The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you have ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~ Derek Walcott, Love After Love
Derek Alton Walcott, 83, was born in Saint Lucia in the West Indies. He is a poet and playwright who received the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is currently Professor of poetry at the University of Essex in the U.K. In addition to having won the Nobel, Walcott has won many literary awards over the course of his career including an Obie Award in 1971, a MacArthur Foundation “genius” award, a Royal Society of Literature Award, the Queen’s Medal for Poetry. (Source: Wiki)
Photograph of Derek Walcott (in 2003) by Richard Avedon. Poem Source: journalofanobody
Live & Learn 
Wonderful! Brings to mind the Buddha quote, “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” A potent reminder of a powerful truth…
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Wonderful Buddha quote. Please don’t tell me that you had memorized this one too…
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This one I do have memorized–I have it on my bathroom mirror so that I get a little nudge every morning… 🙂
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One of my favorite poems (and may even have posted it myself at some point)…I wonder how our days would begin if we read this with our daily morning coffee.
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Ahhhh, no wonder it was familiar. I poached yet another share from Mimi and didn’t give you attribution. Shameful
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I had never read this before, so thank you so much for sharing. It’s a new favorite!
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Susan, I locked in on this poem as soon as I read it. Stuck with me for days.
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Reblogged this on Makere's Blog.
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Thanks for sharing Makere
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You’re blog is always so inspiring David! It’s a joy to share..
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A lesson in how to be happy – or at least content.
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Yep. He’s got it.
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Thanks, David, for reminding me of what a great poem that is. 🙂
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Thanks Carol. I should have know that this poem was on your short list.
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Reblogged this on This Touching Life.
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Thanks for sharing Kamela
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Wonderful poem, David.
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It is Sylvia, it really is.
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Reblogged this on я℮ⅾωїłḓґøṧℯ﹩.
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Thanks for sharing.
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I needed that. Thank you!!
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🙂 Great.
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Meet your self each day with a smile
remember who you are
recall what you want to be
anything better from present
or different from past
leave only evil
carry goodness with you
after the life’s sunset
when darkness prevails
light up your heart
it will glow and lead the way
to erternal happiness
the journey now begins 🙂
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Beautiful Kalabalu
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thank you 🙂
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I subscribe to Panhala and today I received the simple yet profound poem, Love after love, by Derek Walcott. In searching for it elsewhere I came across your blog posting of it. Having also spent some time in beautiful BC, and after reading more about you, I thought you might like my blog post and poem: Two kinds of knowledge about living and learning http://wp.me/pD0BA-8sc.
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Hi Ken. Thanks for pointing me to your post. Inspiring.
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Hi David,
Thanks for the feedback. Am enjoying your blog as well!
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Also found this video of David Whyte reciting Derek Walcott’s “Love After Love” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOqxUrkJgc4&feature=kp
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Thanks for sharing Ken. I’ll be sure to check it out.
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