Questions Before Dark
Day ends, and before sleep
when the sky dies down, consider
your altered state: has this day
changed you? Are the corners
sharper or rounded off? Did you
live with death? make decisions
that quieted? Find one clear word
that fit? At the sun’s midpoint
did you notice a pitch of absence,
bewilderment that invites
the possible? What did you learn
from things you dropped and picked up
and dropped again? Did you set a straw
parallel to the river, let the flow
carry you downstream?
~ Jeanne Lohmann
(can we pretend that her last name is pronounced “hewell-chambers”, just for tonight?)
most certainly. i believe you are her, or were in another life, or she is you, or we are all one…or any of the above. it's all made up anway, sister.
this is really lovely.
I felt this deeply. Thank you for sharing it.
And yes. I can pretend – I don't find it too far-fetched that you could express yourself in such a meaningful way 🙂
Yes, yes we can, because I felt you, in these words.
Oh, I've missed reading your beautiful words, my friend, and though those above may not be yours, your spirit shines through. Thank you for sharing them! xo
“Did you set a straw
parallel to the river, let the flow
carry you downstream?”
This is the question that begs at me. At first it puzzles. What does this mean? Then I feel thirsty. Then I drink.
So, yes. I think I was carried by this piece of red dirt I found in your water and sky. Thank you.