July 11, 2021

may you kiss the wind then turn from it / certain that it will / love your back



blessing the boats
By Lucille Clifton

Some favorite classical music played in the background the other day and at some point turned to "The Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saëns. Did I always know that Bill Murray recited Lucille Clifton's "blessing the boats" over this rendition? I don't know that I did...and yet I'm sure I added it for a reason. Perhaps solely for the melody? Either way, it hit as if I were listening to it for the first time and now I can't stop.

may the tide 
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out 
beyond the face of fear 
may you kiss the wind then turn from it
certain that it will 
love your back     may you 
open your eyes to water 
water waving forever 
and may you in your innocence 
sail through this to that