Let's say this poem together
And the days are not full enough
(take a deep breath)
And the nights are not full enough
(take another deep breath)
And life passes by like
(one more for good measure)
A field mouse not shaking the grass
Kay Jorgensen gifted this poem by Ezra Pound to us. As our days got fuller and fuller and the nights less restful, Kay brought us this poem and over the course of a few days, we all learned it by heart. Now when we are overwhelmed and uncertain how we will get done what needs doing or attend to what needs attention, we pause to say these words, reminding ourselves of the field mouse delicately stepping across the grass.
This is our gift to you, on this first day of the Solstice. We invite you to breath deeply and memorize this poem. Carry it with you wherever you go and when you feel the overwhelm, the rushing, the anxiety, please feel free to pause and say it with us:
And the days are not full enough
And the nights are not full enough
And life passes by like
A field mouse not shaking the grass