WHEN in the course of human Events, it becomes necessary….
The Waking by Theodore Roethke
byVanderleunonNovember 9, 2020
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.
We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.
Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.
This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.
Satie one day, and Roethke the next??? You are definitely on a roll. Wonderful stuff, both. I’m expecting a nice Rothko tomorrow, LOL!
jdNovember 10, 2020, 5:58 AM
Your site is like stumbling on a bag of jewels, Gerard.
My condolences for the great loss of your brother. You are
still blessed with the memories AND the ability to remember
and share them so beautifully.
MontefríoNovember 10, 2020, 9:28 AM
Whoops! Wrong thread! Sorry!
For my money Roethke was a great American poet, one I encountered young and have never forgotten. He ranks with Wallace Stevens for me.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
Thank you for this. May we all learn from where we have to go!
Perhaps Roethke was Tom Petty’s older brother from another mother. The difference is that for him, the waking is the hardest part (I denounce myself).
The older I get the more these words mean to me.
Satie one day, and Roethke the next??? You are definitely on a roll. Wonderful stuff, both. I’m expecting a nice Rothko tomorrow, LOL!
Your site is like stumbling on a bag of jewels, Gerard.
My condolences for the great loss of your brother. You are
still blessed with the memories AND the ability to remember
and share them so beautifully.
Whoops! Wrong thread! Sorry!
For my money Roethke was a great American poet, one I encountered young and have never forgotten. He ranks with Wallace Stevens for me.