Poetry: David Whyte.

Imagine my Surprise

Imagine my surprise,
sitting a full hour
in silent and irremediable
fear in the world

to find the body
forgetting
its own fear the instant
it opened and placed
its unassuming hands
on life’s enduring pain

and the world for one
moment
closed its terrifying eyes
in gratitude

saying,
“This is my body, I am found.”

 

Tilicho Lake

In the high place
it is as simple as this,
leave everything you know behind.

Step toward the cold surface,
say the old prayer of rough love
and open both arms.

Those who come with empty hands
will stare into the lake astonished,
there, in the cold light
reflecting pure snow

the true shape of your own face. 

 

Time to go into the dark

. . . Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.