THE STARS NOW REARRANGE THEMSELVES . . .
by Dana Gioia from Daily Horoscope (Graywolf Press)
The stars now rearrange themselves above you
but to no effect. Tonight,
only for tonight, their powers lapse,
and you must look toward earth. There will be
no comets now, no pointing star
to lead where you know you must go.
Look for smaller signs instead, the fine
disturbances of ordered things when suddenly
the rhythms of your expectation break
and in a moment's pause another world
reveals itself behind the ordinary.
And one small detail out of place will be
enough to let you know: a missing ring,
a breath, a footfall or a sudden breeze,
a crack of light beneath a darkened door.
It's been a bit hard to look to earth lately when the skies have been so full of wonder-- Venus shining brightly in a cloudless night sky, the succulent full moon of earlier this week, news of solar flares and the anticipation of what that phenomenon may bring.
I appreciate big, bold, loud, clear signs-- guiding stars, parting clouds, light streaming from heaven, the neon advertisements of the universe that flash, "Pay attention." But for every flashy sign, there are countless whispers, gentle nudges, cracks of light peeking through that I tend to over look.
I love Dana Gioia's line about the rhythm of our expectations breaking and another world being visible in that moment. Loud signs may clamor for our attention, but the whispers that cause us to pause for a moment may also provide us a glimpse of the extraordinary.
What is whispering to you today?
It's been a bit hard to look to earth lately when the skies have been so full of wonder-- Venus shining brightly in a cloudless night sky, the succulent full moon of earlier this week, news of solar flares and the anticipation of what that phenomenon may bring.
I appreciate big, bold, loud, clear signs-- guiding stars, parting clouds, light streaming from heaven, the neon advertisements of the universe that flash, "Pay attention." But for every flashy sign, there are countless whispers, gentle nudges, cracks of light peeking through that I tend to over look.
I love Dana Gioia's line about the rhythm of our expectations breaking and another world being visible in that moment. Loud signs may clamor for our attention, but the whispers that cause us to pause for a moment may also provide us a glimpse of the extraordinary.
What is whispering to you today?
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