Louise Glück: The Red Poppy
The great thing
is not having
a mind. Feelings:
oh, I have those; they
govern me. I have
a lord in heaven
called the sun, and open
for him, showing him
the fire of my own heart, fire
like his presence.
What could such glory be
if not a heart? Oh my brothers and sisters,
were you like me once, long ago,
before you were human? Did you
permit yourselves
to open once, who would never
open again? Because in truth
I am speaking now
the way you do. I speak
because I am shattered.
Discussion Questions
Louise Gluck writes this poem from the perspective of a flower. What images or phrases stood out to you? What is the red poppy conveying about emotion?
What do you think the poppy means by its last phrase? Does this poem inform your understanding of the previous poem?
In what ways can we build capacity for emotion, self-reflection, and self-awareness in health care through the use of poetry? How do you incorporate poetry into your practice?
Reflections from #MedHumChat
“I hear a vulnerability, and a history of feelings being misunderstood, or used against someone - so showing feelings might feel unsafe. I wonder about trauma.” —@OdyO11
“Colour stood out to me in this poem- the red poppy, the red heart, the fiery sun. Red and heat - passion. The poppy is bold enough to be open to both the beauty and tragedy of life.” —@AshnaAsim
“The language of the "shattered" seems threaded through both "Red Poppy" and "The Untrustworthy Speaker". Yet, despite the pain we feel in experiencing these poems, Glück is compelling us to to hear and listen and come together to heal.” —@shriya_perati
About this #MedHumChat
“The Red Poppy” was paired with “The Untrustworthy Speaker” for a #MedHumChat on December 16, 2020 celebrating the work and achievements of Louise Glück.
The pieces for this chat as well as the discussion questions were curated by MedHumChat team member Ashna Asim (@AshnaAsim).
About the Author
Louise Glück is an American contemporary poet and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2020). Her work is especially well known for its insight into loneliness, family relationships, divorce, and death.