Thank You
by Ross GayIf you find yourself half naked
and barefoot in the frosty grass, hearing,
again, the earth’s great, sonorous moan that says
all you love will turn to dust,
and will meet you there, do not
raise your fist. Do not raise
your small voice against it. And do not
take cover. Instead, curl your toes
into the grass, watch the cloud
ascending from your lips. Walk
through the garden’s dormant splendor.
Say only, thank you.
Thank you.
I found this poem in The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy, edited by James Crews, Storey Publishing, 2022. Information about the poet can be found here.
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You can find A Gathering of Poetry every month . . . on the third Thursday.
Share some.
Read some.
Gather up some poetry!
(Bonny is hosting a special link-up for A Gathering of Poetry. Be sure to check it out!)
That is a lovely photo and poem to accompany it! It’s almost like Ross gay wrote it for you and your garden’s dormant splendor. Thanks for sharing!
I prefer to be fully clothed (perhaps even overdressed) when outside in the winter, but I love this poem all the same!
This poem and your backyard with a dusting of snow! Thank you to Ross Gay for stopping my whining about shorter days, frosty air, and icy walks… I shall think on this and be thankful!
I like this poem and the message of all I love turning to dust is particularly poignant today as a friend of mine lost her husband yesterday.
Beautiful!