In a dark time, the eye begins to see,
I meet my shadow in the deepening shade;
I hear my echo in the echoing wood–
A lord of nature weeping to a tree,
I live between the heron and the wren,
Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den.
What’s madness but nobility of soul
At odds with circumstance? The day’s on fire!
I know the purity of pure despair,
My shadow pinned against a sweating wall,
That place among the rocks–is it a cave,
Or winding path? The edge is what I have.A steady storm of correspondences!
A night flowing with birds, a ragged moon,
And in broad day the midnight come again!
A man goes far to find out what he is–
Death of the self in a long, tearless night,
All natural shapes blazing unnatural light.
I meet my shadow in the deepening shade;
I hear my echo in the echoing wood–
A lord of nature weeping to a tree,
I live between the heron and the wren,
Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den.
What’s madness but nobility of soul
At odds with circumstance? The day’s on fire!
I know the purity of pure despair,
My shadow pinned against a sweating wall,
That place among the rocks–is it a cave,
Or winding path? The edge is what I have.A steady storm of correspondences!
A night flowing with birds, a ragged moon,
And in broad day the midnight come again!
A man goes far to find out what he is–
Death of the self in a long, tearless night,
All natural shapes blazing unnatural light.
Dark,dark my light, and darker my desire.
My soul, like some heat-maddened summer fly,
Keeps buzzing at the sill. Which I is I?
A fallen man, I climb out of my fear.
The mind enters itself, and God the mind,
And one is One, free in the tearing wind.
-Theodore Roethke
Poem of the Month 
Hi Nina,
More synchronicity? About five months ago, I started using the opening line of this poem for my “signature” on my Rutgers e-mails! (alongside of Schopenhauer).
Love,
Terry
P. S. I’m still getting used to this ferschlugginer stuff. I don’t know how (or even if) you got my comment on the B&W photo that I left. Do you have a “regular” e-mail address?
Terry,
This is getting eerie! I have returned to this poem again and again; it was my introduction to Roethke, who has become my favorite. I wonder what it could all be about?
I am not sure where you sent the B&W photo, but no, I haven’t seen it. Would love to.
Yes, let’s get out of this public forum nonsense. I’ll send you my email address through facebook.
Happy to be in touch,
Nina