Raymond Carver

This is indeed a beautiful fragment, written as Raymond Carver was dying from cancer. He had in mind Coleridge's 'The Pains of Sleep' I think. Coleridge wrote about the torments he suffered in the throes of an opium soaked sleep,

Such punishments, I said, were due
To natures deepliest stained with sin, —
For aye entempesting anew
The unfathomable hell within
The horror of their deeds to view,
To know and loathe, yet wish and do!
Such griefs with such men well agree,
But wherefore, wherefore fall on me?
To be beloved is all I need,
And whom I love, I love indeed.

Coleridge was questioning why these torments were visited on him when he did not feel that he deserved such pain and anguish. When you understand the reference, Carvers words when facing his own death are all the more poignant.

This poem by Raymond Carver speaks to my life. It happens to be my stock statement to everyone I am privileged to meet. I always tell them,

'Always remember You are beloved, too.' You would be surprised how many people do not believe they are 'beloved.' I quess it is because the word 'beloved'
is associated with death as in 'the dearly departed' and 'brides and grooms.'
Whatever the case, we are what we think we are, right? Beloved means,
'one who is greatly loved.' The whole world is searching for this state of acceptance, from others, but first we must see ourselves as we want to be seem.
We are mirrors of ourselves. What we project is what people see in us. I see myself as beloved, therefore 'I am.' We create our own reality, and others will believe our reality if we believe it first. Our thoughts are tools we create with.
When will we get this? A true Beloved

Such a statement about life and living. When ever I read it I am compelled to wish I belonged to those who are beloved on the earth.

What a beautiful and gentle reminder of how to live, and how much I like Raymond Carver. I have seen him read and he is just what you would expect - torn pocket with a treasure inside, not careful to keep it safe.