Temet Nosce (Know Thyself)

This page exists as what used to be known as a "Commonplace Book" for the purpose of maintaining a log of the poetry and philosophy that inspires and propels much of my own thought and writing, and to share, with fellow sojourners, a collection of the beauty and wisdom of kindred souls throughout time. My hope is that we will collectively work towards the goal of a deep and sustaining self-knowledge that will, then, inspire and guide us to pursue beauty, peace and justice in our world.

“He who cannot draw on three thousand years is living from hand to mouth.”

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe



Thursday, April 17, 2014

"Be A Person Here" by William Stafford

Be a person here. Stand by the river, invoke
the owls. Invoke winter, then spring.
Let any season that wants to come here make its own call.
After that sound goes away, wait. 
A slow bubble rises through the earth
and beings to include sky, stars, all space
even the outracing, expanding thought.
Come back and hear the little sound again. 
Suddenly this dream you are having matches
everyone's dream, and the result is the world.
...How you stand here is important.
How you listen for the next things to happen.
How you breathe.

~ William Stafford, "Being A person"

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