The Weighing by Jane Hirshfield
The Weighing
Jane HirshfieldThe heart’s reasons
seen clearly,
even the hardest
will carry
its whip-marks and sadness
and must be forgiven.As the drought-starved
eland forgives
the drought-starved lion
who finally takes her,
enters willingly then
the life she cannot refuse,
and is lion, is fed,
and does not remember the other.So few grains of happiness
measured against all the dark
and still the scales balance.The world asks of us
only the strength we have and we give it.
Then it asks more, and we give it.
KEEP READING
SHARED WITH GRATITUDE
This poem appeared in The October Palace by Jane Hirshfield, published by HarperCollins, 1994. (Available direct from HarperCollins • Also on: Amazon • Bookshop)
DESCRIPTION
““An exquisite accomplishment. These serene and painterly meditations quietly blossom into luminous and sensual lyric reckonings.” — David St. John
“A radiant and passionate collection.” — New York Times Book Review
Grounded in a series of mediations upon the life of the feeling heart in the world, Jane Hirshfield’s long-awaited third collection of poetry explores the ways that radiance dwells most truly in the ordinary, the difficult, and the plain.” (Source)
ABOUT JANE HIRSHFIELD
Jane Hirshfield was born in New York City on February 24, 1953. A poet, translator, essayist, and editor. Hirshfield’s books of poetry include The Asking: New & Selected Poems (Alfred A. Knopf); Ledger (Alfred A. Knopf); The Beauty: Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, 2015) and Given Sugar, Given Salt (HarperCollins, 2001). Hirshfield is also the author of Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World (Alfred A. Knopf); Nine Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry (HarperCollins); and an e-book… (more)
Read more poems by Jane Hirshfield • Find books by this poet on Amazon • Bookshop • Follow on Facebook • Or view my library
ENDNOTES
- Explore other works in pursuit of: endurance • balance • forgiveness • Or browse the index
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