reading david whyte

The Opening of Eyes

That day I saw beneath dark clouds
the passing light over the water
and I heard the voice of the world speak out,
I knew then, as I had before
life is no passing memory of what has been
nor the remaining pages in a great book
waiting to be read.

It is the opening of eyes long closed.
It is the vision of far off things
seen for the silence they hold.
It is the heart after years
of secret conversing
speaking out loud in the clear air.

It is Moses in the desert
fallen to his knees before the lit bush.
It is the man throwing away his shoes
as if to enter heaven
and finding himself astonished,
opened at last,
fallen in love with solid ground.

-- David Whyte
from Songs for Coming Home
©1984 Many Rivers Press

@glasshill mentioned David Whyte with a rush and a sigh when we were hanging out last night, so I pulled him up this morning and gave read while I was still downing my first cup of coffee.

That first hour of the day seems to be dangerously emotional territory -- again I teared up, this time over this one, and a few others.

I thought I didn't know David Whyte's work, but browsing his online store I realized I did -- I read a book he wrote, many years ago, that I highly recommend, about work, and working, and Crossing the Unknown Sea »