In the Words of a Marsh-Wiggle

a pessimistic poem

If you have read The Silver Chair from C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, you no doubt remember Puddleglum, the lanky Marsh-Wiggle who travels northward with Eustace and Jill on their quest to find Prince Rilian.

If you haven’t read it, just know that Puddleglum is the Eeyore of Narnia. In his perspective, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

And yet …

When it comes down to it, he is the one who reminds the others that there is indeed hope. That there is sunshine, that there are stars and trees and an ocean, that there is beauty even when everything around is dark.

I didn't realize, when I got started with this found poem, just how meaningful it would be for me this week. With a loved one again struggling with certain anxieties and fears, and me seeking signs of meaning and hope, Puddleglum is just the character I needed to hear from today.

Maybe it will be the same for you.

Remembering Sunlit Lands

a found poem

When I say good
I don't mean it won't probably turn to rain
       or it might be snow,
    or fog, or thunder.

making the best of a bad job

we're not likely to get very far
   what with enemies, and mountains, and rivers
to cross, and losing our way

I don't suppose we shall ever see the King

Look over there northward
 there's a river between it and us;
No bridges, of course.

      Anyone you meet in a place
like this is as likely as not to be an enemy

We're under a curse, I
   expect

Whatever you do, don't run.

They've seen us. Run.

few return to the sunlit lands

There are no
accidents.

   danger and lies
and magic and treason

Can we trust one another?

I was there once. I've seen the sky
    full of stars. I've seen the sun coming
up out of the sea of a morning and sinking
            behind the mountains at night.

  Suppose we have only dreamed—trees and grass
and sun and moon and stars

Suppose this black pit … is the only world. It strikes
          me as a pretty poor one.

I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't
any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live
as like a Narnian as I can even
if there isn't any Narnia.

we're … setting out in the dark to spend
           our lives looking

we may as well make a try.

In the words of Puddleglum, we may as well make a try.