Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Change of Seasons

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,
go to the limits of your longing.
Embody me.

Flare up like flame
and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
Just keep going. No feeling is final.
Don’t let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.
You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.
Rilke’s Book of Hours, I, 59

I found this beautiful poem today, these beautiful words.

I thought of how I instantly knew I had to share it with all of you.

We are changing all the time, becoming closer and closer to who we are.

Thank you, all of you, for still visiting here, and being the magic that I can dial up at any time.

You keep me afloat.
 ---------------------
BONUS POSTING TIP:  Do not enter "Autumn" as a google search image. You'll hear the screams 6 states across as your screen fills up with an eye-masked auburn haired wood nymph and her strategically placed fall leaves.

Word to the wise.

77 comments:

  1. Loved the poem...but especially loved the helpful hint about the search term!!

    Once a few years ago, a bunch of moms were going to take our kids to a water park called "Wet-n-Wild"...I googled THAT, looking for directions...and you can imagine the results I got for that one! NOT pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  2. you know I just googled autumn. I'm awful like that.

    the poem was so needed for me today. Thank you. Kindly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, what is wrong with me today? I keep boo-hooing at blog posts. Don't say it - I'm off to check the calendar in a second, but I don't think *that* is the problem. I think it's just that there are too many great writers out there, and all of you conspired to make me weep today. ;)

    This just reached something that needed to be reached, I guess.

    And now I'm going to Google Autumn. I can't help myself...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful. Now I'm off to google. As if I wouldn't!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem. I really love it:) And..oh my...thanks for the tip on google. I have no desire to see Autumn in all her "glory".

    Hope you're doing well :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That was lovely, absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's really beautiful. Thanks for bringing a little bit of poetry into my day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm more like me today than I was yesterday, and I can't wait until tomorrow to see how cloes I'll be to me then. I even sleep in a hurry so I can see.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love Rilke. And I really appreciate your tip. Although whenever people say things like that a little part of me is tempted to see just how bad it really is. Because, well, I like a challenge? I guess?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I stop by and get beautiful poetry and wise tips. Thanks lady.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful poem, and thanks for the tip.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well this poem was wonderful timing. I opened your blog and went to my mom's to be there when her phone rang telling her that her 92 yr old aunt had just passed away.. I needed reminding that He who waltzed us into life is also there to waltz us out..

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like that.

    Now I want to Google Autumn.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hello Empress! Welcoming Fall. :) :) "No feeling is final" took the cake for me!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing it.

    You do know that telling me not to search something is a sure-fire way to make me do it don't you? Now I have to go restrain myself from searching autumn.

    ReplyDelete
  16. i love the, No feeling is final, line. So true, energy never dies!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hah! Ms. Curiosity Killed the Cat! Now I wanna go look up autumn. I like fairies... I wish our weather would get the memo it's fall. Geez, 90 degree weather is just wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  18. a good day to check in! thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I really needed to read about letting beauty and terror happen to me. Sincerely. Sometimes, living is messy. Thanks for the lovely words.

    ReplyDelete
  20. note to self...dont google autumn...lol.

    lovely verse...thank you for the uplift empress...

    ReplyDelete
  21. you know i have to go google autumn right now.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful poem, and thanks for the tip!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Not a big lover of poetry here. But this? Love.

    And also? Gonna go ahead and google Autumn.

    ReplyDelete
  24. ok. so. just a bunch of f**king pretty orange leaves. huge disappointment.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing such gorgeousness.

    ReplyDelete
  26. oh, how i love poetry. le sigh. only it doesn't feel much like fall here yet.
    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'll take your word on the googling.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Always something wonderful on this page, Empress. Lovely poem, and a very helpful hint about Google as well!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love the reminder to feel everything. It's too often we go through the days trying not to feel. And that's tougher sometimes than just giving in to all the emotions and experiences out there, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  30. darlin, YOU keep me a float many a night and I thank you for that. You are such an amazing person. I'm lucky to have found you

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi, Just popping in. I'm still here, but working day and night on my new blog.

    Kisses.

    ReplyDelete
  32. How absolutely perfect! Thanks for sharing it, Alexandra!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi! the poem is wonderful!!! thank you for sharing, happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  34. That is perfect and I have someone who needs to read it. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Beautiful reminder.

    I wish you hadn't said DON'T 'cuz now I'm itchin' to google Autumn. Ima gonna try it with volume off. Wish me luck.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for the beautiful poem. Amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the tip! While you're at it, be extra careful trying to find "Dicks Sporting Goods".

