Writing Masterclass: Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott’s Love After Love

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Love After Love by Derek Walcott (As read by Actor Tom Hiddleston)

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

(c) Derek Walcott

#24. Fifteen Minutes at Dawn and at Dusk.

Day 8. NaPoWriMo- Celebrate Poetry, All Month Long!

Poem: Fifteen Minutes at Dawn and at Dusk.

Dear, dear friends

For 15 minutes as the day begins and 15 as it ends

Yes, for only 15 minutes at dawn and at dusk

Imagine if you may, that you created a new sacred space

That you paused the unending showreel of your life

You stepped back, far away from the frenzied pace

That you became one with the light within

And you stopped doing and started being

In being, imagine that you were all-knowing and all-seeing

That you could create everything out of nothing

And indeed the universe was yours in that sacred moment.

 

Take this time for yourself and re-connect with your divinity for a while

And see the landscapes of life suddenly look different by a long mile

Would you step out in courage and sing the songs in your heart or be silent?

Would you create empowering thoughts in your mind or snuff them of life?

Would you continue your patterns of pain, anger, fear and strife?

As you continue to doubt your power and think up excuses and reasons

Excuses of why you are not good enough and how these are the wrong seasons.

 

Yes, today, take 15 minutes at dawn and at dusk

To reflect, meditate, pray and let your spirit soar and fly

And with an eagle’s wisdom begin to discern the truth from the lie

As you discard the fallacy of your unworthiness, and embrace your magnificence

Begin to bask in your light and beam out your true essence

Will you let the gift of time simply, slowly, sadly, pass you by

As you selfishly and fearfully hold on to your talents and big ‘WHY?’

Will you choose to take action in the midst of your fears and stand tall?

On the grave of those buried, limiting beliefs that crippled you to fall?

 

Dear, dear friends

As the day begins and as it ends

For only 15 minutes each day, at dawn and at dusk

Imagine if you may

That you were co-heirs and co-creators

Of a kingdom built upon unconditional love

Imagine you had the wisdom of an eagle and the peace of a dove

And as you imagine you must know now

That the thought ‘impossible’ is a fallacy, and leads to endless cycles of ‘Fight-Flight’

Be certain now that for every dream you dream, be it in the day or at night

The question you must focus on and always ask is simply ‘Why?’

And then ask ‘How’ can it be done? How can you excel and pull through?

You must get off the fence and always take action, empowered action!

As you fulfil and honour your inner calling, your purpose and passion.

 

So dear, dear friends, for only 15 minutes at dawn and at dusk,

Reflect, meditate and PRAY – sitting, standing or on your knee

Magic and miracles happen if you let them be.

So pray, work hard and simply flow with it, if you may,

Fill your cup daily from this eternal spring of love within you.

The world awaits, as you manifest your light for all to see!

© ‘Kego Onyido (All rights reserved).