I read literature at University and was fed the English Classics of course, but these days, after many decades of living I really only want to read poems that speak to the contemporary human condition or give me a deeper understanding of myself. This is one such poem from David. I love the way he asks if allowing ourselves a moment's joy would actually kill us!! And I have seen in operation that moment when a breakthrough is made and as the stiff-hinged door begins to finally open, the person panics and slams it shut again. But verses 5 and 6 are most significant for me : the legacy of childhood; the the body's hesitation to undo everything others seemed to want to make us learn. But I have overcome the hesitation and undone everything possible over the past three decades. Therein lies freedom and the unimaginable joy of coming home. What a friend calls reading from your own book. David got it so right in this poem.
I read literature at University and was fed the English Classics of course, but these days, after many decades of living I really only want to read poems that speak to the contemporary human condition or give me a deeper understanding of myself. This is one such poem from David. I love the way he asks if allowing ourselves a moment's joy would actually kill us!! And I have seen in operation that moment when a breakthrough is made and as the stiff-hinged door begins to finally open, the person panics and slams it shut again. But verses 5 and 6 are most significant for me : the legacy of childhood; the the body's hesitation to undo everything others seemed to want to make us learn. But I have overcome the hesitation and undone everything possible over the past three decades. Therein lies freedom and the unimaginable joy of coming home. What a friend calls reading from your own book. David got it so right in this poem.
Goodness David,
Either you or I or maybe both must be in some form of cahoots the Mystery in order to deliver this just when most needed! Thank you.
Love the ‘blessed undoing’ Thank you David.
So very beautiful, thank you. I need to learn some new adjectives to be able to more fully express the impact these words have on me x
Touches my soul. Thank you, David Whyte.
Exquisitely, familiar…
Thank you so much for blessing my Sunday morning! It feels as though I’ve already been to church and back…
Truth is universal now isn’t it, so simple yet seemingly elusive. Wonderfully expressed!
The velvet sledgehammer strikes again.
I don't have resistance. Life circumstance and current state of the world, renders my dismay...and watching humans turn on one a other..
Gorgeous and so true. I woke this morning claiming my inner joy. 💫✨🌟💖
Beautiful 💙
David, as I read this it made me think of John O’Donahue, I felt him in these words. A double impactful piece. Thank you
Such a familiar space,hiding in the shadows, yet always felt