2/21/2016

The most important voice

18

~ Dream Boat, River Tay, Scotland ~


START CLOSE IN

Start close in,
don't take the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take.

Start with
the ground
you know,
the pale ground
beneath your feet,
your own
way of starting
the conversation.

Start with your own
question,
give up on other
people's questions,
don't let them
smother something
simple.

To find
another's voice,
follow
your own voice,
wait until
that voice
becomes a
private ear
listening
to another.

Start right now
take a small step
you can call your own
don't follow
someone else's
heroics, be humble
and focused,
start close in,
don't mistake
that other
for your own.

Start close in,
don't take
the second step
or the third,
start with the first
thing
close in,
the step
you don't want to take.

~ David Whyte, from "River Flow: New & Selected Poems"


18 comments:

  1. So beautiful! A poem to be read over and over again and discover something you overlooked first three times. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just loved this gorgeous poetic reminder that the most important voice is our own.......

      [I may have read it over about six times myself so far]

      Delete
  2. I understand and yes it's right and needs to referred back to time and again
    Thanks for sharing it with us
    Lynn :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the poem and the photo is so evocative, calming and intriguing...a poem in itself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They sort of *arrived* in my life on the same day, so that was that.

      Delete
  4. A poem of excellent advise and inspiration. An excellent reminder and most encouraging.

    Lovely art accompanying this poem. Perfection.

    xx, Carol

    ReplyDelete
  5. Replies
    1. Am reading so many poets of late ... must have something to do with it being winter here & more time for introspection [or so it feels].

      Delete
  6. Thank you for David's poem and your beautiful photograph. I was recently introduced to David's work elsewhere, and now that you've featured one of his poems, I think that's an omen. Your blog looks beautiful, by the way. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A couple of female poets I've been enjoying of late are Jane Hirshfield & Ellen Bass, but Whyte's words are often like arrows going right to the core of things......
      Many thanks, Connie.

      Delete
  7. a good reminder to pay attention to that voice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, Velma ... Whyte's verses, to me, are often like irresistible invitations.

      Delete
  8. David Whyte's poem echoes into the heart and mind...worth reading over and over. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That David Whyte is everywhere this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So he should be - he has many important things to say ;>)

      Delete