Half-Life
We walk through half our life
as if it were a fever dream
barely touching the ground
our eyes half open
our heart half closed.
Not half knowing who we are
we watch the ghost of us drift
from room to room
through friends and lovers
never quite as real as advertised.
Not saying half we mean
or meaning half we say
we dream ourselves
from birth to birth
seeking some true self.
Until the fever breaks
and the heart can not abide
a moment longer
as the rest of us awakens,
summoned from the dream,
not half caring for anything but love.
Stephen Levine 1937-
We walk through half our life
as if it were a fever dream
barely touching the ground
our eyes half open
our heart half closed.
Not half knowing who we are
we watch the ghost of us drift
from room to room
through friends and lovers
never quite as real as advertised.
Not saying half we mean
or meaning half we say
we dream ourselves
from birth to birth
seeking some true self.
Until the fever breaks
and the heart can not abide
a moment longer
as the rest of us awakens,
summoned from the dream,
not half caring for anything but love.
Stephen Levine 1937-
A very true poem. If only we could always know in advance what we would say in hindsight.
ReplyDeleteCrystal xx
I saw you'd posted this in poetry forum, it's so true.........
ReplyDeleteElaine xx
Sounds like me this poem....
ReplyDeleteLovely poem, Cait. Very apt.
ReplyDeleteA lovely poem Cait, thank you for sharing with us, so true.
ReplyDeleteCamilla.xx
Ah Cait, you have done it again, plucking a poem, from wherever it is that you pluck them, that just allows it words to glide down upon us, leaving us the wiser.
ReplyDeletexo