The Bright Field

Photo by Amber Wills

I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the pearl
of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realize now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receeding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.

—R.S. Thomas (1913-2000)
Thanks to the Rev. Rick Lord's World of Your Making blog for sharing this poem.

This is the 777th post at Irenic Thoughts.