art, Denise Levertov, French art, Léo Gausson, Poetry

Denise Levertov: In Whom We Live and Move and Have Our Being

Posted by At Sunnyside - Where Truth and Beauty Meet on
LÉO GAUSSON (1860-1944), Paysage aux environs de Lagny, l’église de Conches, signed and dated ‘Leo Gausson 1887’ (lower left), oil on canvas, 15 x 18 1⁄8 in. (38.1 x 46.1 cm.), Painted in 1887, Image Source: Christie’s
 “In Whom We Live and Move and Have Our Being”

Birds afloat in air’s current,
sacred breath? No, not breath of God,
it seems, but God
the air enveloping the whole
globe of being.
It’s we who breathe, in, out, in, the sacred,
leaves astir, our wings
rising, ruffled—but only saints
take flight. We cower
in cliff-crevice or edge out gingerly
on branches close to the nest. The wind
marks the passage of holy ones riding
that ocean of air. Slowly their wake
reaches us, rocks us.
But storm or still,
numb or poised in attention,
we inhale, exhale, inhale,
encompassed, encompassed.

Denise Levertov

Hat Tip

Many thanks to Sister Renee at Lavish Mercy who introduced me to this poem in her post, Witness for ?

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Denise Levertov at The Poetry Foundation

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LÉO GAUSSON: Paysage aux environs de Lagny, l’église de Conches (1887)

Thanks for Visiting 🙂

~Sunnyside

11 Comments Add yours

  1. Anita Bacha says:
    October 16, 2022 at 9:26 am

    Awesome image and beautiful poem, Sunny. I love ❤️ .

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. AT SUNNYSIDE - WHERE TRUTH AND BEAUTY MEET says:
      October 16, 2022 at 9:43 am

      I am so pleased you enjoyed this, Anita. Thanks for visiting! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Anita Bacha says:
        October 16, 2022 at 9:44 am

        A pleasure,Sunny. I did enjoy.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Anna Waldherr says:
    October 16, 2022 at 4:18 pm

    Lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. AT SUNNYSIDE - WHERE TRUTH AND BEAUTY MEET says:
      October 16, 2022 at 4:55 pm

      I am pleased you like this, Anna. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  3. ruth says:
    October 19, 2022 at 11:04 am

    Beautiful painting and poetry! Love them!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. AT SUNNYSIDE - WHERE TRUTH AND BEAUTY MEET says:
      October 19, 2022 at 11:25 am

      I am so pleased you enjoy them, ruth! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  4. Ashley says:
    November 4, 2022 at 8:02 am

    A wonderful painting and Levertov’s poem is beautiful. 🌹🙋‍♂️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. AT SUNNYSIDE - WHERE TRUTH AND BEAUTY MEET says:
      November 4, 2022 at 8:43 am

      I am pleased you enjoyed these, too, Ashley. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  5. rothpoetry says:
    December 18, 2022 at 4:07 pm

    I really love the expression of this poem! So beautifully stated.

    Like

    Reply
    1. AT SUNNYSIDE - WHERE TRUTH AND BEAUTY MEET says:
      December 19, 2022 at 9:25 pm

      I love this one, too, Dwight. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 🙂🎄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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