Poetry Sunday: Citizen of Dark Times by Kim Stafford

This poem is from a collection of poetry written by Oregon poet Kim Stafford after the presidential election of 2016. It was his effort, he said in an interview, to find the "flavor of unity" in divisive times. It seems particularly appropriate at the moment.
Citizen of Dark Times
by Kim Stafford
Agenda in a time of fear: Be not afraid.
When things go wrong, do right.
Set out by the half-light of the seeker.
For the well-lit problem begins to heal.
Learn tropism toward the difficult.
We have not arrived to explain, but to sing.
Young idealism ripens into an ethical life.
Prune back regret to let faith grow.
When you hit rock bottom, dig farther down.
Grief is the seed of singing, shame the seed of song.
Keep seeing what you are not saying.
Plunder your reticence.
Songbird guards a twig, its only weapon a song.

Comments

  1. David M. Gascoigne,October 20, 2019 at 9:59 AM

    Words to live by. Young Greta Thunberg should take heart from this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Judy KruegerOctober 20, 2019 at 10:59 AM

    Good, good stuff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersOctober 22, 2019 at 4:02 PM

      I think the poet hit the mark.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousDecember 1, 2022 at 6:39 AM

      Evoking Gabriel in the first line, something miraculous to be born. Protect that with which you build your home with just what is essentially you.

      Delete
  3. CarmenOctober 22, 2019 at 7:54 AM

    I like it.
    "When you hit rock bottom, dig farther down.
    Grief is the seed of singing, shame the seed of song..."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dorothy BordersOctober 22, 2019 at 9:16 AM

      Yes, those line struck me as well. Also the last line: "Songbird guards a twig, its only weapon a song." If our only "weapon" is our voice, then we must use it.

      Welcome back, Carmen! It's great to see your comments again. I've missed you.

      Delete
  4. Judy KruegerOctober 22, 2019 at 11:55 AM

    Oh wow, I needed to read this today!

    ReplyDelete

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