Life Hungering for Itself

In this gift of sheltering I will find

that my hunger is life hungering for itself

and that I can trust that hunger, receive it

as my truth, as myself.---From the poem Hunger By Gunilla Norris  in Becoming Bread

My hunger is life hungering for itself...

It’s a bicycle waiting for a ride,

A sunny day in search of shade

It’s the open road, a cool drink, a caramel candy, a soft place to fall

My hunger is life hungering for itself

A dream of children waving flags

a choir in the Berkshires, a song in an aspen grove

north of Lee Vining, water ferry to an alpine meadow

My hunger is life hungering for itself

Sandalwood soap, smooth skin, a warm hand on my neck

cries in the dark, the scent of you in the morning

an open window and rain

My hunger is life hungering for itself

The touch of moss by a stream

Banyan and redwood, tall stones

Fish and chips, sea spray, otters at play

Life hungering for itself

The finished song, the unwritten poem

The strength of my own two legs and breath for air

Hungry for quiet, laughter, deep waters.

My hunger is life hungering for itself

A new day, cool breeze, horse dust

The color of sunset over a vineyard,

Snow on the beeches

Summer cicada sounds, the distant train

The things that remind me

who I am, and

who I might still be

My hunger is life. Hungering for itself,

A good night sleep

Fried eggs and muskmelon

The distant cadence of the high school marching band

Departures and returns

Prayers before bed

Bowls of blessings

Promise and fulfillment

Hungry still

My whole life is a hunger for life hungering for itself. 

BLR-for the Poplar Grove Muse 9-15-13