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6.08.2010

a reminder.



i've posted this before. but i'm beginning to think that when i sit down with my coffee each morning, this should be the first thing i read--as a daily practice, a reminder, the mantra by which all other mantras are eclipsed.





LOVE AFTER LOVE

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.



Derek Walcott

10 comments:

Laura Marie said...

I wrote this poem in calligraphy and I've had it on my mirror for two years :) I absolutely love it.

Sarah said...

"Feast on your life." This gives me chills and that deep aching feeling in my chest that's a sure sign that this one phrase will change my life.

What a beautiful thing to consider each morning.

Anonymous said...

this was truly amazing!
your blogs always amaze me!
thanks for writing and keep at it :)

Fairfield said...

"I LOVE THIS" she said with much enthusiasm.

ria said...

Great words to start you day with.
I once read a quote which said: "Start your day with a good breakfast, your favourite music and God." I might add these words to it!

ALFIE said...

i first read this revolutionary poem on the initial pages of the book "The Time Traveller's Wife"

i would go back to it. again. and again. every time i sat down to read. until i understood it's depth. until i could grasp how vital it was.

i read the book about a year ago. and forgot these words. this morning, they spoke to me afresh. but i only had to read them once. because they already knew me.

thanks for the reminder.

Sarah said...

I love that poem. :D something we all need to read everyday.

Roxy Te said...

Oh I've posted this one before too! It's absolutely beautiful. A friend sent it to me because it reminded her of me :) Guess I'm on some kind of soul searchin' journey!

elizabeth shay said...

thank you for sharing this. i often forget, and when I am reminded it is an utter beautiful moment, how incredibly poignant words can be.

i often get overwhelmed and stressed heading into the day and this is just so nice.

Anonymous said...

This leaves me speechless.