You tell me to live each day
as if it were my last. This is in the kitchen
where before coffee I complain
of the day ahead – that obstacle race
of minutes and hours,
grocery stores and doctors.
But why the last? I ask. Why not
live each day as if it were the first –
all raw astonishment, Eve rubbing
her eyes awake that first morning,
the sun coming up
like an ingénue in the east?
You grind the coffee
with the small roar of a mind
trying to clear itself. I set
the table, glance out the window
where dew has baptized every
living surface.
– Linda Pastan, “Imaginary Conversation” from Insomnia: Poems
Notes: Poem – Thank you Whiskey River. Photo: (via Your Eyes Blaze Out)
Wake up with wonder …
Yes! And keep it going through the day…
Live each day as if it were the first. I like that!
Yes, me too!
I am charmed by this…and will embrace the day accordingly. 🙂 Thx for kicking off my week thusly, pal….
Especially TODAY!
How come I never thought of that? To live each day as if it’s the first!
You have done so many bigger things!
This here is a game changer!
And thank you my friend. Shifting gears 😊
Why?
Because I think it’s brilliant. And speaks to my soul.
Because I feel it is necessary to live like it our first day, everyday. Instead of the other way around.
It’s easier said than done. But I love the idea.
I have no idea how THAT came to be under your comment…………. I’m most definitely overtired….. 😉
🙂
and so we begin again. each day.
Yep
How true. Why does living each day as if it were our last make us try harder? Kind of oxymoronish when you think of it..
I think I shall have to print this poem in large font and put it where I can read it every morning. (The large font meaning I don’t need to put my glasses on before 😉 )
Smiling. I should have it etched into my forehead.
Ha ha! Then you would have to have it backward, so you can read it when looking in the mirror!
Now THAT is genius.
Blows on folded over fingertips and rubs them against upper chest…
Laughing.
😉🙃🙂
David, Dale; in France there’s a saying: Do you see ‘pigeon’ etched onto my forehead?
That’s when somebody takes you for an idiot and you mean to tell them that you see through their scheme!
Kiki, France’s definition, then, could not be any more accurate.
….. and still making me laugh out loud, every time I think of it! The lady who helped us (then!) to get established in France, used this expression first and when we meet up we always find a way to make use of this sentence…..
What a character she must have been.
Is…. we became good friends and often meet up at Gare de Lyon for a drink and natter before I board the TGV….. GOLD!
Oh yes, yes, ja…..
Why not
live each day as if it were the first –
all raw astonishment, Eve rubbing
her eyes awake that first morning,
the sun coming up
like an ingénue in the east?
THAT’s the bit to live by….
Exactly!!!!
I live my life one day at a time, just going with the flow of life
You’ll live a long life!
I’ve just copied that whole poem and ask HH to print it out at work – is cheaper than etching it on the forehead too! 😉
Less painful too!