Love After Love by Derek Wolcott, Nobel Prize in Literature 1992

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another; who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

I first read this in one of Parker Palmer's books called A Hidden Wholeness, and thanks to Judy and Claire, fine facilitators of The Healing Journey for reminding me of this poem today.   There is much to contemplate here. Wishing you all a good week-end.  Trudy

Comments

[Tim Colman]

Thanks for this poem- I just read " A Hidden Wholeness" by Parker Palmer.

I am adding it to my poetry blog http://goodnaturepoetryanthology.blogspot.com/

Love your blog. Keep it coming.

Timothy