The moment when, after many yearsof hard work and a long voyage
you stand in the centre of your room,
house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,
knowing at last how you got there,
and say, I own this,
is the same moment when the trees unloose
their soft arms from around you,
the birds take back their language,
the cliffs fissure and collapse,
the air moves back from you like a wave
and you can't breathe.
No, they whisper. You own nothing.
You were a visitor, time after time
climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.
We never belonged to you.
You never found us.
It was always the other way round.
Margaret Atwood, The Moment
from Morning in the Burned House
5 comments:
What beautiful words and images. I am so happy to have found your blog. I will add it to my own blogrole and visit often. Thank you.
Rebecca
www.thesustainablesoul.blogspot.com
Wonderful post. I did not know this poem and it really said something to my soul.
This truly spoke to my heart.
When I look at my woods and think "you are mine" I now realize I belong to that land and woods.
Especially since my ashes will one day be part of that soil.
Thank you One Woman's Journey, I didn't know how to say it, but your words are perfect. We belong to this wonderful Mother Earth, it is not something to be owned but to be shared and loved.
Thank you Cate for this wonderful post with a marvelous poem.
Louise
this poem is so powerful in its message. we should always remember that we are only guests in this lovely world, and our actions should speak to that. how did we stray so far from the truth? thank you for sharing such a meaningful message.
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