Thursday
Jun072012
The House of Gathering
June 7, 2012 
If old age is a house of gathering,
Then the hands are full.
There are old trees to prune
And young plants to plant,
There are seeds to be sown.
Not less of anything
But more of everything
To care for,
To maintain,
To keep sorted out,
A profusion of people
To answer, to respond to.
But we have been ripening
To a greater ease.
Learning to accept
That all hungers cannot be fed,
That saving the world
May be a matter of sowing a seed
Not overturning a tyrant,
That we do what we can.
The moment of vision,The seizure still makes
Its relentless demands:
Work, love, be silent.
Speak.
-May Sarton
tagged May Sarton, Work, love, silence
May Sarton, Work, love, silence
Reader Comments (15)
This is exactly why you can't go wrong with May Sarton! I just Googled her and found out she was born in Belgium (1912) and lived there for 2 years before moving to England and then eventually to America. It was most fascinating to read about her life....
But that's all to say I love finding the context for these beautiful, timeless words that we all can relate to!
There's genius in these poetic words...
So much wisdom and truth...and so perfectly crafted!! Thanks for sharing with us her words!
"We have been ripening to a greater ease" is brilliant! May rocks!
Really lovely words and image.
I do enjoy Sarton - and your image is wonderful.
ah, may sarton. she wrote a brilliant book about aging, and i haven't had enough coffee to remember it, but it was so wonderful to read her words. i haven't thought about her in at least 20 years, but i see her in maine with her cat. thank you for bringing her back into my thoughts with this lovely post.
I love that phrase "..we have been ripening to a greater ease..." Amazing how the things I once stressed about when much younger now seem like no big deal. Maybe that is why it's so wonderful to have grandchildren.
This is the type of post that causes me to read several times...spend some time pondering...savor the vision and the verb -- all a very good thing. Thank you, Mary.
Beautiful. I have never heard of May Sarton. Thanks for introducing me.
What timely words Mary, so much truth in them. I never heard of May Sarton and I am so curious right now, Thank you for this introduction ;-)
Perfect picture for a wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing these uplifting words!
A gorgeous photo to go with moving words. I want to find the book that Honey refers to if it contains more like this.
Oh my, I am in love with this. I haven't read her in years...now I must rediscover her. Thank you!
Lovely words and such a beautiful image as well. Thank you Mary!
Lovely, Thank You :-0