Why is it do you suppose that with my Lenten discipline in hand, I keep unsuspectedly coming upon great poetry?.... Today’s poem was found on Hudson’s Notebook and is from yet another poet that I have not read –
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Author - Wendell Berry
I do not find Berry’s poem to be "dark"; however, it brings to my mind a personal fear, a darkness, that sometimes chills me in my happiest moments -
My love is at rest, normal napping, normal, normal
Then why do I stand at the bedroom door
And watch for the breathing, the gentle inhalation, exhalation
Body gently rising, rhythm perfectly timed, resting, normal resting, normal, normal
Watching I know that life is resting, as is death
It will come too soon
Whenever it comes, never ready,
I pray, wait, wait, let my breath be taken first
Author - Sunrise Sister
dedication to friends Judy and Bob
"peace of the wild things" is one of those poems that people have sent me over the last few years as we have struggled with mr. J. i am glad you have discovered its beauty.
ReplyDeleteyou have written your own beautiful haunting poem here. lovely.
(curious about the duplication?? between "wait wait" and "more poetry."
xoxooxoxoxo
P of the wild, etc. - beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment re my poem.
Judy and Bob and we often talk about the "who goes first" issue....laughing all along, but scared at the prospects of the actual happenings of "anyone" going at all!
Duplication? - due to delay on site of loading - me becoming impatient, reloading - first changing something, etc. I am very impatient with slow internet service:)
xoxox
i have always struggled with a connection to poetry but recently i have been coming across poems that have 'spoken' to me - yours being one of them. you captured the haunting essence of dark fear that sometimes lurks around the happy heart. really beautifully written.
ReplyDeletePen, welcome and thank you for your kind words. Please come again
ReplyDelete