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The Artful Hug
by James Shammas (Age: 44)
copyright 02-08-2006


Age Rating: 10 to 127

 
There are instances-- like when he asks
if he can bring his toys to heaven
or hug his bears and bunnies there,
or if he can pack before he goes;
when he must ask of heaven and hell,
where we came from and where we will go,
not unlike Plato, Nietzsche, Hume or Hegel;

when the only answer you can presume
is to seize him tightly with both your hands,
the way they do it in the movies-- up close,
noting nuances like the nape of his neck,
how you've accidentally squeezed,
folded, and bent his tiny cartilaginous ears
in your quick, turbo-loaded big boy embrace--
like Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life"
or Bogart and Bacall in "Casablanca";
when you will squirm in an unearthly haze,
in the awful irony of getting acquainted
while letting him go-- a reminder
that each embrace means farewell,
gain, joy, and uncertain pain. It is much,

so you compromise, believe, buy into--
at least some of the time--
the New Age myth of Eternal Now,
if, for no other reason, it is you--
that same boy philosopher-- vulnerable,
equally frail and now fearfully aged--
who has silently asked of him the same.


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03-02-2006 Regina Pate    

ouch
02-11-2006 William Muth    

hmm. I have Hagel on my book shelf. I'll have to make him my next read. I don't delve as much as I should into philosophy. I had started on Sartre, but studying poetry forms took it away from me. Proust's "Remebrance of things past" is what I think of when reading this poem. I am reading "Swann's Way" and his descriptions of his childhood and all that memory entails, how deeply personal it is. we are vessels with ourselves trapped inside making one voyage with many why? where? how? 's along the way. I liked the metaphors and the relation of hugs to life's journey and all those who touch and are touched by our lives. Philosophy doesn't bite, right, James? It's exersize for our curiosity. good work
02-09-2006 Richard Reed Jr    

As soon a you begin to live you know you must die. As soon as you gain anything you know you must let it go. Very Zen-like. I liked this very much. Your words were artfully chosen, very descriptive, and most meaningful.

Another Jim Shammas work of art!

Rich
02-09-2006 David Pekrul    

You have described "The Artful Hug" as only a philosopher can. This is a wonderful, enriching and deep write. I can't pretend to understand it all, but I enjoyed the ride.
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