The Swan
This laboring through what is still undone,
As though, legs bound, we hobbled along the way,
Is like the awkward walking of the swan.
And dying—to let go, no longer feel
The solid ground we stand on every day—
Is like his anxious letting himself fall
Into the water, which receives him gently
And which, as though with reverence and joy,
Drawback past him in streams of either side;
While, infinitely silent and aware,
In his full majesty and ever more
Indifferent, he condescends to glide.
Ranier Maria Rilke
Immediately after posting my blog on Monday, this beautiful poem from Rilke found me again. I am so grateful that there are people in the world who can express so exquisitely an experience that we all recognize on some level. It is what I wish for on the ski slopes, in my relationships, and in my deepest self. And it is happening. As we all learn to let go of fear, let go of control, we will also learn to glide. Effortlessly. Beautifully.
4 comments:
Rebecca - this is so poignant and touches me regarding changes I am discerning. This would be wonderful to share at some point at the Feb. retreat. Peace - bk
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful poem... it has made me go look up a more recent one that also speaks to me of letting go... Denise Levertov's The Avowal. As usual, you have an innate ability to make me stop and think about what I going on in my own life and how it is trying to teach me.
Gliding a goal:) Have a great day, Rebecca!
Rebecca, to condescend to glide. How marvelous, and would that I could do so with the same ease and brilliance! Thank you for posting this poem, and for your blog. I also very much appreciate the reminder to be "infinitely silent and aware." Please stop by and visit my bilingual website/blog in this part of the world.
Greetings from Mount Fuji, Japan - Catrien Ross.
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