An Emily Dickinson poem to help us see the Light
We live in troubled times. Here's a poem that helps strengthen my resolve to make a difference as we head into what will surely be a trying year.
Every year during Christmastime, my wife’s extended family gathers for a musicale at her grandmother’s house in Maryland or via Zoom. It’s a beautiful tradition. Every person who attends performs a piece of music, selects a carol for the group to sing, or reads a poem. Allie comes from an exceptionally musical family; the quality of these performances is uniformly high. Even at my peak, my piano playing was just ok.
So instead of attempting to sing Jingle Bells off-key with my children (all of whom experience stage fright) for the third straight year, this year I’m going to read a poem, We grow accustomed to the Dark— by Emily Dickinson, which I’ve copied below:
We grow accustomed to the Dark— When Light is put away— As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp To witness her Good bye— A Moment—We uncertain step For newness of the night— Then—fit our Vision to the Dark— And meet the Road—erect— And so of larger—Darkness— Those Evenings of the Brain— When not a Moon disclose a sign— Or Star—come out—within— The Bravest—grope a little— And sometimes hit a Tree Directly in the Forehead— But as they learn to see— Either the Darkness alters— Or something in the sight Adjusts itself to Midnight— And Life steps almost straight.
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May each of us have the courage to grope a little in the dark, and, despite hitting the occasional tree, continue on an ever straightening path towards the light in 2024.
Please share this post and poem if you think that it will speak to someone you know.
Happy New Year,
JR