25 January 2014

Month of Two New Moons




Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands,
And walk among long dangled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

                             William Butler Yeats
                             From: The Song of the Wandering Angus


Month of Two New Moons

This month
in the midst of winter,
first day brings first

of two new moons, splinters
light into fractional shine,
barest glints

of moonglow can't blind
to starlight that fills
sky and mind

as I gaze until
I know at last
I am stardust billed

as first among castes,
but one instead with all that lasts.

                            January, 2014


What is my verse? We are one. We are the environment and care for it is care for ourselves. We are the world and care for one another is care for ourselves. We will languish or thrive together.

We have food enough now to feed us all if we devise the way. We have the knowledge to provide safe water for us all. We have wealth enough for all if we craft a more equitable system. We have resources and creativity enough to house everyone.

And my verse sings of women and elders coming forward at last to dream the visions for this kind of world, to take the leadership to build this kind of world, to notice and celebrate each step toward it.


Written in response to the question, what is your verse?, posed by Robin Williams in The Dead Poets Society and posted  by Brian in dVerse Poets Pub on January 20 for our inspiration. I've sat with it since and formulated my response while on my yearly birthday retreat up the hill from my daughter's home in the rain forest of Trinidad. Surrounded by nature I was reminded of my place in the scheme of things.

13 comments:

  1. Much to ponder. Happy Birthday, lucky lady.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great birthday tradition. I love your verse, and I'm so glad you attributed the question to Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. I had forgotten that. His voice and that question are featured now in an iPad commercial. It makes so much more sense to me now! Happy Birthday, Mary.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's become a time I look forward to and helps me become more conscious about the coming year. Thanks for your greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful and optimistic message! I do think we really need to think more often about the idea that we ARE one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At 68 somethings become even more important. But, yes, let's.

      Delete
  5. what a coll response, i rather like:

    I am stardust billed
    as first among castes,
    but one instead with all that lasts.

    that is col and shows your specialness and contentment...i also like your message that we are all one...and connected...i def agree...and i think it will take all of us to make that world...

    welcome back. smiles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cool...ack, spelling...smiles.

      Delete
    2. I knew what you meant. I'm content and grateful these days.

      Delete
  6. I love your cite to the Yeats poem which is one of my favorites of all time - and the idea of the two means some fractionalizing the moonlight for the month and your connection to the stars and siding in with them is so creative. A lovely sound here too. Thanks, Mary. k.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine, too. My grandfather was named Angus and who immigrated to the US so I feel a special affinity to it. Also, I'm a wanderer! Thank you for your generous comments.

      Delete
  7. how cool on the birthday retreat....happy birthday to you and enjoy the time... wonderful verse as well... stardust billed is wonderful and the connection..yes...i agree...
    ... and if you really come to basel make sure to give me a call and i will show you around a bit...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll be back in Italy at the end of Feb. planning trips to must see places as we hope to move by spring/summer. My friend named her Bernese Mountain dog Basel.

      Delete

Let's chat.