A Bite of Wisdom

"Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always."
Rilke

Sunday, January 11, 2009

"The Nativity" By John O'Donahue

This month marks the one year anniversary of the passing of one of my favorite poets. While it is difficult to choose a favorite, this is in the top 10. He is an amazing mystic and philosopher, as well as a poet. He says this also speaks of "New Beginnings" or the "Birth of Ourselves". I dedicate it at this time to my daughter, Courtney, whos body and soul are right in the thick of it.

'No man reaches where the moon touches a woman.
Even the moon leaves her when she opens
Deeper into the ripple in her womb
That encircles dark, to become flesh and bone.

Someone is coming ashore inside her,
A face deciphers itself from water,
And she curves around the gathering wave,
Opening to offer the life it craves.

In a corner stall of pilgrim strangers,
She falls and heaves, holding a tide of tears.
A red wire of pain feeds through every vein,
Until night unweaves and the child reaches dawn.

Outside each other now, she sees him first,
Flesh of her flesh, her dreamt son safe on earth.'

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