Take My Waking Slow

A Great Wish by Loretta Yang

Theodore Roethke was born on this date in 1908. His book, The Waking: Poems 1933-1953, won the 1954 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

The Waking

(by Theodore Roethke)

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

I appreciate the confessional, vulnerable mood of his poetry. Although the delivery of feeling is direct, I'm intrigued by the obscurity of meaning and circumstance. Some confessional poets get really detailed in their autobiographical expressions. Roethke keeps just enough mystery to maintain a broadness of significance and flexibility of situation.


Listen to this reading:

The delivery gives the poem a brooding, pessimistic feel. It sounds like a poem about death or decline. It is a sorrowful poem.

Now listen to this version, set to music:

This is a poem about dreams. It's expressing hope. It's filled with a postivie longing. The words are the same but the meaning is altered by the style of delivery. That's a strong design. I like it!

Here's a link the Theodore Roethke's Wikipedia page.

Here's a link to the Confessional Poetry page.

Here's Loretta Yang's website. Beautiful glass works can be found there.

And here's Kurt Elling's Wikipedia page and his official website.

Enjoy!!!