Monday, August 31, 2009

Poem of the Month: Touch the very Peace



To look at anything,
If you would know that thing,
You must look at it long:
To look at this green and say
‘I have seen spring in these
Woods,’ will not do—you must
Be the thing that you see:
You must be the dark snakes of
Stems and ferny plumes of leaves,
You must enter in
To the small silences between
The leaves,
You must take your time
And touch the very peace
They issue from.
            John Moffitt

This poem is centering and peaceful for work in the garden.  That's appropriate for this day when fires rage on the hill above our neighborhood, threatening more homes and gardens. The smoke obscures our view of the hills and changes the colors of the foliage outside my window.  It's frightening and makes us realize how delicate and vulnerable all life is.

6 comments:

Chloe m said...

I hope your home and garden and YOU are safe!
Rosey

April Lorier said...

I pray for your safety as I hope you will pray for mine. I am always nervous during this "season" of So. California.

France Guérin said...

Hope you are doing fine where you stand. You have a very nice garden.
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
France

Autumn Belle said...

I pray and hope that this fire will be put out now and for the safety of all the people affected.

James David said...

Hope the fire is put out by now.
Again, though its a forest fire - I'm very sure nature will spring forth with many sprouts of Life and grace the land with a beautiful wonder.

Meredith/Great Stems said...

Wonderful poem, and I hope so much that the fires end soon and that you and your neighbors are safe.