the deepening ground

Meditations on Modernity: Part 4 #Poetry #Poem #Modern #Day #Life #Community #Present #Mystery

Pieter Brueghel, the Younger (1564/5-1637/8), The Netherlandish Proverbs (Openverse)

“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.

v. anastasi
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9 responses to “Meditations on Modernity: Part 4 #Poetry #Poem #Modern #Day #Life #Community #Present #Mystery”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    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“

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. v. anastasi Avatar
      v. anastasi

      Now let me LIVE those lines more fully…that is my prayer!

      Like

      Reply
      1. Sarah Avatar
        Sarah

        Seeing is the first step! I love the Breughel painting too 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      2. v. anastasi Avatar
        v. anastasi

        He is one of my favorite painters.

        Like

  2. sebastiananastasi Avatar
    sebastiananastasi

    Wonderful reminder not to be sucked into the rat-race of modernity and to keep one’s eyes fixed on the simple things.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. v. anastasi Avatar
      v. anastasi

      It’s the cry of my Romantic Wendell Berry loving soul!

      Like

      Reply
  3. Jason A. Muckley Avatar
    Jason A. Muckley

    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;

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. v. anastasi Avatar
      v. anastasi

      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!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Jason A. Muckley Avatar
        Jason A. Muckley

        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.

        Liked by 1 person

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