The 60-Second Sabbath

leaves

  • Impermanence

    Even the finest things,those we treasure most,are meant to fray, unravel and pass away:     my grandmother's hand-stitched coverlet,    the scarf I knitted for my mother in third grade,    my father's favorite flannel shirt,     friendships, … Continue reading

  • Divergence

    In the center of the village    seven dusty paths diverge. An old woman lives    in a cottage that stands    just to the East.She watches and listens    as each traveler    begins the journey.Old as the sea,    wise as the mountains,    beautiful as songbirds at sunrise,she watches and listens.… Continue reading

  • The Poet

    "I'm just rhyming," she said. "Rhyming what?" he asked. "Words, silly. Words and phrases.I'm playing, experimenting." "For what purpose?" She tapped the top of the penagainst her pursed lips."Well, every now and thensomething falls into place–something happens–and there's meaning,or depth,or… Continue reading

  • The River of Yearning

    You fight the current. Stop rowing.Watch the oars slip from the oarlocksand slide downstream. One you let go,once you relax into the river's pull,then the herons appear,lifting you from your leaky longingand placing you gently amongthe great, green, silent reedsswaying… Continue reading

  • Super-Glued

    It is goodto be super-gluedto God. Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Native Tongue

    English is my second language. Poetry is my first. Do you want to understand me?Do you want to be understood?Engage me with symbol and simile,metaphor and ritual,evocation and allusion,the resonant, resounding play of syllables,the engaging, enriching arc of imagery. This… Continue reading

  • This Garden

    This garden,hidden up the hillabove the oldest gravestones,has a gate but no fence. I enter through the gate,though it means extra stepsaround the overgrown perimeter. This gardenis lush with silver leaves–no flowers, no buds preparing to open,    no dried… Continue reading

  • Jeremy’s Wisdom

    Do you know someone like this? "I don't really have anything to say to you, so…here's some words…" Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • Autumn in the Garden of Eden

    As winter approaches the Garden of Eden,autumn's cleansing handstrips bare the branchesof the tree of knowledge of good and evil. What, then, is left to know? Stare up through the black, beseeching limbsto the infinity of stars beyond. Text and… Continue reading