You're the yellow bird that I've been waiting for.

The poem that inspired my blog name

A few people were wondering how it was that lead me to name my tumblr with the name I did. It was actually inspired by a poem by Theodore Roethke. I had read it once before, but what really made brought it to my attention was when we read it in my Honors English 11 class this year. Mr. Hanley passed it out and said he found it at Roethke’s grave. He wasn’t sure who had left it there, and he wasn’t even sure what it was about, but he loved it nonetheless. He read through it once, and I wanted to read it thoroughly again, as parts and pieces of the poem would leap out at me, almost like that first shock you receive when you jump into a chilly pool. I saved that poem, and it’s taped to my mirror in my bedroom. I realize this may make me “weird” or “geeky” or adjective you want to use, but the first action I take in the morning is reading this little poem taped to my mirror, and before I crawl into bed at night, I read it through once more. I’ve been doing this since I got the poem about five months ago. I have my views and opinions on it, but I want everyone to be able to read it here and formulate their own thoughts on it. It’s definitely a beautiful poem, and I would even say that it’s my favorite poem.

The Waking

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

- Theodore Roethke