JULIE ANN STEVENS

 

When my own words cannot be there for me, it’s safe to assume I am beside myself. 

 

And so I take heart today in the words of John O’Donohue who has reminded me more than once that you cannot belong to anyone or anything outside your self. 

 

Sweet Darkness

(from Anam Cara by John O’Donohue)

When your eyes are tired

the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone

no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark

where the night has eyes

to recognize its own.

There you can be sure

you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb tonight.

The night will give you a horizon

further than you can see.

You must learn one thing.

The world was made to be free in.

Give up all other worlds

except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes the darkness and the sweet

confinement of your aloneness to learn

anything or anyone that does not

bring you alive

is too small for you.