“It is no more possible to live in the future than it is to live in the past. If life is not now, it is never.”
Wendell Berry, The Long-Legged House
Meditations on Modernity
By Vincent H. Anastasi 2023
IV. The Life Let this be the day well done: not the timely completion of all tasks, the checklist neatly tucked away in a drawer, a life of ease anchored in tranquil seas, nor the end of work or any other dystopian enchantment. Rather, give me the fragile human faces; let me embrace open door interruptions, rejecting productivity for being present; let me out-slow that old dawdler, age, and so unpack the ears "well-wadded with stupidity" to more fully perceive the mystery of the ordinary and savor the quality of authentic life.
Parts one through three were released over the previous three days.
the deepening ground 
Oh yes!! I love it all, especially the lines Jason noted! But the poem ends with such awesome stuff “let me out-slow that old dawdler, age,
and so unpack the ears “well-wadded with stupidity”
to more fully perceive the mystery of the ordinary“
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Now let me LIVE those lines more fully…that is my prayer!
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Seeing is the first step! I love the Breughel painting too 😉
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He is one of my favorite painters.
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Wonderful reminder not to be sucked into the rat-race of modernity and to keep one’s eyes fixed on the simple things.
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It’s the cry of my Romantic Wendell Berry loving soul!
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Yes! I love it… especially these three lines:
Rather, give me the fragile human faces;
let me embrace open door interruptions,
rejecting productivity for being present;
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My colleague used to pick on me for keeping my classroom door closed when I didn’t have students in the room. I was valuing productivity over personal interactions. If the last three years taught us anything, it is the vital importance of human connection. I now keep my door open and do my best, no matter how busy I am, to welcome the human interruptions. Thanks for commenting, Jason. It’s truly a blessing!
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You’re welcome Vincent! I totally understand as my natural tendency is more towards introversion, but it is always worth it to engage with others.
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