Putting faith in what passes
I am abandoned,
while the earth remains
in green face shining.

The dark of night
and sweep of the tide,
the temple of my heart
as I care for the quiet.

Sweep off my tracks,
wipe clean the vessel.
Whatever I’ve gathered
I leave to the silence.

 

photo by Sandy Brown Jensen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading of “Leave to the Silence” with music by Tinariwen

 

 

3 Responses

  1. Don, I like the ending “I leave to the silence”, a very strong idea. However, this poem, I think, is really three separate poems, each unfinished and, for the moment, gathered under one title. We go from past to present, day to night. I am curious about others’ opinions today.

  2. Thank you Tom, interesting comment. Assuming you might enjoy my thoughts on this, a different kind of logic creeps into my writing from time to time, one that is not linear, not conforming to the logic of progression we are more familiar with in literature (and most everything else). Like the Chinese poets of old, this one opens unexpected doors, in ways that defy formal logic, hopefully inspires more intuitive reflection.

  3. Don, your verses, in both their style and substance, remind me of an especial dialogue I have at times with my “Higher Self”. It reminds me that whatever I may perceive (yes, in good faith) as passing away from me rapidly (thus, too darn soon!) is/was likely an ephemeral essence of something destined to manifest in Perfection elsewhere. It’s for me to “leave it to the Silence” just as rapidly, and soon! Then, that same sacred Silence can fully greet whatever is rightly destined to gather for Me — when “Rapidly” is not too soon!

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