“From now on, a nameless traveler. Winter’s first rain.” Basho
I had this Mary Oliver poem in my head through much of a recent long ride. So, I made this “cycling” version. See the other more generic version on my educational channel.
It’s a powerful poem, one repeated many times, by many poets. An expression of the sanctity, the gift that is life and that we not squander it but love ourselves and commit to our own voice, spirit, manifestation of that life force.
I remember for my 14th birthday, my mother gave me a plaque, a small quote on a piece of wood. The quote was one from Henry David Thoreau.
A few months later, I left home, Christmas Eve, walking all through the frozen night on a barren highway into town. I had that plaque with me. And all through the many rooms and beds of those young years that followed, I always had it close and would hang it up somewhere I slept. I still have it, but it is somewhere with all my books, notebooks - in storage in several locations around the world. I might never get them back but this kept my younger poet self aligned and busy saving myself.
“He not busy being born, is busy dying.” Robert Zimmerman.
“Being born” is code for what Mary Oliver would describe as “saving your life”. If you aren’t busy saving your life, you are dying. If you aren’t busy expressing who you are and being who you are - you are a dead piece of flotsam. A victim of culture and her conforming, cleanly and purile sanctimonious straight-jacketing.
I could quote so many fine poets when it comes to poetry that echoes the spirit of Oliver or Thoreau. However, what usually comes to mind first, like cream on fresh cow’s milk is Dr. Seuss and his cheery message, like that of the true gospel - that you are unique, wonderful and NOT in need of fixing.
I’ve said it here and in my poetry in many different ways. I’ll say it one more time, in one more way …
Say what you want to say.
Be who you want to be.
Do what you want to do.
’Cuz you are the only YOU.
I’ve been riding my bike long days. People might think I’m crazy but it’s me. It’s how I’m saving myself. How I’m finding peace and happiness in this air-conditioned nuthouse I’m continually waking up to.
Rode a 100+ miler yesterday, damn near froze to death the first few hours. Especially my feet! Not nice wind chill at 2 or 3 degrees. But then it warmed up and the game was on … It is a good metaphor for our journey of life.
There are so many things that are put up in your way. You just got to go right through them, carry on, maintain the deepest faith in YOU and the light will appear, the skies open and you’ll be saved - until you have to - like Sisyphus, save your life again.
“…that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. “ Henry David Thoreau
The last 30 miles of my journey, traveled along a big river. No traffic and just these beautiful trees saluting me, along my WAY.
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