“In the Desert
In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, “Is it good, friend?”
“It is bitter—bitter,” he answered;
“But I like it
“Because it is bitter,
“And because it is my heart.”
― Stephen Crane, 1895
I wonder about the poor, naked creature. Was it human once -or still is, just doesn’t look and act like it anymore? What made its heart so bitter?
Was it hate? Hatred brings bitterness. It causes desolation, shows us evil and yet so many find a certain pleasure in hating that defies all logic.
Perhaps, the two friends in the desert are both one person, and they represent all of us. At our core, stripped down, we are vulnerable and lonely beasts whose only grand possession is the heart pulsing within. No matter how much we dishonor it, no matter how much we scar it, no matter the beating it takes – it is the one thing we can hold up and say, “This is mine, and it has beauty.” Taking a bite, we can surely taste the anguish and futility and bitterness that can be there. But it is good because it is ours because it has beauty. We put, or allowed, the bitterness in that heart. Just as how we placed, or allowed, all the love and goodness that was, or will be, in that heart as well.
Taking a bite, we can surely taste the anguish and bitterness that can be there. But it is good because it is ours because it has beauty. We allowed the bitterness in our heart. Just as how we allow all the love and goodness that was, or will be, in our heart as well.
So profound! Love this
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Thank you, Lynn
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Wow, really good reflections here
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Thank you, Christy
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Wow! I am glad you liked that one. Thank you for the reblog!
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I like all your content and I really like your blog theme but because I do not get notified via e-mail, I forget to visit your blog. I am old and forgetful. Thats my story and I’m sticking to it.
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Just scroll down a little bit. On the right side under the top posts and pages, there is an option where you can be bothered via email. 🙂
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It says I am following you, as I thought I had signed up to follow you, but WORSTpress does not send me e-mail notifications, but you’re not the only one WORSTpress has done that to. Several bloggers I have subscribed to but I do NOT get their e-mail notifications either.
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Happens sometimes. go into “manage” followers. Unfollow and then sign up again, that should solve the problem.
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I am already subscribed to your blog according to both the reader and your blog site. Worstpress has been fucking with the site for weeks now, no doubt messing up what already works to make un-needed “improvements with don’t help one thing.
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You summed it up nicely. 🙂
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It’s why I have named wordpress WORSTpress.
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🙂
Click on Reader, then mark followed sites “Manage” scroll until you find a blog with missing email notification. Click on the > in front of the name and check if the email notification in on.
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Yes dear, I know all about that and it’s not that at all, it’s worstpress being inside the system doing god knows what and they’ve been screwing up the site for weeks now.
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Knowing that you might have to miss a few of my genius posts saddens me but I will live. I know where to find you. 🙂
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I am here and there all the time.
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Powerful and touching reflection here, Bridget. I love the way you remind us that our hearts are our own and we can choose what to fill them with. ❤
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I am glad you liked it, Diane.
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I love your words here Bridget. xxoo
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Thank you, Lisa
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