I love this poem, below, shared today at the closing of The Circle Way Practicum. The author, Michael Leunig is an Australian writer, poet, cartoonist and philosopher. I became much more aware of his work when in Australia just over a year ago — the place that I was staying was stewarded by a Leunig aficionados. I love the way that this poem speaks to the temporariness of experience, that embraces such fullness of human experience in these many paths we humans encounter together.
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No Sooner
No sooner do you arrive than it’s time to leave.
How beautiful it is, how glorious, yet it’s nearly time to go. So you take it in, you take it in.
And you take a few small souvenirs, some leaves: lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus.
A few small pebbles, a few small secrets, a look you received, nine little notes of music,
and then it’s time to go.
You move towards the open door and the silent night beyond.
The few bright stars, a deep breath, and it really is time to go.
No sooner does it all begin to make sense, does it start to come true,
does it all open up, do you begin to see, does it enter into your heart…no sooner do you arrive than it’s time to leave. Yes, it’s the truth.
And then you will have passed through it, and with mysterious consequence it will have passed through you.