Good poetry begins with
the lightest touch,
a breeze arriving from nowhere,
a whispered healing arrival,
a word in your ear,
a settling into things,
then, like a hand in the dark,
it arrests the whole body,
steeling you for revelation.
In the silence that follows
a great line,
you can feel Lazarus,
deep inside
even the laziest, most deathly afraid
part of you,
lift up his hands
and walk toward the light.
~David Whyte, The Lightest Touch from River Flow: New & Selected Poems.
Notes:
- Photo: Saravut Whanset with Monk bhudalist – The monk in the plain of Bagan in during sunlight, Mandalay, Myanmar (via Mennyfox55).
- Poem: Thank you Make Believe Boutique
- Prior “Lightly child, lightly” Posts? Connect here.
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.”
Beautiful…
Reading and re-reading…so magnificent it took my breath away..w.o.w…xox,m
It is Mimi. And I did the same rereading it over and over
WMS! “…you can feel Lazarus deep inside…” *I* felt that line like a shiv to the gut… And that image, too. DK, ya nailed it!
Thanks Lori. Have a great day!
You, too, pal…
That poem touched me like very few others ever have. When the student is ready . . .
Thanks again, David.
So glad John. It moved me similarly.
Hope you are well.
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Walk toward the light … the only place to go!!
Should I leap or weep…?
Leap, please, leap.
Reblogged this on Elizabeth Scupham, Structural Integrator and Massage Therapist | 770.668.0969 .
All art must come like this—the vague inclination to turn, the breath that opens—then, the hook that drags you under.
So true, words as you’ve written them, sweeping me away.
Such high praise from the author of The Grand Central Tales.
Smiling….
resurrection of the soul and spirit
Swoon …. 😍
David
We are blessed. The tough times and still pushing on. We’re not quitters.
M
On point Melinda.
I came across your site today, David. Great posts. Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you!
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