Remembering Nobel Prize-winning poet and playwright Derek Walcott, who died on Friday at 87.
Here’s a poem worth reflecting on (whether looking in the mirror while doing so, or not).
Love after Love
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
augenblick 
Wow… So amazing, no words left… Thank you, Jeanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had a feeling you’d like this poem, Rina; I expect you’d enjoy a lot of Walcott’s other work as well.
LikeLike
This an exquisite poem. After reading it this morning for the first time, I reflected on the emotions it evoked in me…starting with nostalgia and ending with a happy fullness of heart. I doubt I would have been moved as much if I had read it in my 20s or 30s. I would have loved to have heard it read in the poet’s lilting Caribbean accent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This gave me the goose-bumps. How beautiful! Will forward to my other friends.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This poem evokes such beautiful imagery. I read it about 6 times, staring at the gorgeous sunset. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s odd, really. For some reason I find myself responding to art about ageing quite differently these days. Whether it’s this poem (marvellous) or an album by Loudon Wainwright III (see below; also marvellous in a different way), somehow it engages me more. Wonder why?
https://vinylconnection.com.au/2014/09/26/somethings-out-to-get-you/
LikeLiked by 1 person