the second half of my life.

April 22, 2011 in Uncategorized

Crossroads

The second half of my life will be black

to the white rind of the old and fading moon.

The second half of my life will be water

over the cracked floor of these desert years.

I will land on my feet this time,

knowing at least two languages and who

my friends are. I will dress for the

occasion, and my hair shall be

whatever color I please.

Everyone will go on celebrating the old

birthday, counting the years as usual,

but I will count myself new from this

inception, this imprint of my own desire.

The second half of my life will be swift,

past leaning fenceposts, a gravel shoulder,

asphalt tickets, the beckon of open road.

The second half of my life will be wide-eyed,

fingers shifting through fine sands,

arms loose at my sides, wandering feet.

There will be new dreams every night,

and the drapes will never be closed.

I will toss my string of keys into a deep

well and old letters into the grate.

The second half of my life will be ice

breaking up on the river, rain

soaking the fields, a hand

held out, a fire,

and smoke going

upward, always up.

-Joyce Sutphen

At 51 myself, I see this, I can feel it, I have an urge toward it too.

With thanks to Blanche McAllister for pointing me to this poem.

[image from ABC News]

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

7 comments to " the second half of my life. "


Meri M.

April 22, 2011 AT 8:42AM

I will translate this one and forward it to all my friends on my birthday in May. Thank you!

Marilyn

April 22, 2011 AT 9:34AM

love this. i’m right there with you. the second half of my life may look quiet on the outside…but will be cracking me wide open on the inside.

Maureen

April 22, 2011 AT 10:50AM

Wonderful poem.

clear tinnitus

April 23, 2011 AT 3:29AM

When one loves one’s art no service seems too hard.
O.Henry, American novelist

Yolanda Garfield

April 23, 2011 AT 9:17AM

I loved this. Thank you thank you again.

Susan Fuller-Sutherland

April 25, 2011 AT 11:37AM

I got chills when I read this one. I’m right in there with this. Which just goes to show that the resolve to not regret needs some work :-)

Anon

May 1, 2011 AT 1:24PM

Everything has changed in my life this year and I am feeling lost, needing some inspiration to keep going, to engage, to LIVE the second half. What a blessing to find you, your book and this post today. thank you for touching my heart today.