One of the best things in my week are the moments that I allow a poem to set the tone for my day. This year, I am reading through Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby R. Wilson’s Poetry of Presence II as my morning devotion.
And last week, a poem really jumped out to me… bits of it have been percolating up in my thoughts so many times since I first read it. I hope that this poem will be one that moves you as well.
It Could Be
by Julia M. Fehrenbacher
a smile or a poem. Or new day light
that finds you through and open
window. Or, perhaps, remembering
that tomorrow was never promised.
It could be the scent
of baking bread, the first chill
of autumn that has you reaching
for your favorite wool sweater. Or maybe
it’s the noticing of how easily
red maple becomes and lets go.
It could be taking today off
to be still, to un-know,
to notice. To practice loosening
your troubled grip
because grace can never
be gripped or grabbed.
It could be choosing
softness in a world grown hard
because you’re tired of hurting
and being hurt and mercy
is the best kind of medicine.
It could be an invitation to gather
around the listening table
where every color is beautiful, where
there is no blame,
no shame, no them—no other.
It could be any of these things
or no thing at all, that remind
you that, really, only a few
things matter—
Food. Trees. Words. Love. Mostly love.
It Could Be by Julia Fehrenbacher from She Will Not Be Quiet © 2017
Be sure to check in with Bonny and read a bit more poetry!
See you all back here next week!
Nice! I particularly like the line: “because grace can never be gripped or grabbed” – good selection Kat!
This whole poem had me nodding in agreement, and I particularly like these lines:
It could be choosing
softness in a world grown hard
because you’re tired of hurting
and being hurt and mercy
is the best kind of medicine.
Thanks so much for sharing this poem, Kat!
I love that particular anthology of poems, Kat. It’s so, so good. (I have so many dog-eared and flagged poems in my copy.) AND . . . I really love Julia Fehrenbacher! She has a such a beautiful way with words, and is always, always . . . so relatable! Thanks so much for sharing this lovely poem.
That’s just lovely. Thank you.
This feels like such a great poem for right now — “only a few things matter … mostly love.” Thank you for sharing this!
I took today off work, that never happens.
This stanza spoke to me:
It could be taking today off
to be still, to un-know,
to notice. To practice loosening
your troubled grip
because grace can never
be gripped or grabbed.
Thanks for sharing!
I also like that anthology of poems. This is a beautiful one. It reminds me of what is important during these tumultuous times.
‘it could be choosing softness in a world growing hard’ Oh my! I think I’ve been doing that since 2020 (or maybe 2016….) Lovely poem and thank you for sharing with us!
This is one of those that both slows AND speeds my heart. If that makes sense.
An instant opening to sacred space.
♥