There is always reason to despair

[PrinceMyshkin]

for A.E.





You will find a writer one day,
and you will think
that she has saved your life
or given it back to you
as meaningful as it ever was,
like more money than you could ever spend,
the interest compounding all the time
or more women than you could ever love,
and each one has a sister
or a maiden aunt,

but then,
oh, then
you will notice that she,
this writer, has only written
so many books
and she’s already old,
and there is always reason to despair.

[AuntShecky]

an arrestingly powerful thought.

[PrinceMyshkin]

an arrestingly powerful thought.

Thank you, Aunt S.

[Sapphire]

Brings Terry Pratchett to mind...
Thank you for sharing.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Brings Terry Pratchett to mind...
Thank you for sharing.

Thanks, Sapphire. I had to look up Terry Pratchett.

[a_little_wisp]

Terry Pratchett is brilliant (and hilarious, but those two usually go hand-in-hand, I think.)

What a sobering thought - 'there is always reason to despair', that life truly seems too short, no matter how much we do (or don't do) to fill it up. Thought-provoking and very well written, as usual, Prince!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Terry Pratchett is brilliant (and hilarious, but those two usually go hand-in-hand, I think.)

What a sobering thought - 'there is always reason to despair', that life truly seems too short, no matter how much we do (or don't do) to fill it up. Thought-provoking and very well written, as usual, Prince!

There IS always reason to despair, my dear - if one so chooses!

[Scheherazade]

Love the title and the line "There is always reason to despair".

Just wondering why the author is a "she". Written for someone in particular in mind?

[PrinceMyshkin]

Love the title and the line "There is always reason to despair".

Just wondering why the author is a "she". Written for someone in particular in mind?

Yes, the A.E. of the dedication stood for Ann Enright, whose collection of short stories, Yesterday's Weather, I was and still am reading. She is a brilliant writer with such an acute ear for voice that as her female narrators unfold their stories you can read not only what they say but hints of what they are holding back or embellishing.

[Virgil]

Pithy and sharp as usual Prince. Very good. I think it's a fine poem.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Pithy and sharp as usual Prince. Very good. I think it's a fine poem.

Many thanks, Virgil.