Still, ritual is journey, atonement is real.
As you lay dying, I asked,
What is your biggest regret?
Every kindness withheld, you said.
Every flicker of pleasure denied, you said.
Look, you said, sunlight.
— Chris Abani, from “Ritual Is Journey” in “Sanctificum” (Copper Canyon Press; April 1, 2010)
Notes:
- 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.
- Poem Source from orpheuslament
- Chris Abani bio and portrait via Poetry Foundation
so very beautiful. Made me nearly tear up. Made me think if I should have any regrets….
Me too Kiki!
❤️
Part elegy, part hopeful and all painful kind of beauty
Yes. Exactly.
No “almost”… I did tear up. So, let it all fly? Hold nothing back? Be kind? I wonder, still…when the sand runs out, if we will have regret over something. Someone. Time lost. Isn’t that so very human of us?!
Deep! Profound! 1/3 empty nest will do it!
So spot on DK.
Stop trying. Stop grasping. Let go. Have fun. Love more and more … I’m on it!
Yes!
Stop trying. Stop grasping. Let go. Have fun. Love more and more … I’m on it!
I like the new look. Very spartan and clean.
Yes, life is for living! No use in waiting around and letting it pass us by.
My blog? If yes, same look for last 3 months but Thank you!
Hmmm… I usually notice things earlier than that but I guess not this time.
Wow. Must be really noticeable. 😂
i’m taking this as permission to eat cake at lunch!
Oh you get my total permission!
Wow. Yes. The older we get, the more we know what our regrets may be, and what they won’t be. And we’ve got today..
Yes!