Meditation &Poetry Entropy | 16 Jul 2009
I’m Going to Start Living Like a Mystic
Edward Hirsch’s poems insist that art is not some category we go to for entertainment, to be sequestered away from regular life. It’s just the opposite. These poems are as essential as walking down the street. They have as strong an existence as a loaf of bread. – Stuart Dybek
I’m Going to Start Living Like a Mystic
Today I am pulling on a green wool sweater
and walking across the park in a dusky snowfall.
The trees stand like twenty-seven prophets in a field,
each a station in a pilgrimage—silent, pondering.
Blue flakes of light falling across their bodies
are the ciphers of a secret, an occultation.
I will examine their leaves as pages in a text
and consider the bookish pigeons, students of winter.
I will kneel on the track of a vanquished squirrel
and stare into a blank pond for the figure of Sophia.
I shall begin scouring the sky for signs
as if my whole future were constellated upon it.
I will walk home alone with the deep alone,
a disciple of shadows, in praise of the mysteries.
on 16 Jul 2009 at 12:42 pm 1.Michele said …
“And consider the bookish pigeons, students of winter”
I never know what a good poem touches inside of me but I always smile—silently but deeply.
“None of us are as young
as we were. So what?
Friendship never ages.” – Auden
“‘Recipe For Happiness Khaborovsk Or Anyplace’
One grand boulevard with trees
with one grand cafe in sun
with strong black coffee in very small cups.
One not necessarily very beautiful
man or woman who loves you.
One fine day.” Ferlinghetti
on 16 Jul 2009 at 7:18 pm 2.Nimesh Dadia said …
Dear Ajay
That was my favourite line in the poem too.
“bookish pigeons,students of winter”
This is a deeply spiritual poem that intrudes on ones half awakened souls
reminding of the turmoil or Kash ma kash ( a word in urdu meaning inner turmoil) of a seeker.
The lines beautifully expressed , though riddled with symbolism does gnaw ones inert.
“I will kneel on the track of a vanquished squirrel
and stare into a blank pond for the figure of Sophia.”
A Blank pond , perhaps signifying a seeker’s inner self unburdened by knowledge and information. And perhaps in this blankness, as a virgin spirit , one finds enlightenment (Figure of Sophia, in Greek meaning Wisdom) .
Beautifully expressed!
Nimesh
on 18 Jul 2009 at 8:11 am 3.David said …
I don’t get the title. Also, science is missing from this poem and I think that is an important criticism when the writer goes into the natural world. I do like the poem despite the flaws. For example, “the track of the vanquished squirrel” what was that, road kill? I didn’t get it. And Sophia? I didn’t take that class so I’m clueless. Is there a religious undertone to this poem with the stations of the cross? I don’t get that. We go from “leaves as pages from a text” (which is a cool image, that’s nice) right away to “bookish pigeons, students of winter.” This is bad science but great mythology and religion, bad art. Oops, I’m sorry, I digress. And scouring the sky for signs of your future. Good idea, but needs more work.
on 18 Jul 2009 at 1:09 pm 4.nishith said …
The simple joys of life surround us everywhere. All the parts that make earth are in us. So we are connected to the source, in all ways. Its beautiful to know that there are poets and people who take time to remind us of these little joys and pleasures that the innocence of the planet offers us.
Let this help us to take out some time everyday and appreciate the beauty in little things that we drive by so swiftly otherwise.
Thank you for the posting.
Cheers
NISH