Saturday, April 23, 2005
Late Ripeness, Czeslaw Milosz
This poem by the Czech poet Czeslaw Milosz, is posted by Ivan Granger on his site, www.poetry-chaikhana.com Ivan sent it recently to all who are signed up for his (free) daily poem:
Late Ripeness
By Czeslaw Milosz
(1911 - 2004)
Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year,
I felt a door opening in me and I entered
the clarity of early morning.
One after another my former lives were departing,
like ships, together with their sorrow.
And the countries, cities, gardens, the bays of seas
assigned to my brush came closer,
ready now to be described better than they were before.
I was not separated from people,
grief and pity joined us.
We forget - I kept saying - that we are all children of the King.
For where we come from there is no division
into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be.
We were miserable, we used no more than a hundredth part
of the gift we received for our long journey.
Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago -
a sword blow, the painting of eyelashes before a mirror
of polished metal, a lethal musket shot, a caravel
staving its hull against a reef - they dwell in us,
waiting for a fulfillment.
I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,
as are all men and women living at the same time,
whether they are aware of it or not.
-- from New and Collected Poems 1931 - 2001, Czeslaw Milosz
This poem struck me for its beauty and wisdom.
"we used no more than a hundredth part
of the gift we received for our long journey."
This line suggested to me the untapped and unsuspected spiritual gifts we all carry within, expecially those not yet aroused by the joy of kundalini flowing.
"I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,
as are all men and women living at the same time,
whether they are aware of it or not."
This, too, spoke to me in particular. All of us are involved in the common project of awakening humanity to its true destiny, of bringing the "evolution of consciusness" into actuality.
Note: I have been beset with computer problems and other interruptions lately, and hence have not been able to post for some days. I hope that all is remedied for now, and plan to resume regular entries.
============
"
Late Ripeness
By Czeslaw Milosz
(1911 - 2004)
Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year,
I felt a door opening in me and I entered
the clarity of early morning.
One after another my former lives were departing,
like ships, together with their sorrow.
And the countries, cities, gardens, the bays of seas
assigned to my brush came closer,
ready now to be described better than they were before.
I was not separated from people,
grief and pity joined us.
We forget - I kept saying - that we are all children of the King.
For where we come from there is no division
into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be.
We were miserable, we used no more than a hundredth part
of the gift we received for our long journey.
Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago -
a sword blow, the painting of eyelashes before a mirror
of polished metal, a lethal musket shot, a caravel
staving its hull against a reef - they dwell in us,
waiting for a fulfillment.
I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,
as are all men and women living at the same time,
whether they are aware of it or not.
-- from New and Collected Poems 1931 - 2001, Czeslaw Milosz
This poem struck me for its beauty and wisdom.
"we used no more than a hundredth part
of the gift we received for our long journey."
This line suggested to me the untapped and unsuspected spiritual gifts we all carry within, expecially those not yet aroused by the joy of kundalini flowing.
"I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,
as are all men and women living at the same time,
whether they are aware of it or not."
This, too, spoke to me in particular. All of us are involved in the common project of awakening humanity to its true destiny, of bringing the "evolution of consciusness" into actuality.
Note: I have been beset with computer problems and other interruptions lately, and hence have not been able to post for some days. I hope that all is remedied for now, and plan to resume regular entries.
============
"
