Life

I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn't, So I jumped in and sank.  I came up once and hollered! I came up twice and cried! If that water hadn't a-been so cold I might've sunk and died.       But it was      Cold in that water!      It was cold!  I took the elevator Sixteen floors above the ground. I thought about my baby And thought I would jump down.  I stood there and I hollered! I stood there and I cried! If it hadn't a-been so high I might've jumped and died.       But it was      High up there!      It was high!  So since I'm still here livin', I guess I will live on. I could've died for love-- But for livin' I was born  Though you may hear me holler, And you may see me cry-- I'll be dogged, sweet baby, If you gonna see me die.

Touched by an Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life.  Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls.  We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love's light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free.

Ezra Pound

The tree has entered my hands,  The sap has ascended my arms,  The tree has grown in my breast-  Downward,  The branches grow out of me, like arms.   Tree you are,  Moss you are,  You are violets with wind above them.  A child - so high - you are,  And all this is folly to the world.