Here is the David Whyte poem from the "fierce embrace" post earlier this week, in its entirety. And thanks to the David Whyte fans who have emailed their approval of my dance with it.
It doesn't interest me if there is one God
or many gods.
I want to know if you belong or feel
abandoned.
If you know despair or can see it in others.
I want to know if you are prepared to live in the world
with it's harsh need
to change you. If you can look back
with firm eyes
saying this is where I stand. I want to know
if you know
how to melt into that fierce heat of living
falling toward
the center of your longing. I want to know
if you are willing to live,
day by day, with the consequence of love
and the bitter
unwanted passion of your sure defeat.
I have been told, in that fierce embrace, even
the gods speak of God.
__David Whyte (from Fire in the Earth, Many Rivers Press, 1992).
(The image is my work.)
