After walking days to meet Basho,
a young man bowed and asked
respectfully, “Why poetry?”
The aging master, having lived
through so much beauty and loss,
smiled and said, “Come with me.”
They hiked to a cliff overlooking
the sea and Basho said, “Seeing life
from near and far at once helps us
live.”
They watched the surf crash and
roll. Then Basho added, “To listen
for poetry is to stand before life on
the cliff of your heart.”
He put his arm around the young
man and whispered, “It’s less about
words and more about the mist
and the view.”
A Question to Walk With: In conversation with a friend or trusted loved one, discuss what the prhase “to stand before life on the cliff of your heart” means and give a personal example.
This excerpt is from my book of poems in progress, This Slow Quick Dance.
Mark will be offering retreats and a few special journeys in 2024. Below are some of his offerings:
APRIL 26-28: Reading and Weekend Retreat, Saying Yes to Life: From Brokenness to Tenderness, The Sophia Institute, Charleston, SC, or call 843-720-8528
https://thesophiainstitute.org/events/saying-yes-to-life-from-brokenness-to-tenderness/?occurrence=2024-04-26
MAY 6: Drinking from the River of Light, Talk on the Creative Process, The Gilmore Festival, Kalamazoo Public Library, The Van Duesen Room, 2PM —
https://www.thegilmore.org/event/mark-nepo/
May 18–24, 2024 The Gift of Deepening and the Radiance in All Things, a weeklong retreat on a river cruise in France hosted by Global Journeys, .
https://globalj.org/the-gift-od-deepening-overview/
JUNE 28-30: Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY, Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, Weekend Retreat, (web link)
AUG 16-18: Mercy By the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison, CT, Publication Retreat centered on You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, Fri 7-9:30PM EST Sat 9:30-5:30PM EST, Sun 9:30-12:30PM —
https://www.mercybythesea.org/events/
Sept 16–21, 2024 You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, a Mastery Week at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe, Mexico, .
https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-friendship-with-mark-nepo
NOV 1-3: Harmony Hill Retreat Center, Union, WA, Weekend Retreat, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship Contact Harmony Hill for info: https://www.harmonyhill.org/contact-connections/
Dec 8–14, Saying Yes to Life: The One Life We’re Given, a weeklong retreat in Costa Rica, hosted by Global Journeys, .
https://globalj.org/mark-nepo-costa-rica-overview/
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