Defining Poetry

Grace After Grace

Grace After Grace

In this moment,
a nanosecond,
you will defy gravity
though Eve's apple has already fallen
and the tree of knowledge has been felled.

You will rise and unwrap
the secret gift hidden
in your own heart,
the source of original grace

And say, sit here,
breathe in hope,
unfurl your wings,
Fly.



Written for:

Defining Poetry: Contest  (13+) CLOSED. Not your average poetry contest. The ultimate prize is knowledge. #1615036 by emerin-liseli

Sometimes you encounter a poem that grabs you by the throat, makes you print out a copy and tack it to your wall. I was not familiar with Derek Walcott's work till encountering him for this contest, but "Love after Love" is now tacked to my wall. http://judithpordon.tripod.com/poetry/derek_walcott_love_after_love.html

This paen to self-acceptance and self-love spoke deeply to me. Poetry can be soul medicine and Walcott's "Love after Love" is a powerful elixir. This line ----"you will love again the stranger who was yourself".... ...opened floodgates of emotion. I also enjoyed Walcott's use of short, swift phrases that move quickly along, with simple images of potency and power---
"peel your own image from the mirror".... . My encounter with this poem was a moment of grace and that was what I tried to capture in my response.