Author: Christina's Words

“The darkness around us is deep.” ~ William Stafford

“To Be Elsewhere” by Hsia Yü

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We met in a coastal village
spent a lovely night without leaving an address
going separate ways. Three years later
we meet again by coincidence.
The whole
three years spun a novel
we abandoned:
They fail to recognize themselves
as though meeting in another story
for an encounter.
One asks: Who are you, so cold and weary
The other says: I only know a thread is loose on my sweater
The more you pull it, the more it lengthens
until I completely vanish.

“To Be Elsewhere” BY HSIA YÜ
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE BY KAREN AN-HWEI LEE
Source: Poetry (June 2011).

“It is three at night. I have something to say… (Sexton)

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“It is three at night. I have something to say. You are so valuable. You shine out. You are a magic star. You are a body of blood made beautiful. How I admire, sit back and adore you. How thirsty I am for that. How you feed me.”

– Anne Sexton, from a letter to Lois Ames dated 11 January 1969; AnneSexton: A Self-Portrait in Letters

“i am running into a new year” by Lucille Clifton

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i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that i catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what i said to myself
about myself
when i was sixteen and
twentysix and thirtysix
even thirtysix but
i am running into a new year
and i beg what i love and
i leave to forgive me

—Lucille Clifton, Good Woman: Poems and A Memoir 1969-1980

“Life goes on. Get over it… (Leviathan)

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“Life goes on. Get over it. You’re still young. It’ll get better.”

– David Levithan, Marly’s Ghost

“1. Be Impeccable With Your Word… (Miguel Ruiz)

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“1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.”

― don Miguel Ruiz from The Four Agreements