Taking the Hands by Robert Bly
Taking the Hand
Robert BlyTaking the hands of someone you love,
You see they are delicate cages…
Tiny birds are singing
In the secluded prairies
And in the deep valleys of the hand.
MARGINALIA
I was talking to S. last night about work—well, the perils of a creative life, really, and how being here, and doing this, puts us in a position where the measure of success is not quite so clear-cut (possibly un-quantifiable). I said, shit, maybe the irony of our life is that we are freer than most people yet more prone to self-doubt because of the uncertainty that surrounds us. I said, we have to be stronger. I said, let’s be each other’s spiritual cheerleaders.
I wasn’t sure if I was making sense (possibly deranged). Am maybe too hyped up by the idea that I can actually do this now, again (possibly cuckolded). But this is the time that I can be (must be) brave.
ABOUT ROBERT BLY
Robert Bly was born on December 23, 1926, in Madison, Minnesota. He attended Harvard University and received his MA from the University of Iowa in 1956. As a poet, editor, and translator, Bly has had a profound impact on the shape of American poetry. Bly is the author of more than thirty books of poetry, including Stealing Sugar from the Castle: Selected Poems (W. W. Norton, 2013); Talking into the Ear of a Donkey: Poems (W. W. Norton, 2011); Reaching Out to the World: New and… (more)
Read more poems by Robert Bly • Find books by this poet on Amazon • Bookshop • Or view my library
ENDNOTES
- Explore other works in pursuit of: wonder • intimacy • love • Or browse the index
- If this work resonates with you, please consider supporting the archive. Thank you for reading.
Billy(har har)
This is a time for both of us to be brave and strong. We survive and time will make things better. The future is unwritten.
flpsekaran
d’awesome poem. greetings from Indonesia.