When you’re born, your life (past Karma) is like a piece of string
with knots in it and you’ve got to try, before you die,
to undo all the knots: but you
tie another twenty trying to get one undone.
–George Harrison, from “I, Me, Mine,”
pages 180-181, talking about his song,
“The Art of Dying.”
We rise again with life that’s swapped
from incarnations’ carousel,
bestowed with knots that can’t be lopped.
Our goals: to tease them thread by thread
and quash new clots that squat and plop,
to drop with smoothed ropes at the end.
Then –
we rise again…
image: Water Dragon Kuan Yin by Sue Halstenberg
I’ve been reading George’s book and in a bit of serendipity, read the top passage just a few days ago.
Mish is today’s host for dVerse’ Quadrille. Mish says:
So be knot afraid. Incorporate the word “knot‘ or a form of the word into your poem. Remember that a quadrille can be any style, but must be exactly 44 words, and …yes knot including the title.
Tao Talk 
That’s a coincidence, Lisa. You’re reading George’s book and I’m listening to a book about the Beatles on Radio 4. I like George’s comparison of life with a piece of string with knots in it, and the way you’ve expanded on it in your quadrille.
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Now George is really pleased! Since retiring in 2018 he’s been a person I’ve been studying every which way. Which book are you listening to? Worth a read? Thanks, Kim!
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One Two Three Four – The Beatles In Time by Craig Brown
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Great take on George Harrison’s quote. I love the idea of ‘ incarnations’ carousel.’I’ve always loved the Beatles but I’m getting more interested in their experiences with meditation recently.
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Thank you, Ingrid. Very neat you are drawn to them as well.
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Thanks for sharing the inspiration for your quadrille. Great quote. I really enjoyed your own expression of the message with its sounds and internal rhyme.
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My pleasure and thanks, Mish.
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I love the way you tied the quote into your own poem… what a great coincidence to just have read that one.
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Thank you, Bjorn. I can see him smiling from here.
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Such an interesting concept. I like the way you worked his quotation into your poem.
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Thanks, Merril.
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You’re welcome!
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The quote made me think of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, and your take on the quote made me feel like it’s time to reread it. 💖
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I’m glad, Helene, George’s book has been a joy to read.
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I love your use of the word “plop”, and the way the poem drops into simplicity and rises again at the end.
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Sarah, thank you for your feedback, much appreciated.
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I know, I know … but I’m tired in advance … 😉
(this was fab!)
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I love you using fab. 🙂
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🙂
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Interesting narrative on life’s beginnings and endings
Happy Monday
Much💜love
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Thank you, Gillena!
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The rolling sounds feel like knots in the quadrille. And the unlopabale knots; really thought-provoking. Well-done, Lisa.
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Thank you very much, K. It would be nice if we could lop them off instead of untangling them…
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Your poem and quote “tie” together so well…interesting idea of trying to untie the knots of a lifetime, Lisa.
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Thank you, Lynn. I was kind of surprised when he said we are born with knots and the goal is to leave with them all worked out so there is no need to return again. I’m still pondering this one.
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me too!
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I’m thinking I need to read that book. Loved the serendipity of the quote coming to you in time for the quadrille! Your opening lines drew us in quickly. Great write!
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Thank you, Beverly. If you like George Harrison, you will love this book. He’s actually a man of few words. This passage (part of a 2-page explanation) was one of the longer ones. Mostly it’s photos and comments on the songs he wrote up to that time with handwritten copies of the songs.
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👏👏 Lisa 👏👏
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Thanks, David.
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this resonates deeply Lisa … this arvo I am giving a talk on death and end of life options! So serendipitous indeed …
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So glad that this ripples to you as well, Kate ❤
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absolutely!
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Nicely done quadrille.
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Thank you, Maria.
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George goes deep again. When I think of spiritual…I think of George.
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Enjoyed your philosophical take, along with George’s quote. It does seem like if reincarnation could happen it would end up like this. Not sure multiple lives could really evolve anything. I’m curious about his book now! 💖
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Yes it is a fascinating ponderable isn’t it?
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I can see how some of us writers could be viewed as older, more evolved souls, 😁 but I don’t bank on getting another shot at this life, personally!
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I guess we’ll get or not get what we get or not get when we get there 🙂
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It appears that way 😉
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Very interesting concept Li. I like how you’ve incorporated it into your poem.
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Thanks, Sadje.
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You’re welcome my friend
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A very interesting use of the prompt! I think you are right we tend to tie more knot in our sting of life!
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Thanks, Dwight, yes we do.
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:>)
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The irony of life is that we do all the knotting and untangling, without knowing what are we doing.
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I think sometimes we have a clue what knots we’re up against. I’m very aware of many of mine. The struggle for me is being motivated to unknot them as there is some level of comfort in their texture.
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You are right in saying ‘level of comfort in their texture.’
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I can certainly look back and see more tangling than untangling. (K)
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Really, K? I’m surprised. Seems like you’ve untangled a lot, but I don’t know your rope. I can see some untangling but so many persistent knots.
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Some things are past untangling, and I’m trying to make my peace with that.
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You made it sound so straightforward and focused. Nice!
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I followed Geo’s lead 🙂
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I was on a Beatles binge yesterday evening. This is timely. I love your take on George’s words. We do seem to spend our lives untangling knots, many of our own creation. Thought provoking in its own right.
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I like the sounds of Beatles binge 🙂 Thanks, Raivenne and nice to see you. Yeah yeah yeah!
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I love your lines and the karmic joy, also – that is my all time Harrison fave.
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Thanks, Paul and glad to hear it. He’s become like gravity to me, keeps pulling me back to him.
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Sounds like such hard work, but then life is, isn’t it?
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The outside parts are easier now. I can see why people have chosen lobotomy in the past.
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🙂
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I love the way your words flow up and down like a carousel. Beautiful Lisa!
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Many thanks, Linda. Your praise is appreciated ❤
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When we can ease those knots with subtle effort we have achieved peace
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Wise words, Ken.
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🙂 Thank you.
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