The moment when,
after many years of hard work
and a long voyage
you stand in the centre of your room,
house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,
knowing at last how you got there,
and say,
I own this,
is the same moment
when the trees unloose their soft arms from around you,
the birds take back their language,
the cliffs fissure and collapse,
the air moves back from you like a wave
and you can’t breathe.
No, they whisper.
You own nothing.
You were a visitor,
time after time
climbing the hill,
planting the flag,
proclaiming.
We never belonged to you.
You never found us.
It was always the other way round.
—
image credit: along the kerry way – ireland http://leiraenkai.deviantart.com
poetry credit: margaret atwood
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
You get and you take. Thanks for the loveliness of this realization, Beth.
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my pleasure to share it, mark
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It is an interesting tone, Beth. I have never read that poem before.
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the moment i read it, i loved it.
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Wisdom wonderfully written!
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that margaret atwood, knows just what to say, kip. her words just struck me suddenly.
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Beautiful! I think I read one by atwood called year of the flood? It was interesting. ..
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thank you, scott.
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yes, she did write the year of the flood, but i haven’t yet read it. i do love her writing though )
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Lovely
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lovely place and lovely words from margaret, ttg )
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Beautiful Beth x
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thanks jen, i thought of you and your job easing people into acceptance of those who’ve left this life –
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That is very sweet, it is beautifully penned Beth. x
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read margaret atwood if you like this, jen. i’m sure you would love her work.
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Thank you I shall have a look.
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This is a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it.
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it was my pleasure to share this, wefall
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If you didn’t, you’d go mad
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)
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Poignant
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it is wendy )
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Very touching post Beth. Thank you.
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you are very welcome, paul –
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Reblogged this on Writing Out Loud and commented:
Enjoyed!
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i’m happy you enjoyed this and thanks for the reblog ff )
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the scottish countryside is littered with ruined houses like this – poignant reminders of the ephemeral nature of man
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oh how wonderful duncan )
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Beautiful words as always..What a sight to go with it too 🙂
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yes, i was very taken with margaret’s poem and when i thought this picture matched what she was trying to say perfectly )
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I agree! 🙂
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So incredibly, beautifully, touching. I felt that familiar tightening of the throat muscles and told myself I not cry. (I am such a blubber baby. [sigh])
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me too )
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Oh, how poignant – the poem and the image. I hope we are leaving enough of nature intact, to move back in when we exit, and restore this planet. This struck me deeply this morning, Beth. Thank you!
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i do as well. and thank you, from one beth to another )
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I love the twist and I agree with you! Silly humans…
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we are indeed, susie )
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If more humans “got this”, wouldn’t our world be so totally different? You are so right. We own nothing. We are only strangers passing through. Thank you for this wonderful post. xx Amy
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yes, and it was my pleasure to share it, amy )
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(((HUGS)))
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Wishing You Joy and Inspiration in the coming week. Thank You for All you share to brighten my days. 🙂
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and to you as well, morgan. i am happy to do so ) beth
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Oh, Beth, I have goosebumps on top of goosebumps with this poem. It speaks so eloquently to the very core of me. Gorgeous prose–the perfect words. Margaret Atwood is a master. And I adore the photo you paired with her poetry. That was truly perfect. 🙂
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i had the poem tucked away, and loved it right away. when i found this photo, i knew they belonged to together and it was time for me to share ) beth
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I really love the picture.
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it really is powerful, isn’t it?
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Loved this, both the image and the poem…and its meaning.
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thanks, judith )
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Great poem. Love the photo. I’d love to know where on the kerry way it is. I do think of this sentiment when I pass the many ruins in our countryside.
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oh what a lovely walk that must be, tric )
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much wisdom
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yes, carl.
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Wonderful Beth, thank you
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my pleasure, david.
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Lovely Beth 😊
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thank you, diana )
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The photo speaks volumes, even without the poem.
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it does, loud and clear.
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“when the trees unloose their soft arms from around you,
the birds take back their language…”
Great imagery…it never belonged to us…
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yes –
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“we’re just a passing through….” Great wisdom and a lovely poem. Margaret Atwood is great.
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she is indeed )
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Beth my father often said you can’t take it with you and when he left us He did not leave castles or riches, no possessions but he did leave us love. Love this post by the way.
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and he was exactly right and he left you the best gift possible. thank you, mm )
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as the Australian aboriginals say, the earth can’t belong to anyone, we belong to the earth.
beautiful poem. has an epic feeling to it
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and they are so right )
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Agreed. Amazing poem also 🙂
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)
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loving the combo of atwood and kennedy…marvelous!
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thanks, susie. how fun would it be to have a glass of wine with margaret and chat about life?
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What a wonderful poem and picture! On my first visit to the wild in Africa I pretty much felt this sentiment. It was beautiful and humbling at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
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oh, i can only imagine. and you are very welcome )
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“We never belonged to you.
You never found us.
It was always the other way round.”
Wonderful!
Thanks for sharing.
–Lance
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thank you lance, for reading and commenting ) best, beth
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Your site is beautiful.
My pleasure & I look forward to seeing more.
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Beautiful!
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“knowing at last how you got there”, I love this.
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yes, me too )
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Reblogged this on Deo Optimo Maximo and commented:
Awesome post, with an amazingly deep and meaningful poem – from my fellow blogger ksbeth @ “I didn’t have my Glasses On…..”
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thank you so much for sharing this, d )
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You are most welcome, ksbeth! The poem is really wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.
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Beautiful words; and so true 🙂
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thank you, and i agree –
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Thank you for sharing. 🙂
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