It Was Like This: You Were
Happy
It was like this:
you were happy, then you were sad,
then happy again, then not.
you were happy, then you were sad,
then happy again, then not.
It went on.
You were innocent or you were guilty.
Actions were taken, or not.
You were innocent or you were guilty.
Actions were taken, or not.
At times you spoke, at other
times you were silent.
Mostly, it seems you were silent -- what could you say?
Mostly, it seems you were silent -- what could you say?
Now it is almost
over.
Like a lover, your life
bends down and kisses your life.
It does this not in
forgiveness --
between you, there is nothing to forgive --
but with the simple nod of a baker at the moment
he sees the bread is finished with transformation.
between you, there is nothing to forgive --
but with the simple nod of a baker at the moment
he sees the bread is finished with transformation.
Eating, too, is now a thing
only for others.
It doesn't matter what they
will make of you
or your days: they will be wrong,
they will miss the wrong woman, miss the wrong man,
all the stories they tell will be tales of their own invention.
or your days: they will be wrong,
they will miss the wrong woman, miss the wrong man,
all the stories they tell will be tales of their own invention.
Your story was this: you
were happy, then you were sad,
you slept, you awakened.
Sometimes you ate roasted chestnuts, sometimes persimmons.
you slept, you awakened.
Sometimes you ate roasted chestnuts, sometimes persimmons.
~ Jane Hirshfield
~
(After)
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