Thursday, May 10, 2007

PT: Kick-Start


THE PENITENT

"Sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness,
to put a hand on its brow
and retell it in words and in touch
it is lovely
until it flowers again from within."

--Galway Kinnell, "St. Francis and the Sow"


You bring your problems down upon yourself
free in their error, full of
your own hot air
raising the great gas balloon of you
upward, every time you open your mouth

unstopped by any loving hand
that would tether you to ground
to earth, the greatest good, to sorrow

you don't understand this: things
are not always as they seem
you have to get out of your own way
suddenly you forget yourself you're grateful
for their affection

for keeping you
with all your strings, grounded
infinitely loved, forgiven

then, like a child, innocent
you let it go, because
these are the very hands you trust
you know you can trust, the hands
consecrated to the work
of keeping you safe
and bringing you home


.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like someone I know. :)

Rose

xo

Anonymous said...

I like the opening quote - Sometimes it is necessary
to reteach a thing its loveliness
.

And how well I know this bit: you have to get out of your own way
I have to remind myself to do that sometimes.

Regina said...

Um, were you writing this for me? Gosh, that hit home...
Thanks...
and I loved the opening quote as well...

Tammy Brierly said...

So you've met my children? This was really good!!!!! HUGS

paris parfait said...

This is a lovely poem, so full of wisdom.

Jim Brock said...

You really can't go wrong with a Kinnell passage to kick-start a poem, and the poetry rises to the occasion. The ending is quite earned.

k said...

This one feels like it's speaking straight to me.

From the beginning quote, through to the end.

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Hi - Thought I'd pay you a return visit! I liked the gentle thoughtfulness of your poem and loved the quote at the beginning.
hopeeternal.wordpress.com

gautami tripathy said...

I liked the first line. Food for thought.

January said...

I'm with Jim--I love the Kinnell passage, which is a nice lead-in to your fine poem.

The first stanza is really smart, sets the tone for the rest of the poem. And I really like the authoritative voice of narrator.

Very nice!

Pam said...

Your mind travels to wonderful, thoughtful places.

I was touched by the quote and your poem, truth and food for thought.

Crafty Green Poet said...

we all need to get out of our own way, at least sometimes!

Anonymous said...

That Kinnell poem is amazing...and I love your answer/discussion with it.

Kay Cooke said...

What an incredibly beautiful poem. I love it. And the poem above is a lovely accompaniment.

Catherine said...

I've always loved the Galway Kinnell poem that you quoted from. May we all have loving hands dedicated to keeping us safe and bringing us home