A poem for today.

On the day after September 11 when I am feeling saturated with images and memories, this came across my computer from the Writer's Almanac. It feels like something I need to share.

The Word

by Tony Hoagland

Down near the bottom
of the crossed-out list
of things you have to do today,




and "broccoli," you find

that you have penciled "sunlight."

between "green thread"


Resting on the page, the word

is beautiful. It touches you

as if you had a friend




and sunlight were a present
he had sent from someplace distant

as this morning—to cheer you up,




and to remind you that,

among your duties, pleasure

is a thing



that also needs accomplishing.

Do you remember?

that time and light are kinds



of love, and love

is no less practical

than a coffee grinder



or a safe spare tire?

Tomorrow you may be utterly

without a clue,



but today you get a telegram

from the heart in exile,

proclaiming that the kingdom



still exists,

the king and queen alive, 

still speaking to their children,



—to any one among them

who can find the time

to sit out in the sun and listen.

"The Word" by Tony Hoagland, from Sweet Ruin. © University of Wisconsin Press, 1992. buy now