The palm at the end of the mind, beyond the last thought, rises in the bronze distance. A gold feathered bird sings in the palm, without human meaning, without human feeling, a foreign song. You know then that it is not the reason that makes us happy or unhappy.
The bird sings. Its feathers shine. The palm stands on the edge of space. The wind moves slowly in the branches. The bird's fire-fangled feathers dangle down.

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Quoting the Bible

Tonight I'm thinking about Jesuswhich isn't remarkablefor most people on Christmasbut it is for me.Which means that I'm reallythinking about the lightfrom Seamus Heaney's phonewhen he texted his wifedon't be afraid seconds beforehe left his body behind. Don't be afraid,I tell my son as Ibuckle his seatbelt, don't be afraidI place a green dinosaurmask on his face,don't be afraid, I sprayhis toddler hands withdisinfectant don't be afraidI hold him closeand walk away fromother mothers singingtheir own version ofdon't be afraidI say it so oftenI wonder if my sonthinks the wordsare a seriesof sounds I humwhen I'm around himto get through the daymore comfortthan language, moreshape than mouth,more memory than body,more mother than person.  

--Luisa Muradyan

2 comments:

  1. I am more word than mouth. More child than man.

    Left the beach for a doctors appointment, what a fool.

    Desperately wanting South, not North. No more North!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am more word than mouth. More boy than man.

    Left the beach for a doctors appointment. What a fool.

    Struggling to return south. No more North!

    But my feet aren't letting me go...

    ReplyDelete