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Mark Kolke's avatar

I've read more writing about Camu's writing than I have read Camu's writing - and I love the perspective. I doubt I could add anything of value to his body of thought, but I'll chip in one idea, which is this:

When you are in a state of despair, when it seems there are few things we might do and probably no sane way out - it's in this moments than I (and perhaps others do too) find the measuring and understanding of what matters to us in our lives are not material things or even abundant food, but instead the necessaries of life - the spark or the lightning strike - of love, someone to give it to whether they need it or not, and someone giving it to us whether we deserve it or not. In those cases, I believe we need 'a wee small part' of our big dreams and wildest wishes.

On this subject one of my favourite quotes comes from Hafiz, the 13th century poet - from the Daniel Ladinsky translations is this:

"I can think of no greater devotion

than to be shore to your ocean."

I thought that was about love, of a man (Hafiz) for a woman.

Then I read further about Hafiz - that everything he wrote was about love, but 'his love of god'.

Now that changes the the way to read that wonderful couplet.

I wonder, when we read Camu and other writers of profound ideas, that we take a minute to understand whether they were writing about their personal circumstances - and try to imagine how we might feel if we were in a similar spot, or how we might interpret any message sent to us from anyone today - or from ancient Persia, anything can be a plea for love, a professing of love, or an act of loving.

My two cents,

Cheers,

Mark

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Gloria Horton-Young's avatar

I adore this line,

“we discover the boundless depths

of love and despair,”

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