Thursday, December 12, 2013

Thursday Poem - Lines for Winter

Tell yourself
as it gets cold and gray falls from the air
that you will go on
walking, hearing
the same tune no matter where
you find yourself—
inside the dome of dark
or under the cracking white
of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.
Tonight as it gets cold
tell yourself
what you know which is nothing
but the tune your bones play
as you keep going. And you will be able
for once to lie down under the small fire
of winter stars.
And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back
and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.

Mark Strand, from Selected Poems

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I just realized 'singing pebbles' was the comment section! I didn't think you allowed comments when I vistied before. Your photos are so beautiful and the accompanying poetry makes each post a special presentation. I like the idea in this poem about just appreciating where you are at the moment... even though it's bitterly cold, that's where you are, so soak it up and experience it fully, then move on. Good thoughts!

Anonymous said...

perfect for the day. So very cold this poem so beautiful.

Claire said...

At first glance, I thought the photo as of vapour trails against a blue sky... Then I read the words, and I saw, instead, a very close, cold, winter image...
Sometimes magic happens :)