December 25, 2012

Poetry Tuesday: faith

Again, from one of my favorite poets, David Whyte.
Probably my favorite poem of his as well.


~~~~~~~

Self-Portrait

It doesn't interest me if there is one God 
or many gods.
I want to know if you belong or feel
abandoned.
If you can know despair or see it in others.
I want to know
if you are prepared to live in the world
with its harsh need
to change you.  If you can look back
with firm eyes
saying this is where I stand. I want to know
if you know
how to melt into that fierce heat of living
falling toward
the center of your longing.  I want to know
if you are willing
to live, day by day, with the consequence of love
and the bitter
unwanted passion of your sure defeat.

I have heard, in that fierce embrace, even
the gods speak of God.

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