japonisme: solstice VI

18 December 2007

solstice VI

PSALM

It’s not the sun
making the day sacred.

There have been other days,
brighter and less holy.

There have been mornings
as clear. And with no pain

of being, no sharp joy.
And if the sun

has a transparency now,
how could you feel it

were it not for the leaves
illumined to that clarity,

the white table, the rushes
by the road, in the pond,

and the jay’s body, its flash
among elms, clattering branches,

each carefully telling you
what it knows about light.

Patricia Hooper

from Other Lives © 1984

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5 Comments:

Blogger Diane Dehler said...

This bright, beautiful world you present does lift the spirit, Lotus and thanks for you kind comment.

I am happy to say that today I started feeling better after nearly ending up in the ER. Tomorrow, I am going to walk a bit outside and what an exciting thought. -clouds, sky await.

19 December, 2007 00:23  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

thank you princess.

i really do think that humans (maybe all animals?) (maybe plants too?) do not do well, mentally or physically, with as little light as is available just now. but come saturday the days begin to lengthen again.

enjoy your walk! please dress warmly!

19 December, 2007 07:55  
Blogger Diane Dehler said...

I came back to partake of the beauty of your blog and it is the only walk I am taking today. It has been raining hard today and too cold. Perhaps tomorrow. I so look forward to the return of the light.

20 December, 2007 00:09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

such wonderful poems, also in the solstice series. I'm not at all familiar with contemporary American poetry, I'm very grateful I could discover these poets.

20 December, 2007 00:27  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

at least there is some sunlight today!, the sky is so blue! maybe a walk will happen yet, princess.

i'm so glad murasaki. about five years ago i put together a manuscript of reverent contemporary american lasdscape poetry, but the publisher decided not to publish it.

it was joyful enough to find these poems, many of whose authors were new to me too, that i felt it was worth it, somehow. and now i have found a place for them!

20 December, 2007 08:56  

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hi, and thanks so much for stopping by. i spend all too much time thinking my own thoughts about this stuff, so please tell me yours. i thrive on the exchange!

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