06 March 2019

Discovering Our Kind

Source*


We lie on earth and pull blue sky around us as
          instructed at the well of the inner voice.
Here we try to love simply and--if we cannot--
          we let the reigning God(s) pour love through us.
This is the penultimate action before death
          so we pray to do it for years and years.

Letting go is easier than we expected—
          we’ve had practice in walks to sea and lakes.
Whenever wild geese call, our heads float up to fly
          with them, our feet leave paths of should behind.
And the first flowers of spring—snowdrop or daffodil—
          stop us for wonder’s sake, for love and hope.
Wrapped up in sky and earth we learn the truth of life,
        this close relationship, this kindness Oh.  




by Donkey Hotey (2011) flickr


My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright. 

© 2019 Susan L. Chast


17 comments:

  1. Oh, this is so beautiful. I loved it.

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  2. Leaving paths of "should" is often one of life's most difficult tasks, isn't it? Thanks to your poem, I will make a conscious effort to abandon more of those "should-y" ways! :)

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  3. 'letting it go' is the goal...it is the supreme form of kindness. Well penned emotional but powerful poem

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  4. "this kindness. oh." My new favourite. This is WONDERFUL. Yes, that moment of joy and wonder at the crocuses. Every. Single. Spring. As if it is a brand new miracle. Which it is. How I love this poem!

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  5. Ah, this discovery provides some form of relief. The last line is indeed magical. From pulling that blue sky around to ending up wrapped in sky and earth, I am thoroughly enraptured by the imagery of this verse, with its form and rhythm adding into the reading pleasure.

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  6. How beautifully this poem reads Susan. Life really is so beautiful.

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  7. Very beautiful I absolutely love "We lie on earth and pull blue sky around us as instructed at the well of the inner voice." and these last to lines

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  8. In the beginning, needing to let go feels like dying. But like your poem says, the actual act of letting go is easy (after we've done it). And when we look back at the whole thing, moving away from what did nothing good (for us or others) feels like a kindness for all.

    Love that final "Oh", that release..

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  9. I love the idea of being wrapped in the sky. A lovely write.

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  10. I love this - so full of beauty and wonder.

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  11. Somebody at peace with he world and glad to be alive.

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  12. Every word has a halo of contentment, peace, gratitude and love. The poem itself gets a vast expanse of freedom with the inclusion of the sky. "our feet leave paths of should behind." Exactly. Love the restfulness. Beautiful, Susan.

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  13. You know, Susan, this poem seems to me to be written in a style similar to that of Mary Oliver - especially that last four lines! I like the idea of God pouring love through us = indeed we are God's instrument, and it is good that we always remember that. It makes kindness have an even greater purpose. And, ah, the first flowers of spring - symbolic, I think of that hope....and perhaps a sign of God's kindness to the earth?? We can learn....

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  14. Gorgeous writing, Susan. I had to take a breath at the ending.

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  15. Lovely and Serene, Susan. And so full of hope! :)

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