Love after Love

I don’t have time this morning for a fully actualized post. Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and I received some lovely gifts and sentiments for which I am very grateful. I also took a really long morning walk and listened to a favorite podcast: On Being with Krista Tippett.  In the episode I listened to she was interviewing Jon-Kabat Zinn and he shared the following poem.

Love After Love

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.

Derek Walcott

I hope your Valentine’s Day and everyday brings you closer to those you love and who love you and most importantly, back to yourself.