Friday, June 24, 2011

hand delivered poem

another gift.
another reminder.
right when i needed one.

a poem.
hand delivered
with these words:

"i thought of you when i read these words.
these words are for you."

the poem:


Love After Love
Derek Walcott

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows by your heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

so i will take these words
hold these words
and affirm this day
the gift giver
who keeps
plopping down before me
life
calling
and
hope.

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