I remember this poem from one of my first poetry workshops… from In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet’s Portable Workshop by Steve Kowit, who passed away this year. It was stunning and captured how I felt at that moment in a poetry workshop doing something I loved – the world of writing opening up to me, and my heart and mind opening up with it.
A Blessing
By James Wright
Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
I always find it interesting how we can read things differently at different times in our lives. Do you remember a time when you read something that just felt so powerful in that moment? I’d love to hear about it!