Songs of Self

Summary

Lori Carlson's "Songs of Self" is a reflective poetic composition inspired by Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself," exploring themes of identity, human nature, and the desire for peace through an "I am" poetic style.

Abstract

"Songs of Self" is a contemplative poem by Lori Carlson that delves into the author's introspective journey, mirroring the style of Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself." Carlson expresses her connection with the elements of air and water, symbolizing her fluid and dynamic nature. She portrays herself as a solitary observer, grappling with the ugliness she perceives in human interactions, the transient nature of life, and the shadows left by destruction. The poem also reveals Carlson's aspirations for peace and harmony, her fears of nuclear proliferation, and her longing for a world where peace can be sustained. The work is a blend of realism and idealism, acknowledging the challenges of achieving peace while advocating for its pursuit from within. The poem concludes with an invitation to readers to explore more of Carlson's writings, which often touch upon relationships, spirituality, life lessons, mental health, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Opinions

The author sees herself as an observer of human nature, questioning the discord among people.
Carlson uses the elements of air and water as metaphors for her own character, suggesting adaptability and resilience.
She expresses a deep concern for the future, haunted by visions of destruction and the potential for nuclear conflict.
The poem conveys a yearning for a utopian world, despite the realistic understanding that peace may not be profitable or easily attainable.
Carlson's reflections are influenced by her astrological birth signs, Gemini and Cancer, which are represented by air and water, respectively.
The author advocates for inner peace as the foundation for broader peace, suggesting that it starts with individual transformation.
She acknowledges the difficulty of writing the poem, which required extensive engagement with Whitman's work and introspection.
The poem is presented as part of a larger body of work that includes various topics and contributions to multiple Medium publications.

Songs I sing to myself in joy and sadness

I am air and water flowing, bellowing onward never staying still long enough to stagnate coursing through counties and vales I sweep over mountain tops and ocean waves I witness what air and water can sustain or destroy

I am a loner and an observer pondering in solitude and silence wondering why humans are so ugly to one another hearing the tick of a clock — we are running out of time I see shadows where bodies once stood before the bombing I want to be wrong; these visions to be wrong

I am a thinker and a dreamer pretending there is peace and harmony feeling the touch of a million souls upon my heart touching each soul — naming and remembering I worry that I will awaken from this utopian dream I cry out in despair, “Please let it be true!”

I am wise and a realist understanding there is no profit in peace realizing peace begins within, one lonely heart at a time wishing only to dream of kittens chasing butterflies I try to forget how many countries own nuclear bombs I hope they forget too

This proved to be more difficult than I initially thought. I read and re-read Whitman’s poem for nearly a week. I pondered what my own song would say, what I wanted to convey. I finally settled upon an “I am” poetic style. We did this poetic style many times in my writing classes and I always enjoyed them. So here are my songs — slow, melodic like blues and smooth jazz, and an occasional trippy-hippy folk tune.

FYI: the ‘air and water’ reference is my birth falling on the cusp between Gemini (an air sign) and Cancer (a water sign).

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Lori Carlson writes poetry, fiction, articles and personal essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, and the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to writing for 💜The POM💜 , Lori also writes for fifteen other publications here on Medium. Check out her personal Medium blog — Ravyne’s Nest.

POETRY | SELF-REFLECTION

Songs of Self

Songs I sing to myself in joy and sadness

I Am Darkness

poetry