Friday, September 28, 2012

Poetry Friday: Margaret Atwood

This has been a week of moments. Some harried and addled. Some bright and beautiful. Some quiet and still. I've tried to enter each one with purpose, to find a place to plant my feet and dig my toes into the shifting hours, brace against the slapping waves of responsibility, and plunge into the next thing with joy.


This morning, the next thing is to take my dad to the doctor. The next thing after that is time with the lovely Irene Latham this weekend and the Chattahoochee Valley Writer's Conference. 

Wishing you wondrous moments today. And plenty of Poetry Friday at Paper Tigers.

The Moment
Margaret Atwood

The moment when, after many years
of hard work and a long voyage
you stand in the centre of your room,
house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,
knowing at last how you got there,
and say, I own this,

is the same moment when the trees unloose
their soft arms from around you,
the birds take back their language,
the cliffs fissure and collapse,
the air moves back from you like a wave
and you can't breathe.

Read the rest here.

8 comments:

  1. I love your words, too, Dori, 'brace against the slapping waves of responsibility' and 'dig my toes into the shifting hours'-poetry itself. And Atwood's poem, interesting reflection of one's very being. Thank you.

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  2. I love that you and Irene will be writing in each other's company this weekend. And love how you both seem to be in reflective moods. Today her poem is The Journey, yours The Moment. I see something happening...

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  3. You are going to have such a great weekend! Especially since you are starting out in just the right frame of mind, balanced on this poem. Enjoy!

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  4. What Jeannine said. And, I'm waiting for this moment, too.

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  5. Such wise words. ANd have a wonderful week-end.

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  6. Hadn't seen this poem before. Quite something to ponder. Enjoy the conference and time with Irene :).

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  7. How true. We're always visitors. Thanks for this!

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