T.G.I.F.: Don’t let the clock cut up your life in pieces

~ Live & Learn

I sit up late dumb as a cow,
which is to say
somewhat conscious with thirst and
hunger, an eye for the new moon
and the morning’s long walk
to the water tank. Everywhere
around me the birds are waiting
for the light. In this world of dreams
don’t let the clock cut up
your life in pieces.

— Jim Harrison, “Rumination” from Jim Harrison: The Essential Poems, by Jim Harrison

Notes:

  • More DK Photos of a Juvenile Egret at Cove Island Park on April 18 2024 here.
  • Poem: Thank you Beth @ Alive on All Channels.

38 thoughts on “T.G.I.F.: Don’t let the clock cut up your life in pieces”

  1. “don’t let the clock cut up
    your life in pieces.”

    I’m here in Montréal for 6 nights and 5 days. It feels like a marathon.
    Running between my parents’, my sons’, each son has his own place. My siblings’. I miss every and they miss me and everyone wants a slice of undevided attention. I keep glancing at my work phone making sure no minor detail falls through any cracks. Doing my best to minimize the holes in this Swiss cheese.
    My son is proposing to his girlfriend tonight.

    All this while trying to be present, absorb and retain it all.

    Also, trying to sneak to Dale’s for coffee Sunday morning.

    The clock is cutting me to pieces.

    Photo: Spectacular

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        1. Have a wonderful visit Sawsan. One of my two brothers lives in the San Jose area and deals with similar challenges when he comes to Vermont (though I think you have about 2X the number of people who are dying to see you!) Dave gave you an excellent reply above. Breathe. Stay in the present moment. Make wonderful memories, and give and receive as much Love as possible. 💕😊. Hope you get to see Dale, and assuming that happens… Wouldn’t I love to drive north 90 minutes and meet both of you! Stay Healthy, Relax, and Enjoy!
          Blessings – Paul

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          2. Well, there’s never enough time to do everything in a single trip. I have a friend in Florida who rarely returns “home” to see family in Vermont. Sometimes she doesn’t tell anyone that she’s coming (other than family), because she doesn’t want to spoil the trip for herself by having to try to see her many friends. She has her hands full seeing five brothers and sisters! Glad you had a great trip Sawsan!

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    2. Sawsan, I’m happy for you! Glad you’re able to have such memory making moments on your trip! Congratulations to your son and his bride to be :) Hope you were able to meet up with Dale! Safe passage 🙂

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  4. Hero Husband‘s unwritten recipe is: Losing every watch he ever had, never looking at his phone for time, asking ppl left and right and getting fetched by someone for meetings. Interestingly, he mastered this challenge beautifully, everybody is doing their best to be of help – which I – as his wife, find revolting…. Why can‘t he get away with ignoring time completely and yet still always be able to be there when he needs to be?

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  5. Tick.Tock. “Time is the most valuable thing a man (or woman) can spend.” -Theophrastus

    LOVE This picture of the egret. Beautiful. And to think you spent your time taking and then sharing this image with us. Thank you.

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  7. A good thought! After I retired, I took the watch off my wrist and largely avoid paying attention to time. Of course, it is impossible to avoid some timed-events – doctor’s appointments, that sort of thing – but even with those occasional time sensitive events, it’s amazing how lack of time devices relaxes oneself!

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  8. Jesse Colin Young – “When The Morning Sun Has Come” – it’s the song that was playing in my head as I read this poem and gazed at the photo. Time seems far more forgiving when we focus on what we’re doing rather than the tick tick tick counting of the minutes in the day

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    1. Hi Mimi! LOVE what you wrote: “Time seems far more forgiving when we focus on what we’re doing rather than the tick tick tick counting of the minutes in the day”. Oh how I wish I had focused part of my life on the arts rather than having a laser focus on computer science. I fear such beautiful writing will probably never be created in my mind. It’s Magic! 💕

      This comment goes out to all of you who right so beautifully in this blog. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read beautiful words and soak them in!

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  10. Nature can teach us to ignore time and simply be in our experience…even Jim Harrison’s birds while waiting are surely not kvetching about how many more minutes they’ll have to wait. What a nuisance we can be (to ourselves)!

    Sorry, Dave, I had no idea you had a recent health issue, and, just know, you always have my heart pulling for you.

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  11. Jim Harrison, said: “Poetry, at its best, is the language your soul would speak if you could teach your soul to speak.

    I Love your photo and Jim Harrison’s reflection…Jim Harrison has written many books! Some of his works are published through Copper Canyon Press out of Port Townsand, Washington…not sure if in the San Jaun Island (proper) but close by….I became familiar with this non profit press when you introduced me to Ted Kooser, years ago -here on your DK.com…I really like Ted Kooser and many others that you have introduced your readers too…Mary Oliver, Kent Nerburn & countless others…

    https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/jim-harrison-final-phase-of-the-hearts-work/

    on the above link there is a link to a youtube in which other read some of his work..

    the link wouldn’t cut and paste for me perhaps if you’d like to watch it you can click through that…

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