Home Town
by William Stafford
Peace on my little town, a speck in the safe,
comforting, impersonal immensity of {12 miles from} Kansas.
Benevolence like a gentle haze on its courthouse
(the model of Greek pillars to me)
on its quiet little bombshell of a library,
on its continuous, hidden, efficient sewer system.
Sharp, amazed, steadfast regard on its more upright citizenry,
my nosy, incredible, delicious neighbors.
Haunting invasion of a train whistle to my friends,
moon-gilding, regular breaths of the old memories to them—
the old whispers, old attempts, old beauties, ever new.
Peace on my little town, haze-blessed, sun-friended,
dreaming sleepy days under the world-champion sky.
I'll miss going home this summer...but first-home will just have to wait there in the midst of the wheat fields and under the blue, blue sky (my photo doesn't do the sky justice) while I fully settle back into now-home and give myself these weeks devoid of commitments so I can unravel and relax into ME.
**Edited to add, read this article: The Busy Trap. Wisdom: "...the best investment of my limited time on earth was to spend it with people I love." and "Life is too short to be busy."
**Edited to add, read this article: The Busy Trap. Wisdom: "...the best investment of my limited time on earth was to spend it with people I love." and "Life is too short to be busy."
Diane has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week at Random Noodling.
" give myself these weeks devoid of commitments so I can unravel and relax into ME." Your closing line says it all. Enjoy unraveling and relaxing.
ReplyDelete"haze-blessed, sun-friended" -- what a way with words! Hope you have a peaceful, delicious time.
ReplyDeleteHave fun relaxing! That sounds lovely!
ReplyDeleteClearly, William Stafford, understood the role of the public library!
ReplyDeletequiet little bombshell
Thanks for sharing this one, Mary Lee, and enjoy being ME!
"...sleepy days under the world-champion sky." It's been awhile since we've taken a trip to my husband's home in KS, but you're right the picture does not do justice to that blue, blue sky. It's exquisite, a beauty all its own. Enjoy unraveling and relaxing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem - so many wonderful lines. Love the last stanza especially. Enjoy your summer!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, moon-gilding, sun-friended and peace-steeped.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I think time away makes us appreciate those things from which we are separated even more. But unraveling and relaxing does have its own appeal!
ReplyDeleteLove that last, Mary Lee: "Life is too short to be busy." Our annual trip to my hometown is late Aug., for the eclipse. I am lucky that my daughter loves to go there too though it really has never been her hometown. Stafford is a favorite, happy you found such a poem that seems just for you: "sun-friended" is just right.
ReplyDeleteFully settling into now-home is a good goal for these lazy summer days. Hope you'll find a way to relax and be you. William Stafford is one of the masters, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope you get reacquainted with yourself in a most marvelous way this summer, Mary Lee! Relax and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that "unravelling" is a positive thing. I'm doing some of that too (although I do wish Daisy hadn't shown me that Squares game to download on my phone. I'm beginning to understand my son's obsessions.) This is a "nosy, incredible, delicious" poem and I'm so glad to make its acquaintance. I too noticed the "quiet little bombshell of a library."
ReplyDeleteI'm finding some success in trying to think/say "I want to xyz" instead of "I have to xyz." Helps me sort out the busy options more honestly!
Stafford's poem is gorgeous. I'm going to be thinking about that "haze-blessed, sun-friended...world champion sky" all day. Wishing you peace as you "unravel and relax into" yourself, Mary Lee. Thank you for the link to the article, too.
ReplyDeleteLovely--that haunting stanza is my favorite. Peace on your little town, Mary Lee! Enjoy settling in.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Mary Lee. I have saved July for ME. I love the phrase "moon-gilding." My plan is to write moon poems all July!
ReplyDeleteLove the STafford poem and the photo-it looks very similar to my now-home in the Midwest. I spend a lot of time driving past and through those wheat fields (and corn and beans) to talk with farmers.
ReplyDeleteOh, my heart did a twitch for you because while this is hard for many reasons you are going to do what's best and uncover, relax and be you. Enjoy this time, reflect and capture some memories you might think about during this time.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad you won't be coming to Colorado this year-- but love that you are enjoying your summer (and the sky really is big in Colorado- I remember trying to explain the difference to a friend in NH one time). I'm going to read the article, as soon as I finish grading papers for my ELA class. Crazy, busy summer here and I'm hating it!
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy to see you are taking some time for yourself. I never understood that self-care was a thing until well into adulthood. Sorry you won't make it "home". The poem is beautiful and wistful. The "bombshell library" made me laugh out loud in it's perfect description of silence amid the result of so much information smashed together. Be well, friend. We are all so much better off when you are and share it.
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, many peaceful days I wish you "while you fully settle back into now." What a delicious thought! Being devoid of commitments to unravel and relax into ME sounds like sound advice. Enjoy the time.
ReplyDeleteI liked this rambling, slowing down poem about Kansas, and the article you linked us to also Mary Lee– here here for more unstructured time!
ReplyDeleteI've often found taking in a vast expanse of midwestern fields very fulfilling and relaxing, thanks!
Slowing down, William Stafford, and summer...the best recipe. Thank you for all of this.
ReplyDeleteLife is too short to be busy. AMEN. Enjoy your time, Mary Lee! It's important. xo
ReplyDelete