The time will come when with elation
you will greet yourself at your own arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, the stranger who has loved you
all your life whom you have ignored
for another, who has known you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
-Derek Walcott
In memory of my friend KB, Modern Mystic, who died today on the mountain.
Photograph of the Inyo Mountains, Flickr
16 Responses to “love after love”
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Asides
» A note to readers who are looking at the new blog: you’ll notice some “greatest hits” from reverendmother there, especially as I ramp up my writing in that space. Sorry for the déjà vu!
» There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places. -Wendell Berry
» “The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.” -Barbara Kingsolver
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
I’m so sorry for your loss, and what a lovely poem for KB.
I’m so sorry.
I have nothing to say really. I’m so sad for us.
I’m so sorry.
May KB rest in peace, and rise in glory.
thank you.
Sincere condolences to you and your circle.
Peace be with you with the loss of your friend.
It still doesn’t seem real to me, it just doesn’t.
So sorry to hear of your loss, rm.
Lovely poem. I didn’t know KB well, but I certainly knew of her and her ministry. A great loss indeed.
Aching for you and those I know who loved KB, for her family and wide circles of friends. Praying prayers that have no words but are full of images of circles and hands holding hands and reaching out to others, to fingers shaping words that live on to tell stories and remember.
Wonderful poem. —
(((RM and all those grieving)))
Much symphathy, prayers, and love to all who have lost this pastor, friend, sister in Christ, and mentor.
Grace and Peace,
Thank you.