Love after Love
by Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
by Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
Here I sit, at the end of November, and feast on my life. I just spent two days on set after booking a national commercial at the beginning of last week, and being on set is always something to be grateful for, more so when my co-stars are adorable 8 month old twins that I get to hold and play with between takes.
But it is not just having work that makes me grateful. It is having purpose, and having purpose gathers and gains its own momentum until it's a wave that you swore was behind you and now you realize you're just along for the ride.
I am getting sharper, clearer, stronger, about the ways I fit into this world, the ways I fit into the lives of others, the way I fit in with myself. My bristled edges are getting smoother, my heart is becoming more graceful and grateful, and I am able to sit just a little bit longer with myself, following my breath with its rise and fall in my chest. My intuition is stronger, I am less reactive and more responsive, my fists are a little less clenched and my heart is a little more open (but as an adult's, not like a child's.)
Give back your heart to itself. I am giving myself more credit, I am giving others more credit, I am becoming aware of how often people do kind things for me that before I just took for granted, and I am here, now, saying thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you.
I am drowning in a sea of gratitude and I am feasting upon my own life, which, incidentally enough, is interwoven with yours, and is plentiful because of yours, and is rich because of you. All of you.
Happy Thanksgiving.
But it is not just having work that makes me grateful. It is having purpose, and having purpose gathers and gains its own momentum until it's a wave that you swore was behind you and now you realize you're just along for the ride.
I am getting sharper, clearer, stronger, about the ways I fit into this world, the ways I fit into the lives of others, the way I fit in with myself. My bristled edges are getting smoother, my heart is becoming more graceful and grateful, and I am able to sit just a little bit longer with myself, following my breath with its rise and fall in my chest. My intuition is stronger, I am less reactive and more responsive, my fists are a little less clenched and my heart is a little more open (but as an adult's, not like a child's.)
Give back your heart to itself. I am giving myself more credit, I am giving others more credit, I am becoming aware of how often people do kind things for me that before I just took for granted, and I am here, now, saying thank you. thank you. thank you. thank you.
I am drowning in a sea of gratitude and I am feasting upon my own life, which, incidentally enough, is interwoven with yours, and is plentiful because of yours, and is rich because of you. All of you.
Happy Thanksgiving.
15 comments:
What a beautiful, uplifting, upbeat post, Phoenix. (That's one of my favorite poems.) I am so, so very happy for you. You deserve buckets and buckets of pure bliss, sweet lady. This really made my day. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I'm grateful to know you.
Love & Blessings,
Marion
Ha. Was gonna copy and paste for Marion, but of course she knows it already! I am vicariously living your joy Tracy. You are a delight. If only we could share a cup of coffee, we would be fast friends.
Happy Turkey Day!
Love
Annie
Phoenix: Since I began following you, this is my favorite post. I am sincerely delighted to read it.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
congratulations on all your success. you and an 8-month-old in a commercial. i'll be lookin'.
this was a truly beautiful post.
happy thanksgiving:)
Thanks for thanking all of us, Phoenix, but it's you who deserves the thanks, for all the joy you bring, especially in this wonderful post.
I gather it's inspired in part by the season in your part of the world, Thanksgiving, but more than that it seems to me to be inspired by your generosity of spirit and your determination to make the most of life.
So thank you from me.
'I am getting sharper, clearer, stronger, about the ways I fit into this world,'
this sentence and the paragraph it begins is poetry and purpose. thank you tracy for words that sometimes don't speak for themselves.
that cup of coffee with annie: may i join you?
wishing you a good thanks giving day ♥
kj
I am so happy for you!!! You deserve nothing but the best my friend. I hope you and your family have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving!
Being less reactive and more responsive is huge. I love your words. Such an inspiration to be grateful for who we are. Thank you.
Congrats on the commercial and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Here is hoping that your Thanksgiving was a special day and a good day...
Fabulous post, Phoenix! I love reading about your success and happiness!
I enjoyed your post, the spirit in your words, your voice.. and of course, how well things are going... thanks
Happy TG to you, too! I am excited about all the great things coming your way - you deserve it!
What a great post. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. I hope you had a great holiday and that your life is going well.
Oh what great words- so lovely I am so happy you are so happy.
I love to see you becoming who you always were. Remembering what you already knew and allowing yourself to receive it. Brava!
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