The hen flings a single pebble aside
with her yellow, reptilian foot.
Never in eternity the same sound—
a small stone falling on a red leaf.
The juncture of twig and branch,
scarred with lichen, is a gate
we might enter, singing.
The mouse pulls batting
from a hundred-year-old quilt.
She chewed a hole in a blue star
to get it, and now she thrives. …
Now is her time to thrive.
Things: simply lasting, then
failing to last: water, a blue heron’s
eye, and the light passing
between them: into light all things
must fall, glad at last to have fallen.
— Jane Kenyon, “Things” in “The Best Poems of Jane Kenyon: Poems”
Notes:
- Photo: DK @ Daybreak. 5 am. May 16, 2022. 61° F. Cove Island Park, Stamford, CT. More photos from that morning here.
- 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 
You can almost hear the water flowing around those webbed feet..
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Right!
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the incredible, miraculous pieces of life, incredibly observed and noted
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so true Beth….
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Beautiful
Photo & Poem
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Yes. Thank you!
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If not for the Crucifix, this could be a photo of God.. a Great Blue heron, a waterfall, a baby girl pink and baby boy blue sky, and then, a poetic reminder, too, via Jane Kenyon of John Paul II quoting Dostoevsky’s Prince Myshkin, “Beauty will save the world.” This is what he meant. It does, and it will. Wow, DK.
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Thank you! So beautiful described. Thank you!
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Thank YOU.
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glad to have at last fallen
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Yes!
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Photos always get me!! … ” Jane Kenyon, “Things” in “The Best Poems of Jane Kenyon: Poems”.
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Me too Horty!
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What a beautiful poem and your image is the perfect accompaniment!
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It is Dale. Thanks!
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🙂
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“Her yellow, reptilian foot.” Yikes, that’s not flattering, poor hen, but so perfect. Nice photo. I hope that heron doesn’t make a misstep, or it’s whoosh – down the falls.
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laughing at @whoosh down the falls. so good!
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Lovely!
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Isn’t it though!?!
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I can hear that water burbling as it tumbles over the spillway. The roseate light of dawn breaking, the statuesque quality of the bird, all of it a symphony, pal…
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Beautiful. Exactly Lori. Couldn’t possibly have described it better. Thanks.
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Lovely 💛
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Thank you Val
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