(to remind myself)
i
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skillmore of each
than you haveinspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your poems,
doubt their judgment.
ii
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensioned life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.
iii
Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.
7 responses to ““How to Be a Poet” by Wendell Berry”
Thanks for this, Wess. “stay away from screens”–God help us all!
I know, that’s how I feel.
[…] “How to Be a Poet” by Wendell Berry (gatheringinlight.com) […]
Thanks. I happen to be posting another poem by Wendell Berry today. I have linked to your post. Write a poem today!
Thanks Loretta.
Great poem. Thanks for the reminder.
[…] is a Miracle” (read here for some comments on “Creatures are not Machines” and also see this poem). Some of it has come by way of Kester Brewin who has been on a roll lately (see here and here) […]