Just Now

Tonight I was reading Good Poems for Hard Times, an anthology selected by Garrison Keillor. This poem supports my idea of looking for beauty in simple things. Because of where my house is located I don't see many sunsets.  Traveling on Highway 57 in the north reaches of Idaho last evening I followed the sunset above. Nothing has been simpler or more beautiful.

Just Now

 

In the morning as the storm begins to blow away
the clear sky appears for a moment and it seems to me
that there has been something simpler than I could ever
believe
simpler than I could have begun to find words for
not patient not even waiting no more hidden
than the air itself that became part of me for a while
with every breath and remained with me unnoticed
something that was here unnamed unknown in the days
and the nights not separate from them
not separate from them as they came and were gone
it must have been here neither early nor late then
by what name can I address it now holding out my thanks

 

~ W.S. Merwin ~

 

Idaho Great Lakes

I didn't post yesterday so this would have been my National Poetry Month post for Tuesday. In the far north land Idaho lies Priest Lake. This time of year it is quiet, cold, beautiful, and without many people. My kind of time to visit the lake. I discovered a poem written by an Idaho Stateman writer and I hope I have the name of the poem right. She just called it a poem about

Great Lakes in Idaho

Up here, you hear
Nothing.
Or maybe
The gentle lapping of waves like a lullaby.

Fog breezes in, spreading across the lake 
Like whipped frosting.
The water, so pure. 
You can drink it.

People are scarce. And fierce.
About their land, their water.
This is their legacy.
Because here, you can dream forever.

Forests fringe these lakes like eyelashes,
While water,
Holds its breath. 
Never moving a muscle.

by Jeanne Huff