[Camino Poem No. 4] A Blessing

Remember the two Irish sisters from day two? Our paths kept crossing, and today I spoke with the elder sister as we walked. We talked of many things - how to deal with grief, the importance of hearing the stories of our relatives, the value of being gentle with ourselves.  

On parting, she gave me this advice - sometimes you have to be willing to let things die, in order for new life to arise (her outlook reminded me much of the Irish poet John O'Donohue). 

She also chose a poem for me. Number seven. 

Minnesota was rapidly becoming a theme on my camino. The previous day, I found a book about a woman who walked across America in 1896. Originally from Norway, she began her American life living in Minnesota. That evening, I shared a meal with three pilgrims from Minnesota. And then this. 

Many kilometers later, a dear friend and fellow traveler highlighted the last three lines of the poem, and put her initials by it. Meaning: these words are important. 

(thank you Clara Berner, for the recommendation)

Day 4 - A Blessing – James Wright 

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.

(today's walk was just 16km, from Zubiri to Arre - a small town just short of Pamplona)