Otherwise, by Jane Kenyon

 

Otherwise, by Jane Kenyon

Notes from the other side, by Jane Kenyon - Poetry for Poetry Month

Notes from the Other Side

I divested myself of despair
and fear when I came here.

Now there is no more catching
one's own eye in the mirror,

there are no bad books, no plastic,
no insurance premiums, and of course
no illness. Contrition
does not exist, nor gnashing

of teeth. No one howls as the first
clod of earth hits the casket.

The poor we no longer have with us.
Our calm hearts strike only the hour,

and God, as promised, proves
to be mercy clothed in light.

The gift of this day

We can easily fall into the trap of forgetting the most basic gifts that we have been given.  The gift of this moment, the gift of this day, the gift of our particular life.  As Jane Kenyon writes in her poem, 'it could be otherwise,"  indeed!


Prayers for gratitude on this day,


~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Otherwise

Jane Kenyon

I got out of bed

on two strong legs.

It might have been

otherwise. I ate

cereal, sweet

milk, ripe, flawless

peach. It might

have been otherwise.

I took the dog uphill

to the birch wood.

All morning I did 

the work I love.

At noon I lay down

with my mate. It might

have been otherwise.

We ate dinner together

at a table with silver

candlesticks. It might

have been otherwise.

I slept in a bed

in a room with paintings

on the walls, and 

planned another day

just like this day.

But one day, I know, 

it will be otherwise.

Source: Collected Poems

hat tip to "Inward/Outward" blog