Now You Are Ready
Your eyes are tired, telling you
you’ve looked at the wrong words too long.
These words are not wrong for others
but they are for you, always have been.
Yet you had to apprentice yourself to them
for years and seasons in order to learn
to hate them for their barrenness.
This was the only way, to grow to despise
the many so in turn to truly love the few.
Now you are ready to say Jacob have I loved.
Now you are ready to vow fidelity to stillness.
Now you are ready to stumble into the night liquored up on aged kindness.
Now you are ready to stumble into the night liquored up on aged kindness.
John,I saw your folks this morning,they are well,please email or call me asap
I found much healing in these words today, John. Thank you!
john this is so good. The words resonate. And how. But the artistry in the poem itself strikes me. The repetition of the “Now you are ready” three times for example. I hate to make a comparison, because you are your own poet, and I know you aren’t trying to emulate anyone, you are just saying what is true for yourself in a way that moves you. But if I were to read this not knowing who wrote it, I would guess it was Mary Oliver. There is a technical part of writing poetry which many people don’t appreciate. I loved reading her poetry handbook because she makes clear that good poetry doesn’t just happen by accident and you knocked it out of the park here.
“Liquored up on aged kindness.” The older I get the more I appreciate the friends I’ve known all my life. They are a gift.
Oh the comment posted. Good. The Mary poem it calls to mind is Wild Geese. The use of “you,” rather than I, though you are taking about you (say that 5 times fast). The repetition of “you do not have to…” and later the repetition of “meanwhile.” Very striking