"That which does no earthly good cannot be heavenly minded." R. Rivera

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Life Should Leave Deep Tracks

Things Shouldn't Be So Hard
By Kay Ryan
U.S. Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry,  2007-2010

A life should leave
deep tracks:
ruts where she
went out and back
to get the mail
or move the hose
around the yard;
where she used to
stand before the sink,
a worn-out place;
beneath her hand
the china knobs
rubbed down to
white pastilles;
the switch she
used to feel for
in the dark
almost erased.
Her things should
keep her marks.
The passage
of a life should show;
it should abrade.
And when life stops,
a certain space--
however small--
should be left scarred
by the grand and
damaging parade.
Things shouldn't
be so hard.

18 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

FANTASTIC POEM!!! We need to share this with Bianca tonight!!!!

Palomasea said...

Beautiful poem, dear friends.
Thank you for the constant inspiration...
xoxo,
- Irina

hi-d said...

Yes...Forget about Hansel & Gretel living - breadcrumbs are not enough. We should leave deep, giant ruts wherever we go.

Have a wonderful weekend, Ruben!
Heidi

wendy said...

WOW...what a beautiful poem. I loved it and it rung so true for me.
my mind wanders a bit now
thinking of my grandparents. My sister now lives in their house , a little farm house in southern Alberta. She changed very little of it, as she wanted to basically live in the surroundings of our youth.
the days spent in that little house. The ruts and paths this poem speaks of.
Her kitchen sink, their uneven floors.
and yes, Life was hard for them.

and It is hard to have them gone.

and It is hard for me that my Son is dead.

but all of them have left little paths for us to remember them by, and smile about.
and that eases the hard.

thanks Ruben !!

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

This poem touches me deeply.. Just beautiful... Thank you Ruben. Your heart knows how to give and where to look for inspiraton. Thank you Ruben.
fondly,
Penny

RDA Pony Tales said...

Thank you Ruben for bringing this poem to my attention. It moved me on many levels and for different reasons.... always the sign of a great poem I think.
Have a lovely weekend with Anita. How wonderful it is to have your blogs to visit for inspiration and friendship.
Spotty hugs to you both! Abby

Suz said...

Beautiful post. Absolutely beautiful poetry.

Palomasea said...

Just had to come back and take in this moving poem again...
Perfect images as well, Ruben!

karen - Simply Inspired said...

what a remarkable poem... thank you for sharing. the photos are wonderful too.

George The Lad said...

Oh look at them steps just waiting for me to pose on them, sorry Ruben I got side tracked :( stepped!
Moms over my shoulder "Ok sorry mom" she likes this poem alot,and that first photo looks just like the mud we walked in today!! so she left her tracks in the field!!
Have a Good Week
See Yea George xxx
PS she liked your post it matters with the video which she watched all of it.

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dear Ruben
Kay Ryan is indeed a beautiful poet.. I must look for her works next visit to the book store
Thanks again for sharing
fondly,
Penny

lisa Moran, Bilancia Designs said...

Beautiful, Ruben.
Wonderful poet.
Thanks for sharing...and I look forward to seeing more of YOUR work as well. How wonderful would it be to see a new quote of yours each time you posted something?? Hint, hint?? :) :)
Lisa

Jules said...

You made me cry!
I enjoy your bits and have been watching what I do now in case I cause a bad butterfly effect!!!!

fashion-meets-art said...

wonderful!!! i can't say more...
only two things: the last picture is so excellent and another thing:yes, your lovely wife won this necklace. i'm very happy about that :)
lovely greets
maren anita

FASHION-MEETS-ART by Maren Anita

Christel said...

Dear Ruben, Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem. I can definately relate to Wendy, having also lost a son. In eight short years, the paths he chose, the marks he left behind, will forever be engrained within us. I think it isn't enough to simply be...we need to leave our mark, we must tell a story, one that is unique. After all..everything we do, say think, really does matter. Blessings my friends, Christel

~CC Catherine said...

What a heartfelt and touching poem. I love it, and it's SO TRUE.

Anonymous said...

Men fear thought, as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.
Bertrand Russell
British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)

M.A. the 2nd ~ Frances Russell said...

Dear Ruben ..... such a beautiful, thought-provoking poem! Thank-you for sharing and yes I so agree the deeper the marks the greater the life! Happy New Year to you and I can't wait to see more posts this year!
with best wishes
Frances