited his resting place. Why then? Well, I was different. I sat down there and talked. Went there like a child, the 5-year-old that once made his life difficult where he made my life unforgettable. It was one of the first people in my life, aside from my mother and grandmother, that had an impact on me, left a trace, and truly loved me. I have never forgotten him, so I wrote this poem in his memory and in the memory of all of you listening who had or have such people in your lives who play(ed) an irreplaceable role.
Enjoy, and thank you for being here.
Dragos
Poem:
Do not close your eyes while the sky is still blue,
As then, the sound of the birds is sweetest.
Do not close your eyes when there is no hope,
As then, something new is born.
Do not close your eyes when you’re overwhelmed by loneliness,
As then, someone who’s once loved you is there with you.
Do not close your eyes when the sun is setting,
As then, stars will come up to show your way.
Do not close your eyes when your heart is broken,
As then, light will seep inside you.
Do not close your eyes while we are together,
As we do not know if we will ever meet again.
Credits: Dragos Radu, 2022 / The Diary Of A Nobody, 2022
Previous Episode
E26: A Winter Bluejay - Sara Teasdale
Sara Teasdale - A Winter Bluejay
Written/Published: 1915 in Rivers to the Sea
The poem begins by placing the couple in a snow-covered landscape, walking through the “whisper[ing]” snow, enjoying a quiet moment. Their shadows are “danc[ing]” behind them, creating a beautiful pattern of light. It is clear that this moment is not one that comes often.
They continue on their walk and come upon skaters on a frozen lake who gracefully, without fault, weave around one another. Their grace and effortless beauty mimic the day and improve upon it still. Finally, the speaker asks if they have reached the “highest point” of their happiness and she decides that they have not as her companion points out a bluejay. The jay is proud of it’s own form and fearless in its assertions of life. The bird is like their love is that day, without worry for the future and enjoying the perfect moment the day has brought.
The poem concludes with an optimistic statement about happiness. That when one believes they have reached the pinnacle of their life, in which nothing could increase their joy, there may be more around the corner waiting for them. Read more @ PoemAnalysis.com (PoemAnalysis.com, 2022)
Poem:
Crisply the bright snow whispered,Crunching beneath our feet;Behind us as we walked along the parkway,Our shadows danced,Fantastic shapes in vivid blue.Across the lake the skatersFlew to and fro,With sharp turns weavingA frail invisible net.In ecstasy the earthDrank the silver sunlight;In ecstasy the skatersDrank the wine of speed;In ecstasy we laughedDrinking the wine of love.Had not the music of our joySounded its highest note?But no,For suddenly, with lifted eyes you said,“Oh look!”There, on the black bough of a snow flecked maple,Fearless and gay as our love,A bluejay cocked his crest!Oh who can tell the range of joyOr set the bounds of beauty?
Credits: Sara Teasdale 1915 / PoemAnalysis.com 2022
Next Episode
E28: Thanks - W.S. Merwin
W.S. Merwin - Thanks
Published: 2005 in Migration: New and Selected Poems
Theme & Story:
with the night falling we are saying thank youwe are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railingswe are running out of the glass roomswith our mouths full of food to look at the skyand say thank you
back from a series of hospitals back from a muggingafter funerals we are saying thank youafter the news of the deadwhether or not we knew them we are saying thank you
Credits: Rachel Jones, 2021 / W.S.Merwin, 2005
Poem:
Listenwith the night falling we are saying thank youwe are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railingswe are running out of the glass roomswith our mouths full of food to look at the skyand say thank youwe are standing by the water thanking itstanding by the windows looking outin our directions back from a series of hospitals back from a muggingafter funerals we are saying thank youafter the news of the deadwhether or not we knew them we are saying thank you over telephones we are saying thank youin doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevatorsremembering wars and the police at the doorand the beatings on stairs we are saying thank youin the banks we are saying thank youin the faces of the officials and the richand of all who will never changewe go on saying thank you thank you with the animals dying around ustaking our feelings we are saying thank youwith the forests falling faster than the minutesof our lives we are saying thank youwith the words going out like cells of a brainwith the cities growing over uswe are saying thank you faster and fasterwith nobody listening we are saying thank youthank you we are saying and wavingdark though it is(PoetryFoundation, 2023) Credits: Rachel Jones, 2021 / W.S.Merwin, 2005 / PoetryFoundation, 2023If you like this episode you’ll love
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