No duties. I don’t have to be profound.
I don’t have to be artistically perfect.
Or sublime. Or edifying.
I just wander. I say: “You were running,
That’s fine. It was the thing to do.”
And now the music of the worlds transforms me.
My planet enters a different house.
Trees and lawns become more distinct.
Philosophies one after another go out.
Everything is lighter yet not less odd.
Sauces, wine vintages, dishes of meat.
We talk a little of district fairs,
Of travels in a covered wagon with a cloud of dust behind,
Of how rivers once were, what the scent of calamus is.
That’s better than examining one’s private dreams.
And meanwhile it has arrived. It’s here, invisible.
Who can guess how it got here, everywhere.
Let others take care of it. Time for me to play hooky.
Buena notte. Ciao. Farewell
~Czeslaw Milosz~
New and Collected Poems 1931-2001
* * * * *
I found this a very intriguing poem. It drew me into it bit by bit. Then I had to read it again a second and third time.
My favorite lines: “And meanwhile it has arrived. It’s here, invisible. Who can guess how it got here, everywhere”. I would love to hear your take on what you think he meant by this. I think he might be referencing the night, itself, but I don’t know. What do you think?
when i read this it is the dream that has arrived, stepping back from the running and allowing the music of the world to saturate the space untill the chatter of this and that is just sort of a hum and i feel the “real” world of my inner dream alive and pulsing under it all, has been there all the time…
“That’s better than examining one’s private dreams.
And meanwhile it has arrived. It’s here, invisible.
Who can guess how it got here, everywhere.”
no need to examine the dream… allow it to arrive, or better yet show itself, as it was always here
thats how it feels to me. and when i allow myself to know this also, it reveals itself as true.
xo am
Wow, what an amazing interpretation of the poem and stated so poetically, too! I was still over here thinking of all the mundane things he’s musing about, night or the end of life, since he wrote it I think in his 80s. But wow, you’ve just taken it to a whole ‘nuther level and I love it!
well thanks kiddo! glad i had no idea who he was/is or age or anything! lol
He’s a very cool poet! Check out these other poems of his on my blog, I think you will enjoy. “This World” is my personal favorite.
http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/08/08/after/
http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2009/07/26/this-world-2/
http://simplyblessed.heartsdeesire.com/2008/05/17/faith/
cool thanks for the links (O: