In Blackwater Woods
Look, the trees
are turning
their own bodies
into pillars
of light,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment,
are giving off the rich
fragrance of cinnamon
and fulfillment,
the long tapers
of cattails
are bursting and floating away over
the blue shoulders
of cattails
are bursting and floating away over
the blue shoulders
of the ponds,
and every pond,
no matter what its
name is, is
and every pond,
no matter what its
name is, is
nameless now.
Every year
everything
I have ever learned
Every year
everything
I have ever learned
in my lifetime
leads back to this: the fires
and the black river of loss
whose other side
leads back to this: the fires
and the black river of loss
whose other side
is salvation,
whose meaning
none of us will ever know.
To live in this world
whose meaning
none of us will ever know.
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
~ Mary Oliver ~
You almost have had to experience loss, before you truly appreciate the light!
Laurie, I couldn’t agree more. Without shadows how would we know how to experience light? The darkness defines it somehow and yes, while I was thinking about this decision, I pretended that I’d finished the blog completely and asked myself how it felt…the answer was pretty clear; not so great.
Working on more light and less shadow for 2012 🙂
Wow, that’s paralyzingly sad…
Hey Jan, it is sad but I also find it brave and hopeful too 🙂