Only a beige slat of sunabove the horizon, like a shade pulled
not quite down. Otherwise,
clouds. Sea rippled here and
there. Birds reluctant to fly.
The mind wants a shaft of sun to
stir the grey porridge of clouds,
an osprey to stitch sea to sky
with its barred wings, some dramatic
music: a symphony, perhaps
a Chinese gong.
But the mind always
wants more than it has --
one more bright day of sun,
one more clear night in bed
with the moon; one more hour
to get the words right; one
more chance for the heart in hiding
to emerge from its thicket
in dried grasses -- as if this quiet day
with its tentative light weren't enough,
as if joy weren't strewn all around.
Holly Hughes
from American Zen: A Gathering of Poets
4 comments:
Beautiful and perfect for this time of year, where so many of us are low in energy, gray skies are plenty and are always waiting for another ray of sunshine, only to miss them when they do peek through the winter mass of clouds, because of "a mind wanting more"
Thank you Cate:)
Love this!
"But the mind always wants more than it has" ... how true. That is something I am working to overcome, and I am finding it easier as I get older to look for, and really see, "the joy strewn all around."
We are certainly a species of seekers. This poem reminds me to be still and enjoy the now. Thanks so much.
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