….I entered the life of the brown forest,
And the great life of the ancient peaks, the patience of stone, I felt the
changes in the veins
In the throat of the mountain…and, I was the stream
Draining the mountain wood; and I the stag drinking: and I was the stars
Boiling with light, wandering alone, each one lord of his own summit;
and I was the darkness
Outside the stars, I included them, they were a part of me. I was mankind
also, a moving lichen
On the cheek of the round stone…
…how can I express the excellence I have found,
that has no color but clearness;
No honey but ecstasy …
Robinson Jeffers, The Tower Beyond Tragedy ( quoted in Coming Back to Life: Practices to reconnect our lives, our world by Joanna Macy)
Oh, I love Robinson Jeffers – and it’s wonderful to see a passage in this context. And this is a wonderful passage – “no color but clearness” – wow! Thank you, Genju.
Deep bows for your teachings, Dear One. I came across this in Joanna Macy’s book and remembered your recent post on Jeffers. It seemed to fit this week’s meander through the emergent self.