    ReplyDelete
  38. Gorgeous. Rilke is on my desert island poets list, you know, if I had one of those.

    I try to remember that the only thing constant is change. The seasons are evidence of this, as is laundry.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thank you so much for this beautiful poem. It was a great way to start the day!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love doing things I'm not suppose to...and at work no less. Teehee...that was fun!

    The poem....beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Just beautiful. Thanks you, once again!

    ReplyDelete
  42. That is such a beautiful poem. And thanks for the google tip!

    ReplyDelete
  43. the poem was lovely, dear friend. thank you for that.

    thinking of you. xo

    ReplyDelete
  44. Beautiful poem! Thanks for sharing that.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I don't believe in God, but that does not take away the beauty or the underlying message.

    "No feeling is final". So true.

    ReplyDelete
  46. How come when I google autumn all it looked like Vermont had exploded all over my screen? No wood nymphs in sight. Not that I have a thing for wood nyphms or anything but still.

    ReplyDelete
  47. That poem is like a God sent for me today. How perfect for my situation. Thank you so much for sharing that. Oh and thanks for the warning I miss autumn for sure but not that kind LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  48. "No feeling is final." I wish we could always remember that, especially in the darkest moments. Tomorrow, we may feel differently.

    Beautiful words here, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Lovely, lovely! Thanks for sharing with us. :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. You know how I feel about poetry. Ah...the line about the flame and shadows. Gorgeous. If you feel like posting an amazing poem a day, I'd be okay with that. :)

    Hugs & Kisses, mama chalupa

    ReplyDelete
  51. Boots and Amen

    PS I am so googling Autumn ;)

    ReplyDelete
  52. Great poem. Thanks for sharing that. And yeah...I always cringe when I hafta use google for images. Never a good thing. ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh great. Now you KNOW I have to go and google "Autumn".

    ReplyDelete
  54. Simply adore this. I love the "beauty and terror" because that is when the good stuff happens. When you look terror right in the eye, and see the gorgeous grace within.

    ReplyDelete
  55. It's lovely...you're lovely....

    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Lovely, Empress!

    Now off to Google "autumn".

    ReplyDelete
  57. thanks for posting this beautiful poem. and thanks for the wood nymph warning. those tricky, tricky wood nymphs...

    ReplyDelete
  58. Oh, Rilke is hands down my favorite poet. Not like I'm a big fan; I don't understand most poetry, but I LOVE Rilke.

    And me? I'm here. You can try to chase me away, but it ain't gonna work.

    I hope the dark lets go of you soon. No feeling is final.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I so love this and I so get it - sometimes, just a comment from a bloggy friend gets you through the day.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  60. Perfect poem. I really needed that today. Thank you.

    Now, wanna bet how long it takes me to google "autumn".......

    :-)
    j

    ReplyDelete
  61. Hello, my Darling Empress. I'm so sorry to have been absent. Critiquing is hard work and my deadline is looming and my partner is finished and I am not. Promise again to be a better friend.

    What a sumptuous bit of poetry. I love this line, "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror." And we should, but it is in the happening that sometimes the terror arises because of things like stepping off cliffs and taking chances and . . . yes, we are all changing. Hopefully for the good. I think these moments, right now, have been my best days of all my days on this earth. Scary, thrilling and joyous. I hope the same for you.

    ReplyDelete
  62. What a gorgeous poem. Love the line--"let everything happen to you...beauty and terror." Life, and growth, is so full of both.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Wow, I've been on a bit of a Rilke kick myself and this was just beautiful. LOOOOVE this part: "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." Thanks so much for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  64. LURVE Rainer Maria Rilke!!! Thanks so much for sharing that poem. Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Have been swamped. Your comments on Lucha's posts yesterday totally made me die laughing. I even brought my hubs over to the computer to show him. I love you and miss you!

    ReplyDelete
  65. What a beautiful poem! That started my day off right.

    ReplyDelete
  66. This is deep. Most of the time I'm being carried by the difficulties of life but indeed, no feeling is final. Life is all lessons, resistance is not the way to live. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  67. yes, this is a stirring piece. thanks for pointing me in its direction. he really brings home the bacon with that last line.
    i also think your thoughts at the end make it even richer, especially how we are becoming closer and closer to who we are.
    float with me, and i'll float with you, anytime:)

    ReplyDelete
  68. OK! So far I've resisted the googling of Autumn. But since I mentioned "Vagapalooza in my post today?? What the hell!! ::she types while heading off to google::

    ReplyDelete
  69. My previous comment was eaten by the comment monster. ::sighs::

    ReplyDelete