Light

I realized that I don’t know how to read a poetry book. Somehow I don’t think I’m expected to read it cover to cover, first page to last. I mean, I love poetry, since beyond the acne days of my youth, but I own only three poetry collections - Rainer Maria Rilke, Robert Frost, and Charles Baudelaire, with Rilke being the ultimate favorite. Although I’ve often wondered if its not Stephen Mitchell (translator) whose words I adore, because I do not find the same kind of “rush” or the same level of awe when I read other Rilke translations.

So, as I always do, I opened my book on a random page today and came up with these lines:

a billion stars go spinning through the night,

blazing high above your head.

But in you is the presence that

will be, when all the stars are dead.

 -from Buddha in Glory

For some people, it takes a motivational speech; others are inspired by things and people they see everyday. Its not that I need poetry to propel me to continue on working to make my life worthwhile. But it helps. And these lines reminded me today that there’s still so much to do to make it count.