Healing Poetry | “Late Ripeness” by Czeslaw Milosz

by | Nov 28, 2024 | Aging & Impermanence, Cassidy's Corner, Poetry Rx, Uncategorized

Today’s healing offering for all of our friends near & far… from the beautiful mind of Czeslaw Milosz; translated by Robert Hass & Milosz (and recommended by Cassidy)

Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004)

Not soon, as late as the approach of my ninetieth year,

I felt a door opening in me and I entered

the clarity of early morning.

One after another my former lives were departing,

like ships, together with their sorrow.

And the countries, cities, gardens, the bays of seas

assigned to my brush came closer,

ready now to be described better than they were before.

I was not separated from people,

grief and pity joined us.

We forget — I kept saying — that we are all children of the King.

For where we come from there is no division

into Yes and No, into is, was, and will be.

We were miserable, we used no more than a hundredth part

of the gift we received for our long journey.

Moments from yesterday and from centuries ago—

a sword blow, the painting of eyelashes before a mirror

of polished metal, a lethal musket shot, a caravel

staving its hull against a reef — they dwell in us,

waiting for a fulfillment.

I knew, always, that I would be a worker in the vineyard,

as are all men and women living at the same time,

whether they are aware of it or not.

Thank you, Milosz for your continued insight into the human mind & condition… for your eyes that see… for your morality, clarity, courage… and for your gift of hope. You can read more about the beautiful mind (& life) of Milosz here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/czeslaw-milosz

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