Monday, August 18, 2008

Patience

After learning of Kay Ryan's appointment as U.S. Poet Laureate, I ordered her book Say Uncle. It arrived today, a wonderful treat. Patience is one of those virtues I hope to achieve before I die...

Patience

Patience is
wider than one
once envisioned,
with ribbons
of rivers
and distant
ranges and
tasks undertaken
and finished
with modest
relish by
natives in their
native dress.
Who would
have guessed
it possible
that waiting
is sustainable-
a place with
its own harvests.
Or that in
time’s fullness
the diamonds
of patience
couldn’t be
distinguished
from the genuine
in brillance
or hardness.

Kay Ryan
US Poet Laureate

6 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

I love this. And I don't know much about Kay Ryan. Thanks for posting her...I'm off to find out more...

A Brush with Color said...

What a wonderful poem--and I agree--I need to read her! I love this.

laura said...

Great minds think alike Sharon: I posted a poem on my blog today too! ;-)
This is a lovely poem--a tribute to a modest virtue in modest lines!

Eleanor said...

Thank you for intorducing me to Kay Ryan. Like Willow I am off to acquaint myself with her. Have a good day. Eleanor

Cathy Gatland said...

What a beautiful poem - encouragement to keep working at it, no matter what!

Sherry Pierce Thurner said...

You know I like reading poetry - thank you for posting this one. I'm sorry we'll miss each other on my trip. We leave tomorrow, and I will think of you fondly.