With a nod to Kelly Anne who introduced me to Wendell Berry....
I liked this poem today, our anniversary. Isn't it a good one?
I liked this poem today, our anniversary. Isn't it a good one?
Loving you has taught me the infinite
longing of the self to be given away
and the great difficulty of that entire
giving, for in love to give is to receive
and then there is yet more to give;
and others have been born of our giving
to whom the self, greatened by gifts,
must be given, and by that giving
be increased, until, self-burdened,
the self, staggering upward in years,
in fear, hope, love, and sorrow,
imagines, rising like a moon,
a pale moon risen in daylight
over the dark woods, the Self
whose gift we and all others are,
the self that is by definition given.
longing of the self to be given away
and the great difficulty of that entire
giving, for in love to give is to receive
and then there is yet more to give;
and others have been born of our giving
to whom the self, greatened by gifts,
must be given, and by that giving
be increased, until, self-burdened,
the self, staggering upward in years,
in fear, hope, love, and sorrow,
imagines, rising like a moon,
a pale moon risen in daylight
over the dark woods, the Self
whose gift we and all others are,
the self that is by definition given.
X from The Timbered Choir by Wendell Berry
2 comments:
So beautiful. Kate, that's one of my favorite poems, especially the ending. A Timbered Choir is just a work of art. My pastor just recommended Hannah Coulter, a WB novel. I've got to find it. Is it your anniversary? Or are you just celebrating your marriage? (which is a lovely thought). Miss you, friend!
Yes, Kelly! Those last couple of lines are perfect, aren't they?
We celebrated 5 years of marriage yesterday; I was showing Adele pictures from the day and saw the table with you and James, Kara and Darryl. Missed you all!
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