A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Monday 20 December 2010

A Fable Of Life

A Fable

We stand at the source,
the plane tree and I.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree and me.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I and the cat.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me and the cat.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I, the cat and the sun.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me, the cat and the sun.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I, the cat, the sun and our life.
Our images reflect
off the river.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me, the cat, the sun and our life.

We stand at the source.
The cat will be the first to go,
its image will dissolve in the water.
Then I will go,
my image will dissolve in the water.
Then the plane tree will go,
its image will dissolve in the water.
Then the river will go,
the sun alone remaining,
then it will go too.

We stand at the source,
the plane tree, I, the cat, the sun and our life.
The water is cool,
the plane tree spreading.
I am writing a poem.
The sun is warm.
It's great to be alive.
The water-dazzle
lights up the plane tree, me, the cat, the sun and our life.

NAZIM HIKMET, Turkish (1902-1963)

Whatever the future holds, while there is life there is joy to be found in the innocence of being alive.

6 comments:

George said...

An interesting poem, Robert, and it seems to me that we are always standing at the source. I am intrigued by your reference to the joy that can be found in "the innocence of being alive." Against the backdrop of so much puritanical conditioning in our society, conditioning that is premised upon that old original sin notion that we are guilty until innocence is either purchased or proven, I love idea that there is innocence in just being alive. There is something quite liberating in this idea.

Kiwi Nomad said...

I love the lines about the water-dazzle. I have just been for a swim in an outdoor lane pool. One of the things I love about swimming in such a pool on a sunny day is the way the sunlight dazzles and breaks up on the water, making a pattern on the bottom of the pool. It somehow brings life to the whole swim, and to the rest of the day.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

A lovely example of being totally present to what is ... and loving what is ... knowing that what is, is enough.

Grizz………… said...

Though I currently lack a cat and so must substitute Moon the Dog, I have the river, the sun (when it decides to show) and plane trees—sycamores—aplenty. The source is miles from here—but more than once I have stood looking at the water, lit by its dazzle, seeing myself and subsequently reflecting on this reflection and the past, present, and future state of my life, wondering those things we all must wonder from time to time…and concluding, as the poet concluded, that we all will go in our order. And most of the time, on a good day, finding all the joy I need because I'm alive.

Oh how I feel this poem…

Ruth said...

When we accept and embrace that we will dissolve away one day, every day is free.

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks for all these great comments.

Loving what is ... knowing that what is, is enough ...

Acceptance of - even embracing - the inevitable = freedom.

What wonderful truths and ideals to have in mind as we approach the start of a new year.