after Ocean Vuong, “Someday I’ll Love Ocean Vuong”
You do not need to know what comes next.
There is always another storm, and you
cannot hang the tent out to dry before
it has gotten wet. You cannot shovel snow
that has yet to fall.
Put down the shovel. Breathe
into the dark spaces of your back,
feel how they open like cave doors
to let in the light.
Let your face soften. Let the creases
fall out of your brow. The mind,
no matter how clear, will never become
a crystal ball.
The wisest part of your body
knows to run when it hears
the first crashes of rock fall.
It does not pause then to consider
metamorphic or igneous,
nor does it hesitate to wonder
what might have pushed them down.
It is no small thing to trust yourself.
It’s okay to cry. It is right
that love should shake your body,
that you should find yourself trembling
in the rubble and dust
after all your certainties come down.
Your breath has not left you.
Here is the morning rain. It opens
the scent of the leaves, of the air.
All around you the world is changing.
What are you waiting for?
Here is the cup of mint tea
growing stronger in itself.
Here on this cliff of uncertainty
there is a stillness in you
so spirited, so alive
the wisest part of your body
is dancing.
well done, ms. stafford.
Whoa! That is some high praise!
Watch my TEDx talk The Art of Changing Metaphors: TEDX Rosemerry Trommer
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer 970-729-1838 wordwoman.com
From: “comment-reply@wordpress.com” Reply-To: Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 12:11 PM To: Rosemerry Trommer Subject: [A Hundred Falling Veils] Comment: “Above the Paradox Valley”
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Ha — I wonder if you are enjoying a seasonal spurt of inspiration on the seam between summer and fall, and hence this outburst of lovely goodness…whatever it is, keep it coming as long as it presents… cheers, Bill
Bill, thanks, what an encouraging thing to say. I did a meditation and poetry retreat, and I think being that quiet and that still and that available to the world was an enormous gift to me! r
From: “comment-reply@wordpress.com” Reply-To: Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 9:08 PM To: Rosemerry Trommer Subject: [A Hundred Falling Veils] Comment: “Above the Paradox Valley”
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I get something similar through walking or hiking, to feed that well for writing. Amen to that, glad it’s working so well for you.
This is wonderful. I shared it with many friends and recommended this website as a place to get to know your, Rebecca Trommer. What a gift!
Thank you for this great note! I appreciate your words, your willingness to share. With gratitude, Rosemerry
I just received this poem, today. I studied poetry for 4 years at Cambridge University, back in the day. I know my pomes. Till now, the end of Little Gidding by TS Eliot was as good as it gets for me, in poetry. But this…. this… this… This is it. I intend to memorize every word, and have it spoken at my wake.
thank you, Arjuna–for this and for your beautiful message. thank you.