Every morning I grab my 16 oz. glass of water and plunk down in my lovely bedroom reading chair to study out the window, drink my water and read a poem. It just sets the mood for the day so nicely.
For 40 days, I am not using my books to find a poem; rather I am using my laptop computer and the Internet to find a poem to read. On February 24th I saw a reference to a poem and lots of comments about just how beautiful a poem it was – so I wandered over to Patti Digh’s blog to see what was just so stunning to read. There I found under the title “ Poetry Wednesday: please do stumble from your cave” this truly stunning poem, which has now translated into a daily read, I wished to share it with you.
When you have been
at war with yourself
for so many years that
you have forgotten why,
when you have been driving
for hours and only
gradually begin to realize
that you have lost the way,
when you have cut
hastily into the fabric,
when you have signed
papers in distraction,
when it has been centuries
since you watched the sun set
or the rain fall,
and the clouds,
drifting overhead,
pass as flat
as anything on a postcard;
when in the midst of these
everyday nightmares, you
understand that you could
wake up,
you could turn
and go back
to the last thing you
remember doing
with your whole heart:
that passionate kiss,
the brilliant drop of love
rolling along the tongue of a green leaf,
then you wake,
you stumble from your cave,
blinking in the sun,
naming every shadow
as it slips.“From Out the Cave” by Joyce Sutphern, from Straight Out of View (Amazon, Powells)
Have you found a poem that comes up to meet you more than half way? Do you have a morning ritual that feeds your day?
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I hope you will share this poem with others – the share button is below
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on Mar 5th, 2012 at 9:07 am
Gorgeous poem, Patricia. And what a lovely way to start a day. I always begin by going out with the dogs. I love watching as the light changes as the day begins to unfold. Their joy in being out no matter the weather always infuses me with the same sense of adventure.
on Mar 5th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Yes Zip and I walk our 3 miles right after the water and the poem reading..
I just thought this was an amazing poem, I read it everyday last week and wrote to it often.
on Mar 5th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I was expecting to read “16oz of coffee” – it’s great that you start your day with water and a poem instead of caffeine and the news!
vered | Blogger for Hire recently posted..How Resilient is Your Daughter?
Patricia Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Vered,
For awhile I did green tea in the morning, I was so wired for the next 10 hours or so I just had to give it up to get anything done.
I just drink water these days and my body is much happier.
I find poetry gives my brain a work out on many levels – good way to awaken from sleep
on Mar 5th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Thank you for sharing! What a lovely poem, really hits home.
I love how you start your day!
patricia Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Adrienne,
Welcome It is a wonderful ritual and this was such a stunning poem – Glad you enjoyed it
on Mar 5th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
What a lovely poem.
Patricia Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Laurie
This poem very much touched me…Thanks for coming by
on Mar 8th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Hi Patricia,
Lovely! Great way to start the day! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Susan
susan recently posted..Loco for Cocoa
Patricia Reply:
March 8th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
It surely does work for me – puts the positive “on” in the thinker
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