Friday, September 11, 2009

Sweet Darkness by David Whyte



Sweet Darkness
By David Whyte

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

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.

From: "The House of Belonging" - page 23



28 comments:

Wine and Words said...

WOW! I love this. Spoke to my core, ya know? I love the dark and it always makes me seem a little macabre, but within Whyte's words somehow I like me!!! There is so much that is too small for me...and I continue to let it in. "The night has eyes to recognize it's own." I see you Marion, in my dark. You are moon flower and moon beam, while I am peeking from beneath the bush at worlds I want, homes longed for.

Marion said...

Annie, you are one of us...the night creatures who feel at home in darkness---even prefer it. (I love fog, too, and dark, stormy days.) Many years ago my husband threw a rural paper route and he had an open Jeep Wranger then. He picked up the papers at like 2:00 a.m. and had his route done around dawn. I went with him one Friday night and it was like magic. The wind was blowing and the undersides of many leaves were silver, the trees were like giant friendly beings. If it wasn't for the fact that I got carsick (for the first and only time in my life---it was from the stink of the newspaper ink and he did lots of turning around) the night would have been perfect. LOL! I'm glad I went, though.

I have an audio CD of David Whyte's, "Midlife and the Great Unknown" and it's amazing. I highly recommend it. I think he reads the above poem in it.

Here's what the blurb at Amazon says: ""In the middle of the road of my life I awoke in a dark wood, where the true way was wholly lost." When you find yourself suddenly without bearings, as Dante Alighieri voiced so well centuries ago, where will you look for guidance? Throughout the ages, teaches David Whyte, the language of poetry has held a special power to hazard ourselves boldly at the "fierce edges" of our lives. On Midlife and the Great Unknown, you will engage with poetic imagination as it was meant to be experienced: as your companion and guide for the challenging terrain of midlife."

Boy, you really got me going there, Annie-girl! Love & Blessings, dear friend!!

Wine and Words said...

oooo...I want it. Off to Amazon.

Wine and Words said...

Is this only on Audio CD? As much as I would love to hear it....I can linger on the words better in a book. I didn't see a book offered though!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

How appropriate today. David Whyte is one of my favorite poets. He pushes through all the smoke and mirrors and speaks to the heart - to the soul.

Nice to find a kindred spirit!

Marion said...

Annie, it's only audio. I know, I prefer books, too, but there's POWER in his spoken words. You'll love it! Blessings!

Bonnie, isn't he wonderful? Thanks for stopping by. Blessings!!

Snowbrush said...

"The dark will be your womb
tonight."

We both would like that, no? But when one is in pain, the darkness can be like magnifier to the hurt, and the fear, and the desperate longing.

Marion said...

I agree, Snow, but I think it's easier to 'hide' in the dark. Glad you stopped by. Blessings!

Kay said...

I love this, love it, love it.

Marion said...

Me, too, Kay! Thanks for visiting. Blessings!

Kelly said...

You sent me this poem in a letter once, Marion, and I've kept it in a special place.

You know I love it!

So glad you shared it here....

Marion said...

You know, I'd forgotten all about that Kelly. I do love David Whyte! Love & Blessings!

Renee said...

Friend of my heart: I like the sounds of that.

Love you.

Renee xoxo

Marion said...

And that's what you are, dearest Renee. Blessings!

Karen said...

Gorgeous poem, Marion. The simplicity is deceptive, as this one is miles deep. Love this look at the night and the message and wonderful ending.

Rikkij said...

Marion- well, you know me and storms! Can I be a child that plays here and comes alive also? I promise not to trample the flowers. ~rick

Marion said...

Thank you, Karen. Yes, we do often overlook the simple things, even in poetry, don't we? Blessings!

Rick, you can just move on in. I have a 4 bedroom house with only me, my husband and assorted cats and a Golden Retriever. But you'll have to move out piles of books to make yourself a bed. OR.....I could put you out back with the tomatoes. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) LOL! Love & Blessings, friend of my heart.

Margaret Pangert said...

Wow, right in the gut. I needed that... eyes to recognize its own... Give up all other worlds except the ones to which you belong... if it doesn't bring you alive, it is too small for you. If that isn't a huge message! How many times do I persist in jeans and jackets that are too small! They have to go!! Luv ya, Marion xx

Marion said...

LOL! Margaret, I like the way you think. Glad you enjoyed the poem. Love & Blessings!

Renee said...

Marion you are so good to me. I like it.

I ordered the book 'a confederacy of dunces' from the library on your suggestion.

xooxo

Marion said...

Oh, Renee! You are so easy to love. I do hope you like "A Confederacy of Dunces". I laugh so hard every time I read it (annually) I almost pee in my pants. It just cracks me up. Wait till you read the part about the cat and the hot dog cart. The whole book is a trip. ENJOY!!! Love & Blessings!!

Anonymous said...

And only in the darkest times of our lives, we can find the light that shines the brightest.
You open windows to my Soul. Have I told so? Because you do.

Marion said...

Thank you, Saraha. YOU are a bright and shining light to me and I'm so happy to know you and your amazing poems. Love & Blessings, poet-friend of my heart...

quid said...

I've loved him since you introduced us a couple of years ago, ML. Nicely published for the day....


quid

Marion said...

Thanks, Lynn. I bet you're getting swamped with rain there in Tampa like we are today. Have a great weekend. Blessings!

Woman in a Window said...

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

yes, Yes, YES!
and then this:

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.

Are you kidding? YES!
Oh Marion. I need to eat something now. Something terribly satisfying like huge gobs of chocolate icing from a bowl! yes!

Marion said...

Erin, xoxoxox. Blessing!!

Phoenix said...

I carry this phrase in my heart, and have for some time:

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

Thanks for sharing one of my favorite poems.