Do not expect that if your book falls open
to a certain page, that any phrase
you read will make a difference today,
or that the voices you might overhear
when the wind moves through the yellow-green
and golden tent of autumn, speak to you.
Things ripen or go dry. Light plays on the
dark surface of the lake. Each afternoon
your shadow walks beside you on the wall,
and the days stay long and heavy underneath
the distant rumor of the harvest. One
more summer gone,
and one way or another you survive,
dull or regretful, never learning that
nothing is hidden in the obvious
changes of the world, that even the dim
reflection of the sun on tall, dry grass
is more than you will ever understand.
And only briefly then
you touch, you see, you press against
the surface of impenetrable things.
– Dana Gioia, “Do Not Expect” from 99 Poems: New & Selected
Notes:
- Photo: via Newthom. Poem: Thank you Whiskey River
- 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.”
Live & Learn 
and we just have to accept it and be grateful for it all
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Yes. Exactly.
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I have to read this a few times – first I nod in agreement, then I rail…and it deserves to be re-read for the beauty of the words alone
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Exactly, exactly what I felt.
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“only briefly”, yes!
So true and so beautifully written.
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It is…
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Or everything is hidden here…. Its all in our own minds and making after all.
Beautifully written, but with a sad edge. Giving up hope, or looking for answers, doesn’t mean giving up the joy for what is here … or wondering what may be beyond our thoughts.
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Beautiful interpretation Val
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Deep thoughts … ‘One more summer gone, and one way or another you survive, dull or regretful, never learning that nothing is hidden in the obvious changes of the world, that even the dim reflection of the sun on tall, dry grass is more than you will ever understand.’
Dana Gioia, “Do Not Expect” from 99 Poems: New & Selected.
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Wow. Yes. No.
Thank you.
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Smiling. Yes! Thank you.
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dark(ish), sad, resigned…. but beautiful too. Not what I need today – and yet…. I like to think that the written word does change things, if only for a fleeting moment, but also that a light touch against an impenetrable surface can make a difference!
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Now that is beautiful!
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Wow. This is incredibly sublime, perfect prose.
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It is!
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