Vancouver Island From Hornby Island
Utopia
Island where all becomes clear.
Solid ground beneath your feet.
The only roads are those that offer access.
Bushes bend beneath the weight of proofs.
The Tree of Valid Supposition grows here
with branches disentangled since time immemorial.
The Tree of Understanding, dazzlingly straight and simple,
sprouts by the spring called Now I Get It.
The thicker the woods, the vaster the vista:
the Valley of Obviously.
If any doubts arise, the wind dispels them instantly.
Echoes stir unsummoned
and eagerly explain all the secrets of the worlds.
On the right a cave where Meaning lies.
On the left the Lake of Deep Conviction.
Truth breaks from the bottom and bobs to the surface.
Unshakable Confidence towers over the valley.
Its peak offers an excellent view of the Essence of Things.
For all its charms, the island is uninhabited,
and the faint footprints scattered on its beaches
turn without exception to the sea.
As if all you can do here is leave
and plunge, never to return, into the depths.
Into unfathomable life.
By Wislawa Szymborska
From “A large number”, 1976
Translated by S. Baranczak & C. Cavanagh
Wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Barb. I have had so much fun since I decided to make poems the focus of my Friday posts. It’s been fun expanding my list of poets… especially when I discover another gem like this one. I’m so glad you liked it too.
Excellent way to start the weekend.
I’m glad you agree Larry…Happy Weekend!
I love the last lines with the lovely metaphor of the deep sea/life…
“As if all you can do here is leave
and plunge, never to return, into the depths.
Into unfathomable life.”
I like your chosen poem:
…
“For all its charms, the island is uninhabited,
and the faint footprints scattered on its beaches
turn without exception to the sea.
As if all you can do here is leave
and plunge, never to return, into the depths.”
but you should return: “Its peak offers an excellent view of the Essence of Things”
and make time to find out.
Thanks Edgar. I like your idea of ‘its peak offers an excellent view…’ Are you talking about peak experiences here? I think you’re on to something with that. I certainly feel most alive and engaged with my life during those moments; and that must count as some sort of innate wisdom