The Tangled Branch Discussion Forums

Robert Bly turned 93 years old on Monday of this week.  In commemoration, here is a Robert Bly poem I recently came across.  I find it incredible on many levels.  

 Ravens Hiding in a Shoe
 There is something men and women living in houses
Don’t understand. The old alchemists standing
Near their stoves hinted at it a thousand times.

 Ravens at night hide in an old woman’s shoe.
A four-year-old speaks some ancient language.
We have lived our own death a thousand times.

 Each sentence we speak to friends means the opposite
As well. Each time we say, “I trust in God,” it means
God has already abandoned us a thousand times.

 Mothers again and again have knelt in church
In wartime asking God to protect their sons,
And their prayers were refused a thousand times.

 The baby loon follows the mother’s sleek
Body for months. By the end of summer, she
Has dipped her head into Rainy Lake a thousand times.

 Robert, you’ve wasted so much of your life
Sitting indoors to write poems. Would you
Do that again? I would, a thousand times.
 - RB

Hi Tracy -

I am struck, smacked hard by this poem from Robert Bly.  I've read it several times over the past few days and it just continues to give... and take.

"incredible on many levels" is an understatement.

Thanks for posting... and good to have you back.

Aj

This poem by Bly was behind my desk my entire career:

Gratitude to Old Teachers

When we stride or stroll across the frozen lake,
We place our feet where they have never been.
We walk upon the unwalked. But we are uneasy.
Who is down there but our old teachers?

Water that once could take no human weight-
We were students then-holds up our feet,
And goes on ahead of us for a mile.
Beneath us the teachers, and around us the stillness.

Went to Minneota and spent a night drinking w/Bill Holm once. Dave Etter was there too. He told Robert Bly stories for three hours. I just listened. It was wonderful.

My goodness - that poem is awesome, Tim.

And a night drinking with Bill Holm and Dave Etter?  Oh, lawd !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  How could you do but just listen............

Thanks for sharing.

Aj