march 20/64 kalymnos
this is the afternoon and so it is time to make
a poem of the afternoon, to come up from
under it with a long sigh and to swing into it
from above: the afternoon, the golden time:
to have no subject but the world, life and the
world, life in the world, the texture of life, the
texture of every minute as it passes
this is the afternoon and so it is time to make
a poem of the afternoon (the afternoon is
making a poem of itself)
afternoon, the afternoon, the people stand on
the sunlit quay and wait for the kanaris.
they stand on the quay and wait for the boat:
the kanaris to arrive ...
- Robert Lax, journal C/tagebuch C.PV, 1990, p. 8
This, and The Peace of Wild Things have been quite exquisite, Beth..
ReplyDeletethanks, J - I've been in a bit of a funk lately, but seem to be getting my bearings again. Looks like you've made it back to your side of the world!
DeleteI like Lax's presence in his afternoon, his mindfulness, like a prayer. I'd like to make a pilgrimage to his grave site once again.
ReplyDeletelax is a very special poet (and person). I am very happy that I've known him in my life, and consider him a friend.
DeleteI think of the poems by Merton and have to ask---has anyone else had difficulty understanding them--at least the majority of them?
ReplyDeletethis afternoon poem is not a Merton poem, Dave - was written by Merton's friend, Robert Lax. I don't think that the idea is to "understand" them, but rather to let them lead you into an appreciation (awareness) of what is happening right now.
DeleteLet's get in touch.
DeletePeter M.