We went to Belis. A day later than the majority as we had a lot of work to do. And it was heavenly. From all points of view.
I often wondered if a certain atmosphere is strictly affected by the presence of certain people, namely from PBCC, but I think we finally got it. And we are aware we ought to run with the ball ourselves and not wait for the coach to tell what each step we need to take.
There were poems. New poems. Poems written at Palatca or after, that people didn’t have the chance to share.
I read a few times this poem sent by Carmen, that put us at ease, no pressure, drawing us up the mountain, not pushing or dragging.
How To Be a Poet
BY WENDELL BERRY
i
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill—more of each
than you have—inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your poems,
doubt their judgment.
ii
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensioned life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away from anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.
iii
Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.
And here is my Psalm 142
At the bottom of the mountain
Learning for the first time
To discern
To discern our own voice
To discern your call.
We look to the right
We look to the left
To see your righteous people
The distressed
The broken
The needy.
Our people now. Our crowd.
To witness their first steps up the mountain
Through psalms.
Prepare our hearts Lord
To listen
To hear with our heart
To trust You
In your brothers’ and sisters’ stories
Journeying up the mountain.
Give us courage
To embrace the tension
Between your promise
And the reality of this broken world.
Heal the fear
That gives birth
Over and over again
To rules and legalism.
Give us strength
To wake up before dawn
To begin the work
To start up the mountain.