Living

I've never considered myself much of a poetry fan, but every once in a while I'll come across something that speaks to me. Most recently, "Living" by Denise Levertov was one of those exceptions:

The fire in leaf and grass
so green it seems
each summer the last summer.

The wind blowing, the leaves
shivering in the sun,
each day the last day.

A red salamander
so cold and so
easy to catch, dreamily

moves his delicate feet
and long tail. I hold
my hand open for him to go.

Each minute the last minute.


Part of my reasoning behind starting this blog was to open myself up to new opportunities and experience the world in ways I hadn't before. The poem resonates with me because of its emphasis on living in the present, valuing experiences as they come to you but letting them go so you can embrace something else in the future. The poem's short, quick to read, and yet powerful enough to really capture one's attention.