Stopped by All This

When Chomei, an ancestor
to Basho, saw Kyoto burn in
1177, he was crushed, not
knowing how to continue.

And five hundred years later,
when Basho himself saw the
pine-covered islands off the
coast of Matsushima, he was
leveled by its beauty, not
knowing how to take that
beauty into his life.

And when Beethoven heard
the opening of the Ninth
Symphony flutter into his
consciousness like a thousand
birds returning home, he
trembled, not able to ink
the notes fast enough.

It makes me think of the
fawn we saw, years ago,
sleeping in a bed of orange
leaves. After that, it was hard
to return to the world.

There is a pause under
everything that, if entered,
will unravel the knot
in your heart.

A Question to Walk With: Describe the pause under everything and the last time it opened you. What did it open you to?

This excerpt is from my book of poems in progress, Tales of the Ferryman. 

Mark will be offering retreats, free events, and a few special journeys in 2024. Here’s the list of what’s coming up! 

July 31 6pm ET:  FREE EVENT You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, reading and conversation followed by 45 minute river walk at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Free event. Please register in advance here.   

Aug 16-18: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, weekend retreat, at Mercy By the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison, CT.  For more information or to register, click here. 

Sept 6 at 1pm ET / 10am PT – FREE Online Event, Poets in Conversation, Join poets Mark Nepo and James Crews as they share conversation and offer insights into their new books. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mark-nepo-james-crews-reading-tickets-935572792407

 Sept 8 11am PT/2pm ET – FREE ONLINE EVENT You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, Join Mark Nepo with Joel Fotinos in Conversation, hosted by Banyen Books & Sound. Register for this free event here.  

Sept 16–21: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, a Mastery Week Retreat at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Click here to get information and to register. 

 Sept 29 1pm PT/4pm ET: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone with Mark Nepo in Conversation with Brooke Warner, this online ticketed event is hosted by Book Passage. Register here for the zoom link.