Today's poet

[freckle]

HI guys just a quick pop on and pop off for me as another school run in a minute so i haven't had a chance to look at posts yet but will later this afternoon when i have some down time...stevie it is great to have you back...anyhow i just had to post this poem, i found it today in a book called ten poems to change your life...with love to all....

The Journey
Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

[Stevie]

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
.....

determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Telling lines Freckle, I can sympathise with the sentiment.

[Hes]

HI guys just a quick pop on and pop off for me as another school run in a minute so i haven't had a chance to look at posts yet but will later this afternoon when i have some down time...stevie it is great to have you back...anyhow i just had to post this poem, i found it today in a book called ten poems to change your life...with love to all....

The Journey
Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

That's perfect Freckle.

I posted this a few weeks ago saying how my mum gave it to me just before I left for a year and half of travel overseas but the timing is far better today and it is great to reread it. It is hard to tread a lone path but at the end of the day...we all have to and it is surprising and comforting to discover what inner strength you have.

[Stevie]

It is hard to tread a lone path but at the end of the day...we all have to and it is surprising and comforting to discover what inner strength you have.

Agreed, and it's only when you realise that nobody is going to "mend your life" that you finally get on and mend it yourself.

[Stevie]

Cross Country tomorrow
But I want to run far today
Winter choices...

[freckle]

That's perfect Freckle.

I posted this a few weeks ago saying how my mum gave it to me just before I left for a year and half of travel overseas but the timing is far better today and it is great to reread it. It is hard to tread a lone path but at the end of the day...we all have to and it is surprising and comforting to discover what inner strength you have.

Gosh Hes I can't believe i forgot about that...i was just in borders browsing and it shouted out at me...timing i agree is an issue...i will post some more from this book in the coming days as there are some lovely poems in it....stevie I love the armitage poem its really beautiful thank you for posting it....laters

[freckle]

December Dream

My friend, my love
Are you gone? Are you gone?
But you were here just a moment ago
I can’t find my way out of this damn fell
I thought I knew where I was
And you were just there
On that tussock
With a smile and your map,
hands, voice.

Where are you?
Its getting dark
December chill in the air
"Look at that" I cry
A huge cave in my stomach
The wind howling right through
What's happening to me?
what's happening?
I’m cold
I’m scared
I can’t breath, I can’t breath!

The owl sings but he is too far off
I can’t reach him
I think“they’ll find me here,
clutching the dull pink lights"
My mother will say“we had no idea”.

I awake, relief
for a moment, then
I remember.
I remember.

[Harry H Howgill]

HI guys just a quick pop on and pop off for me as another school run in a minute so i haven't had a chance to look at posts yet but will later this afternoon when i have some down time...stevie it is great to have you back...anyhow i just had to post this poem, i found it today in a book called ten poems to change your life...with love to all....

The Journey
Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.

Thanks for that one Freckle. Sometimes doing the right thing is often the last thing you want to do; but it doesn't stop it being right.

[Harry H Howgill]

December Dream

My friend, my love
Are you gone? Are you gone?
But you were here just a moment ago
I can’t find my way out of this damn fell
I thought I knew where I was
And you were just there
On that tussock
With a smile and your map,
hands, voice.

Where are you?
Its getting dark
December chill in the air
"Look at that" I cry
A huge cave in my stomach
The wind howling right through
What's happening to me?
what's happening?
I’m cold
I’m scared
I can’t breath, I can’t breath!

The owl sings but he is too far off
I can’t reach him
I think“they’ll find me here,
clutching the dull pink lights"
My mother will say“we had no idea”.

I awake, relief
for a moment, then
I remember.
I remember.

That's lovely. Keep dreaming. If a dream is all there can be, then that's what you hang on to.

Fading Winter light
The stag surveys all he has
Ready for the night

[Mossdog]

Anyone else lucky enough to be out on the fells today?

Teesdale tops glisten
Snow on my inov-8s - yes!
Blue sky yipeeeee-ing.