A few weeks ago in my metaphor class we came across this poem. My professor asked us to read it several times and then analyze it. I thought I'd share since the poem is absolutely beautiful. I also shared my analysis since it seems appropriate of how I feel sometimes when Im at certain stops along my life.
Things to Do In The Belly of The Whale
Measure the walls. Count the ribs. Notch the long days.
Look up for the blue sky through the spout. Make small fires
with the broken hulls of fishing boats. Practice smoke signals.
Call old friends, and listen for echos of distant voices.
Organize your calendar. Dream of the beach. Look each way
for the dim glow of light. Work on your reports. Review
each of your life's ten million choices. Endure moments
of self-loathing. Find the evidence of those before you.
Destroy it. Try to be very quiet, and listen for the sound
of gears and moving water. Listen for the sound of your heart.
Be thankful that you are here, swallowed with all hope,
where you can rest and wait. Be nostalgic. Think of all
the things you did and could have done. Remember
treading water in the center of the still night sea, your toes
pointing again and again down, down into the black depths.
~Dan Albergotti
This poem is not just about being swallowed by a whale but looking deeper realizing its metaphorically speaking of being swallowed by life.
Measure the walls accounts for the hurdles that we face. Sometimes these hurdles seem insurmountable yet we must measure them if we're to get over them. How will we decide to scale them without knowing how big they are? Some may be smaller but we must take stock of our strength if we are to see ourselves on the other side. These walls may take us a long time to figure out. Notch the long days. Count them.
Sometimes looking around and being aware of your surroundings renders a new perspective. Look each way for the dim glow of light that you have been waiting for. A different alternative, a better opportunity may be lurking there in the depths. All you need is a bit of light to lead you out, even if you still feel stuck. Maybe being stuck for a while isn't so bad. There comes a point where everyone must Endure moments of self-loathing. When we are forced to be introspective we are bound to find things that we hate. Embrace them, change them. It's crucial to becoming a different person.
Find the evidence of those before you. Destroy it. Those moments of self-loathing may be the one solemn time you really dig deep. Find the evidence of the things you detest, attitudes, behaviors, habits that you may have inherited and destroy them. They are no longer yours. Then you can relax feeling peace and Listen to the sound of your heart. Be thankful that you are here, swallowed with all hope, where you can rest and wait. We forget that we are just human, flesh upon bones. We are not machines. we need rest, we need centering. Our life revolves around four chambers that work in a symbiotic relationship to keep you upright. We must respect and stand in awe of that power. Feel your heart, hear it, and enjoy it. Tomorrow brings a new start.
With a new start we become conscious that our troubles aren't so overwhelming. Look up for the blue sky through the spout when your troubles seem to surround you and there's no way out. Look up. Up may be the only option you have. Creative thinking sometimes can get you out of a dilemma. Think of all the things you did and could have done while looking for ways out. What ripples have you spread into the world? Mull these over, let the memories of those moments wash over you. Remember how you felt. Then think of the potential you hold inside for what could have been. Be sad for them, even cry. It may not have been your time or maybe it just hasn't happened yet.
But above all, Remember treading water in the center of the still night sea, your toes pointing again and again, down, down into the black depths. Treading water is like fighting through life. It's work. You're going to get tired. You'll want to quit but if you do, you're going to sink. Sometimes we must be still enough to consider all of our life. Every single breath pulled down into our pink lungs. Really consider it. Has it mattered? What does it all mean unless you consider it?
We must remember it and we must never quit.
Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving
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