Friday, August 04, 2006

The Journey - David Whyte

In these horrific times, when war is tearing the world to pieces and when hatred seems to outweigh all reason, sometimes it helps to turn to art, poetry, or nature, to regain a sense of balance. This poem helped me today with my feelings of despair and helplessness about the world. I am sifting the ashes and looking for a wedge of light. THE JOURNEY
Above the mountains
the Geese turn into
the light again
Painting their
black silhouettes
on an open sky.
Sometimes everything
has to be
inscribed across
the heavens
so you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.
Sometimes it takes
a great sky
to find that
small, bright
and indescribable
wedge of freedom
in your own heart.
Sometimes with
the bones of the black
sticks left when the fire
has gone out
someone has written
something new
in the ashes
of your life.
You are not leaving
You are arriving.

-David Whyte
from The House of Belonging

4 comments:

Endment said...

A perfect time to share this poem - thank you

robin andrea said...

That is a gorgeous poem. I absolutely love this line:
Sometimes everything
has to be
inscribed across
the heavens
so you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.


I am so glad you posted this. It is just what I needed to read.

Anonymous said...

I love that poem, too, and David Whyte's poetry in general. Thank you for reminding me.

Anonymous said...

I heard this poem at a meditation session I went to yesterday in Brighton England. I'm going to send it to my friends a s Christmas gift. Thnak you for sharing it Alistair XX