Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Waking

wooden bridge in the fog
 - Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?

I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?

God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?

The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do

To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.

What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

from: The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke. Copyright 1961.

2 comments:

  1. I love this poem! I haven't thought about it in a long time--thank you for the reminder, not only for this, but for Roethke's other poems that I need to reread. "The Bat" is another one of my favorites by Roethke.

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    Replies
    1. You're very welcome. I just picked up the collection and have been much more taken with it than I expected.

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