When you love a wild thing
your heart becomes wild too.
You gallop together joyously
along deserted beaches
to the roar of the waves
with an exultant song
of freedom in your heart.
You track through old growth forests,
padding gently on the mossy floor,
alert for other critters
in the bush.
You walk the beach
to the moo of Lennard's Light,
in fog so thick that others' voices
are disembodied spirits
that emerge, startled and laughing,
when you get close.
When you love a wild thing,
your heart soars with eagles
and is tethered to the land
only by love.
When you love a wild thing,
the bond of devotion
runs deeper than any human
you have ever encountered
was capable of.
And when you lose a wild thing,
your heart resists
its return
to being tame.
This is one from the archives, first posted December 31, 2011. Re-Posted today for Poets United Poetry Pantry. It will also be linked to Real Toads Open Link Monday as well.
Am tired and behind, doing my best to catch up, kids! I have a four year old here this weekend so in between adventures and playdates, I will keep commenting, intermittently, till I have made the rounds. Will get there eventually. Thanks for your patience.
Forget about us: play with the little one: far more important and interesting than us :-)
ReplyDeleteThe last stanza of resistance to a return to tameness implies a feral existence, a dangerous state neither wild nor tame. But I am certain you will find your way, especially when you go out and play!
ReplyDeleteThe poem is so true. Great write.
ReplyDeletethis is so full of life...I agree...
ReplyDeleteOur cat today gave birth to three kittens... waiting for them to come out.
This reminds me of the quote from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's':
ReplyDelete"If you let yourself love a wild thing. You'll end up looking at the sky."
This is so very bitter-sweet and your last stanza is a brilliant conclusion.
nice - it is good to get these old gems out there.
ReplyDeleteWhen you love a wild thing,
ReplyDeleteyour heart soars with eagles
and is tethered to the land
only by love.
Loved this!
thank god for all ur poetic wildness Sherry.it has given us some reals gems.so let the wildness bloom, I say.
ReplyDeleteI could not more agree with Abin. This is a favorite, without doubt.
ReplyDeleteLove this, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteLove those wild things! Excellent poem Sherry, full of spirit and love. and I'm with Aprille--don't worry about us--playing with 4 year olds is much more important!! Enjoy :-)
ReplyDeleteChildren...always our best teachers.
ReplyDeleteZQ
This is one of my favorite posts Sherry ~ And that last line just ends it powerfully ~ Have a good week ~
ReplyDeleteI like this one very much. So true that once you have experienced wildness (with a wild one), it is hard to let it go......and one shouldn't. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteMy heart, then, has become wild for I too, love many wild things! (Including, incidentally, a four year old!)
ReplyDeleteDon't Lay Me Down
To love a wild thing..how beautiful. I feel that resistance to returning to tame. I never want to go there again. :)
ReplyDeleteIt almost sounded as if you were doing some shape shifting!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the 4y-ear-old is a wild thing too (in a good way). :)
the heart resists its return
ReplyDeleteto being tame...
oh I love that line
This is so relatable at this time for me. One of my 'wild animals', Jules, is showing strong signs of aging malady's. My wife and I have been so sad and crying spontaneously. I sense an upcoming departure of his mundane incarnate being. I know you can relate to this human heartfelt ache, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteGracias for this lovely write, mi amiga
:-{(
I so agree with your words! Once you've loved a wild thing it would be hard to go back to being tame. Enjoy your adventures and playmates!
ReplyDeleteI love this. I live in the woods and am constantly trying to become friends with the wildlife. I feel like the eagle is in your totem. But also a land animal, like a wolf or coyote. Anyway, I spent a whole winter just driving around the country counting raptors.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, wild things are sometimes human!
Who wants to be tamed...Once gone wild it's difficult to be tamed but it much more better, however, restless to remain in-between.
ReplyDelete