on the days when you feel spent

My friend Sarah bought me the new Natalie Merchant album last week.
(Leave Your Sleep)
It's charming.
It's brilliant.

Sarah and I grew up in college together as roomies listening to the quintessential Our Time In Eden and Blind Man's Zoo.
We mouthed every word in candle lit sparsely furnished living rooms while trying on the future.

I love the small book that comes with the CD.
Natalie says some brilliant things about poetry that have stuck with me since I read the words:

I understand that poets are our soft spoken clairvoyants. They tell us about the things that have made us and keep us human. Poets are keepers of the sacred language that describes our holy places-unknown and unknowable.

and who doesn't love to hear Trouble Me still?




I am dying for one Fall night to beat down on me- hard like these new days.
I will be driving home from a late night diaper run to Target or something similar.
It will come on the radio and instantly my hand will quick fly to the tuner and dial it in louder than the Ohio Autumn coolness running through my hair.
I will not mouth the words.
I will sing them out for all the neighbors to hear.
Through the dense thick streets where trees may touch in the middle but people still need.

Trouble me, disturb me with all your cares and you worries.
Trouble me on the days when you feel spent.
Why let your shoulders bend underneath this burden when my back is sturdy and strong? Trouble me.