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.
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.
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.
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.