"To touch ...."

 

To touch the cup with eager lips and taste,

not drain it;

To woo and tempt and court a bliss – and

not attain it;

To fondle and caress a joy, yet hold it lightly,

Lest it become a necessity and cling too

tightly;

To watch the sun set in the west withoutbuffy

regretting;

To hail its advent in the east – the night

forgetting;

To smother care in happiness and grief in

laughter;

To hold the present close – not questioning

hereafter;

To have enough to share – to know the joy 

of giving;

To thrill with all the sweets of life – is living.

Anonymous

"Mysteries, Yes"

 

Mysteries, Yes

Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity
while we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.

Mary Oliver

"Ithaca"

 Ithaca

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon – do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber, and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca on your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what these Ithacas mean.

Constantine P Cavafy

the day i fell to earth

 * A Point in Time *

the day i fell to earth

denial was real

hope was against hope

then reality sank in

the only consolation

i was not swallowed up.

one nerve at a time

 * A Point in Time *

one nerve at a time
one stretch at a time
one pulse at a time 
time may wait for none
still, one cannot be in haste.

when impairment wins

 * A Point in Time *

when impairment wins

when you think you're weak

when you can still be strong.

what i will

 * A Point in Time *

what I will, will
walk with intent
listen, pause
be purposeful
be kind.