On the first anniversary of his death, a poem by Derek Walcott

March 17, 2018 in poetry

LOVE AFTER LOVE

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

-Derek Walcott

About Patti Digh

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.

2 comments to " On the first anniversary of his death, a poem by Derek Walcott "


Judith Henry

March 17, 2018 AT 1:09PM

This has long been a favorite poem of mine. Thank you for reminding me of it, Patti. After twenty years of being good at a job that didn’t sustain me, I left the end of December to pursue work that is more meaningful. I have rediscovered myself in this simpler and quieter life of mine.
- Reply
  
  Patti Digh
  
  April 2, 2018 AT 11:59AM
  
  Congratulations on your leap!