A dear friend of the Baroness' was in town for the last few days, clearing out the contents of her mother-in-law's assisted living apartment; the mother-in-law has, in recent weeks, taken a turn and will no longer be in a condition to have much independence anymore.
I helped out the little I could - I think I was there mostly for emotional support.
I helped out the little I could - I think I was there mostly for emotional support.
This was a difficult scenario to revisit - I've had the task of clearing out both of my parent's apartments. And while I no longer had to belabor every choice, every plate, every family chatchka, just the boxing away of someone's possessions lays a heaviness on my heart.
I know, I know - they're just things. But they are also symbols of that person - the cross-stitch wall-hanging they loving worked on for weeks on end, the mug they bought on a well-earned vacation that brought them such happiness, the closet organizer that they finally chose to bring some order to their lives. Each is a revelatory key to that person's puzzle, and now the puzzle pieces are being put back in a box.
For today's post, I spent the better part of last night searching for the right something - I shied away from what I thought might be the obvious, or the glaringly metaphoric - and found this little gem.
I know, I know - they're just things. But they are also symbols of that person - the cross-stitch wall-hanging they loving worked on for weeks on end, the mug they bought on a well-earned vacation that brought them such happiness, the closet organizer that they finally chose to bring some order to their lives. Each is a revelatory key to that person's puzzle, and now the puzzle pieces are being put back in a box.
For today's post, I spent the better part of last night searching for the right something - I shied away from what I thought might be the obvious, or the glaringly metaphoric - and found this little gem.
It's bittersweet yet quite beautiful -
"The Waking"
by Theodore Roethke (American, 1908-1963)
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Go where you will today, dear readers, and continue to lay out those pieces so that your puzzle will be completed before it's tucked away.
by Theodore Roethke (American, 1908-1963)
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Go where you will today, dear readers, and continue to lay out those pieces so that your puzzle will be completed before it's tucked away.
