"Poems, Prayers, & Promises" #18

Featuring David Budbill and Lang Lang

Aug 24, 2023

Welcome to another day of “Poems, Prayers, & Promises”

Remember, you’re the co-creator of this dive. Do as much or as little as you’d like, when you’d like, how you’d like, with the materials I provide. Just keep gentle faith with yourself.

Registered yet for “Rafter Refuge”?

September 5, 6:30-8:00PM Central (7:30 ET, 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT)

As we approach the close of “Poems, Prayers, & Promises,” please register for our final sharing time on Zoom. We’ll reflect together on our experience of this Deep Dive. Please bring something brief to contribute to the free-flowing gathering, such as . . .

“shimmering words” from a poem that especially resonated with you
an insight that broke into your awareness
an excerpt from something you wrote
a promise you made to yourself that you want to speak aloud . . .

☀️ Registration is required for this celebration.

Set your intention

Take a moment to name the primary intention you have for this month-long deep dive and/or this particular session. Take a quiet moment to center yourself in that intention.

Enter the music

Read the poem

I invite you to read this poem twice—aloud, at least once. You may also listen to my reading of the poem, perhaps with your eyes closed.

1×

0:00

-1:17

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published


WINTER: TONIGHT: SUNSET
David Budbill

Tonight at sunset walking on the snowy road,
my shoes crunching on the frozen gravel, first

through the woods, then out into the open fields
past a couple of trailers and some pickup trucks, I stop

and look at the sky. Suddenly: orange, red, pink, blue,
green, purple, yellow, gray, all at once and everywhere.

I pause in this moment at the beginning of my old age
and I say a prayer of gratitude for getting to this evening

a prayer for being here, today, now, alive
in this life, in this evening, under this sky.


(from While We've Still Got Feet, 2005)

Contemplate/Create

Use any of these questions however you wish—e.g., as openings for meditation or prayer, as prompts for journaling or poetry-writing, as sparks for drawing or painting, as catalysts for change-making . . . You may also ignore my questions altogether to go off in other directions!

This poem is a short, simple, direct description of a common experience: the awesomeness of a sunset. How much attention do you pay to sunsets? Are there other natural phenomena that sometimes stop you in your tracks?
In a poem or journal entry, or in a time of contemplation, identify and praise one person, thing, or creature that you’re particularly grateful for in this moment, at whatever age you are. Then express your gratitude for the fact that you are “here, today, now, alive / in this life.”
For each color in the sky that the poet lists, identify a major challenge you faced in getting to this point in your life. Celebrate that you survived it, and what you learned from it.
Describe or reflect upon the significance of the “pause,” especially at your current time of life.
Does your consideration of this poem move you to make any kind of promise to yourself or someone else?

Want to visit with other Rafters in the Deep Dive?

Here are two options: either leave a comment on this post using the button, or join the chat thread dedicated to this Deep Dive. (Note: if you haven’t created a Substack profile yet, you’ll be asked to do so before you can comment or chat.)

Join us on September 5 for “Rafter Refuge”!

6:30-8:00PM Central (7:30 ET, 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT)

Let’s close this Deep Dive with a time of sharing. Come and reflect with other Rafters on “Poems, Prayers, & Promises.” Registration is required for this celebration.