October 31, The Eve of All Hallows<\/p>\n
Denise Levertov died in her late 60ies; I miss her, a fiery advocate for global justice and a poet of the sacred mysteries of intimacy. She published, in her later years, a wonderful book of poems she titled Evening Train<\/span>. One of my favorite of her poems appears there; about being startled by the heart’s surprises in older age. If you are older I bet you breathe in her kindness laced with humor; if you are younger, she gives you good stuff to look forward to . . . the graces of being surprizable.<\/p>\n john sj<\/p>\n p.s. I have an early flight to the AJCU Mission & Identity officer meeting in Philly. Back Monday. Have a fine weekend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ancient Airs and Dances<\/strong> Denise Levertov – Evening Train<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" October 31, The Eve of All Hallows Denise Levertov died in her late 60ies; I miss her, a fiery advocate for global justice and a poet of the sacred mysteries of intimacy. She published, in her later years, a wonderful … Continue reading
\nI
\nI knew too well
\nwhat had befallen me
\nwhen, one night, I put my lips to his wineglass
\nafter he left–an impulse I thought was locked away with a smile
\ninto memory’s museum.
\nWhen he took me to visit friends and the sea, he lay
\nasleep in the next room’s dark where the fire
\nrustled all night; and I, from a warm bed, sleepless,
\nwatched through the open door
\nthat glowing hearth, and heard,
\ndrumming the roof, the rain’s
\ninsistent heartbeat.
\nGreyhaired, I have not grown wiser,
\nunless to perceive absurdity
\nis wisdom. A powerless wisdom.
\nII
\nShameless heart! Did you not vow to learn
\nstillness from the heron
\nquiet from the mists of fall,
\nand from the mountain–what was it?
\nPride? Remoteness?
\nYou have forgotten already!
\nAnd now you clamor again
\nlike an obstinate child demanding attention,
\ninterrupting study and contemplation.
\nYou try my patience. Bound as we are
\ntogether for life, must you now,
\nso late in the day, go bounding sideways,
\ntrying to drag me with you?<\/p>\n