Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Morning Voices

“I wake early and hear my morning voices leaping around in my head like jumping beans. I get out of bed to trap them before they escape.” ― Ray Bradbury

Marylinn Kelly posted that quote a few days ago, along with a wonderful post exploring what it feels like to be unable to live within one's morning voices. She used the metaphor of visiting relatives, which rather delighted me:

"My morning voices feel short on pep, lacking conviction and seem to wonder aloud when they will be allowed to go back to their bed. It is not a dry spell. It feels more like a too-small house being taken over by too many relatives with boundary issues who didn't bring even the most essential items since they knew they could mooch off me. I feel like I've been sleeping on the floor of the sunporch, then spending the rest of the day trying to clean the kitchen and not succumb to the vapors, though that would give me an excuse."

Reading her post, I understood more keenly that my best writing hours are immediately after waking, and when I have to rush out the house to work, to put those morning voices to the task of making a living, well, they escape, they run amok, they are squandered. I don't write. If only there were some social innovation that allowed those who awaken full of voices to spend the morning listening to what they have to say, and faithfully setting that down. I miss the days when I could do that. I am glad to have had any such days at all, and I keep the faith that I will know such mornings again in the future, maybe when all the college tuition has been paid. Until that time, it is good to know one's purpose, and to feel it worthy.

Not unrelated, here is a photo from last night of my college-bound girl, talking to the boy (no, not her brother) with a tiara on her head.




18 comments:

  1. She's just too cute!!

    And I think about what you said about 'our morning voices' and our morning creatity often. I think we all need to be put in a little village, in our own little huts, where we can work and create and output. Folks who are good at farming and/or hunting can bring food to the table, those of us who are good with children can caregive or teach, those of us who are good at making others laugh can mingle at the dining table at night. There. I solved it. I feel you.

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  2. I really like this, and while I am saddened that your morning voices are silenced by the necessities of your work, I am cheered by the FACT that your afternoon and evening voices, many of which I know I've read here, are intact -- and powerful -- and authentic.

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  3. I tell you what- the window of opportunity opens and shuts mighty quickly for a myriad of reasons. Speaking as a grandmother...
    What can you do?
    I think the muse must be taught to come when called.

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    1. Ms. Moon, you are right, of course. I think that was the point of Marylinn's post, too. And we sure dont begrudge the gifts of our children, and our grandchildren. May I be so blessed! hugs.

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  4. Angella, Thank you for the shout out. In reading your slant on this, it reminds me that once upon a time I knew about going to bed early, to rise early, to have time with the morning voices. But there will probably always be, in me certainly, the sense that there is a necessary selfishness about writing, that days were never made big enough to hold it and all the rest, even when the time we embezzle is not from others but from our own other voices. xo

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    1. Marylinn, you are such a thoughtful soul. The connections you make are dazzling.

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  5. What wonderful quotes, I love Ray Bradbury's and Marylinn Kelly's.

    And that must be a good phone conversation if it required a tiara! Fancy. :)

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  6. Good Morning.
    It's 5:30a.m. and all is quiet here. Within 30 minutes, chaos will begin. It's an hour and a half of non-stop rushing. I then walk 2 miles to work where I can sit and finally breathe.
    Will I miss this craziness in 10 years? We'll see! But for right now, I think I need more children. Yes, I am insane.
    Love your tank-top Princess!
    m.

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    1. Mark, you will miss it. but as ms. moon says, then the grandchildren arrive! enjoy!

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  7. Our children are priceless...what a lovely daughter you have and cute with a tiara (I'm wondering if I should have donned a tiara years ago when I use to have PMS...what I statement I would have made!). No I didn't mean your daughter is having that!

    College bound...oh boy...next year we will start visiting colleges as our son will be a junior in High School.

    As for writing...yes the morning is when I feel the most inspired but I don't always have the time either. I do try but find the afternoon is when I can sit and type.

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    1. Ellen, she wears that tiara whenever she's happy, or wants to GET happy. She may be on to something.

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  8. I also write better in the mornings. Love the tiara!

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    1. Steve, well, you might look very handsome in a tiara! my daughter is teaching me that it's the spirit of it!

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