A certain day became a presence to me;
there it was, confronting me – a sky, air, light:
a being. And before it started to descend
from the height of noon, it leaned over
and struck my shoulder as if with
the flat of a sword, granting me
honor and a task. The day’s blow
rang out, metallic – or it was I, a bell awakened,
and what I heard was my whole self
saying and singing what it knew: I can.
~Denise Levertov, “Variations on a Theme By Rilke” in “Denise Levertov: The Poetry of Engagement”
Notes:
- Photograph by Marta Bevacqua via see more
- 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.”
This is so encouraging in so many ways. Thank you David.
It is Julie. Thank you.
Yes, we CAN… – such a beautiful statement. Well put, thank you.
go.
I can…I will.
Metoo…
Once I believe that. Anything is possible.
Yes!
My eyes moisten with my agreement.
Good. Moved me similarly Lisa.
I can … because I am. Everything is possible.
And there it is!
❤️ this!
Fantastic, pal! And as the piles of boxes grow ever higher and deeper, there’s nothing I needed to hear more! As Mimi said, ‘I can, and I will!’ Boooyah!
are you close? (to moving?)
Yes. Next weekend. Gulp…. The welcome mat will be out should you find yourself in our neck of the woods. 😊
Wow. Big. Thank you. May just take you up on that…
Thanks for this appreciation of Rilke…timely, because I printed it up and brought it to our 7:30 am great books discussion group, as we “discussed” the Duino Elegies this morning. I shared it at the end…several were questioning where to go with Rilke’s complex experience and view of life. I thought Leverotov hit it.
You have great books discussions at 7:30 am? Wow. That’s great…