Since it’s National Poetry Month, it occurred to me to follow my daughter’s lead (and all the rest of the Northfielders who’ve been doing poetry this month) and do something poetic.
I’ve been doing consulting work the past few weeks at a company in Burnsville called ChartHouse Learning – the FISH! Philosophy company. Earlier this evening, I stumbled upon a David Whyte poem (below) titled The Journey, in one of their books, FISH! Sticks.
The beginning of his poem reminded me of this photo that I took (click to enlarge) in early November, 2005. I was walking in “The Prairie,” which is part of the Natural Lands area just west of St. Olaf’s Tostrud Center.
The Journey, by David Whyte, House of Belonging
Above the mountains
the geese turn into
the light againPainting their
black silhouettes
on an open sky.Sometimes everything
has to be
inscribed across
the heavensso you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.Sometimes it takes
a great sky
to find thatsmall, bright
and indescribable
wedge of freedom
in your own heart.Sometimes with
the bones of the black
sticks left when the fire
has gone outsomeone has written
something new
in the ashes of your life.You are not leaving
you are arriving.
Great Stuff Griff!
Planning To Be
I clip five stave
barb wire strung
in the early 1900’s.
It bites into the bark
of ancient trees bearing leaves
of orange, red, brown on
great hulking branches.
Erected with plans,
now removed with our plans
amongst the chewing cows
who have no plans,
except being with the trees,
breathing with the crops.
Charlette Cornillie
I carry this poem by my friend Charlette with me, for just such a moment as this. Her farm is in Grant County.