I finally completed the book. Have to say this, had I not read the film script before, I could not have made any sense of Michael Onadaatje’s writing. Arcane is an understatement. There, I’ve discovered yet another author who intimidated me…:-)
I love the poems he writes, though. One of the sweetest poems I’ve read is ‘Bearhug’.
Bearhug
Griffin calls to come and kiss him goodnight
I yell ok. Finish something I’m doing,
then something else, walk slowly round
the corner to my son’s room.
He is standing arms outstretched
waiting for a bearhug. Grinning.
Why do I give my emotion an animal’s name,
give it that dark squeeze of death?
This is the hug which collects
all his small bones and his warm neck against me.
The thin tough body under the pyjamas
locks to me like a magnet of blood.
How long was he standing there
like that, before I came?
— Michael Ondaatje
I could nearly feel the tears stand in my eyes on reading this… Incidentally, Griffin is the name of Michael O’s son, I think.
The script is one of the best that I’ve read. Have been planning to watch the film since God-knows-how-long. An excerpt featuring my favourite lines..
‘We die, we die rich with lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed… bodies we have entered and swum up like rivers, fears we have hidden in like this wretched cave… I want all this marked on my body. We are the real countries, not the boundaries drawn on maps with the names of powerful men.. I know you will come and carry me out into the palace of winds, the rumors of water… That’s all I’ve wanted – to walk in such a place with you, with friends, on earth without maps. The lamp’s gone out and I’m writing in the darkness…’
The concluding lines of the script…
lalunadiosa says:
thank God
I thought I was the only one who found him difficult….the poem is very poignant (my word of the week I think!!!) though and the excerpt is just so poetic!!!!
May 10, 2004 — 11:44 am
Lakshmi says:
Re: thank God
I think so about the poem too. I could choke up.. just imagining that relationship between a Dad and his son.
The excerpt… plain blew me away!
May 11, 2004 — 5:42 am
deelight says:
Wow…so beautiful. You’ve motivated me to look out for a copy of that script…dont know if we’ll get it in India though. Thanks …really liked this!
May 10, 2004 — 9:15 pm
Lakshmi says:
Arre, Dee… go to http://www.script-o-rama.com/..
You’ll find most film/sitcom/TV scripts here…
May 11, 2004 — 5:26 am
deelight says:
Oh that’s cool! Thanks!
May 11, 2004 — 9:47 pm
hariputtar says:
Wow.
The poem is amazing. its visual. some poems have to compromise on imagery to accommodate meter or rhyme.
This is the hug which collects
all his small bones and his warm neck against me.
The thin tough body under the pyjamas
locks to me like a magnet of blood.
How long was he standing there
like that, before I came?
these lines are amazing. but they wudnt be amazing w/o the preceding ones perhaps. i guess, its like … the poet works you into a warm fuzzy feeling along expected lines and then delivers a somewhat unexpected twist to leave you wondering on the novelty of the imagery. [ starts with lines that describe mundane activities … I yell ok. Finish something I’m doing … cozying us into expecting something not entirely out of ordinary … and then … ]
btw: this is a rather singular name to give to one’s son: griffin . (well. it is something like Garuda . and indeed india was supposed to be native country of griffins .).
May 11, 2004 — 2:21 am
Lakshmi says:
Re: Wow.
Griffins.. aren’t they imaginary creatures? Have read of them in old stories based in Europe.
For me, this poem captures that undeniable link between a child and his Dad.
May 11, 2004 — 5:24 am
rileen says:
So he gives his son the name of an imaginary creature, and questions giving an animal’s name to an emotion?
Just kidding – the poem’s beautiful, and so was the book – i loved it.
May 11, 2004 — 8:11 am