The Word

Winter Sun. Daniel F. Gerhatz.

 

The Word

Tony Hoagland, 1992

 

Down near the bottom

of the crossed-out list

of things you have to do today,

 

between “green thread”

and “broccoli” you find

that you have penciled “sunlight.”

 

Resting on the page, the word

is as beautiful, it touches you

as if you had a friend

 

and sunlight were a present

he had sent you from some place distant

as this morning—to cheer you up,

 

and to remind you that,

among your duties, pleasure

is a thing,

 

that also needs accomplishing.

Do you remember?

that time and light are kinds

 

of love, and love

is no less practical

than a coffee grinder

 

or a safe spare tire?

Tomorrow you may be utterly

without a clue

 

but today you get a telegram,

from the heart in exile

proclaiming that the kingdom

 

still exists,

the king and queen alive,

still speaking to their children,

 

—to any one among them

who can find the time

to sit out in the sun and listen.

3 thoughts on “The Word”

  1. This poem is beautiful and so full of truth! We must be certain to add sunshine to our daily to-do list for beauty and happiness, as well as health! If we don’t take time out of our hectic days to to read a psalm, hug a child, smell a rose… we’ll be miserable!

    Also, it is often through nature and the quiet simple things in life that God speaks to us. Sometimes we need a ray of sunshine or a passing butterfly to remind us of the beauty of the Lord’s love for us.

    1. That is so true, Fiona!

      I don’t often enjoy modern poetry, but Hoagland’s poem surprised me like that ray of sunshine. “Pleasure/ is a thing/ that also need accomplishing.” I’ve been busy this week with illness, volunteer work, and study, and needed this reminder to take time to deliberately delight in the beauty by which I am surrounded.

  2. Also, I like that the painting, although romantically designed, is of a girl with a plain down-to-earth kind of face instead of the usual belles depicted.

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