The Bell and the Blackbird

One of my favourite poems by the utterly brilliant David Whyte

The sound
of a bell
still reverberating,

or a blackbird
calling
from a corner
of a 
field.

Asking you
to wake
into this life
or inviting you
deeper
to one that waits.

Either way
takes courage,
either way wants you
to be nothing
but that self that
is no self at all,
wants you to walk
to the place
where you find
you already know
how to give
every last thing
away.

The approach
that is also
the meeting itself,
without any
meeting
at all.

That radiance
you have always
carried with you
as you walk
both alone
and completely
accompanied
in friendship
by every corner
of the world
crying
Allelujah.


I chimed some sanctuary bells in a local vintage shop (and I bought a ring), wonderful reverberations.


And sitting quietly looking out of the window earlier I saw a pair of goldcrests- in the garden, their little yellow ‘mohicans’ radiating beauty - utterly gorgeous- and fleeting - I moved to get the camera and they were gone