en route for Aumont-Aubrac
"It is what I was born for -
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations."
~Mary Oliver
from the poem, 'Mindful'
It seemed like quite a long day from Les Faux to Aumont-Aubrac,
and when I checked my e-mail for the first time since leaving Paris
there was some sad, hard news about a family at home.
But even though it seemed like a bit of a dull, even difficult day,
the sun still came out
to leave the shadow of this tree on the ground
a quiet bit of joy to notice.
It seemed like quite a long day from Les Faux to Aumont-Aubrac,
and when I checked my e-mail for the first time since leaving Paris
there was some sad, hard news about a family at home.
But even though it seemed like a bit of a dull, even difficult day,
the sun still came out
to leave the shadow of this tree on the ground
a quiet bit of joy to notice.
Your blog is well named Margaret.. every posting does inspire!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay. You will be walking this route soon enough!
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret your posting reminded me of Patrick Kavanaghs 'A Christmas Childhood'
ReplyDelete"The tracks of cattle to a drinking-place,
A green stone lying sideways in a ditch,
Or any common sight, the transfigured face
Of a beauty that the world did not touch."
Thank you
Nell
Oh Nell, that very Irish use of words... spine-tingling...
ReplyDeleteI have a photo of a shared meal I had in Los Arcos with a group of Irishmen. I would like to use it, but it seems quite difficult to find a suitably inspiring quote about sharing a meal. Maybe I need to read some more Irish literature...
Your photos bring it all back, Kiwi. How to look - yes, the Camino taught me that too.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I remember still that magic moment when I had just climbed the hill out of Le Puy, and saw the sunlight on some seed heads. And I knew I was so lucky that weeks of such noticing lay ahead 'si on peut'.
ReplyDeleteOur love and prayers Margaret as we listen to news about the earthquake.
ReplyDeleteTerry and Valerie
Thanks Terry and Valerie. I don't live near so didn't feel it, but have friends and family there. It is a tragedy, and nobody was expecting this much damage and death from an aftershock.
ReplyDelete