Collected Poems Quotes

“This long struggle to be at home
in the body, this difficult friendship.”
― Jane Kenyon, Collected Poems

“I divested myself of despair
and fear when I came here.

Now there is no more catching
one's own eye in the mirror,

there are no bad books, no plastic,
no insurance premiums, and of course

no illness. Contrition
does not exist, nor gnashing

of teeth. No one howls as the first
clod of earth hits the casket.

The poor we no longer have with us.
Our calm hearts strike only the hour,

and God, as promised, proves
to be mercy clothed in light.”
― Jane Kenyon, Collected Poems

“To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.

Let it come, as it will, and don't
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.”
― Jane Kenyon, Collected Poems

“And I knew then
that I would have to live,
and go on living: what sorrow it was;
and still what sorrow ignites
but does not consume
my heart.”
― Jane Kenyon, Collected Poems

“We try a new drug, a new combination
of drugs, and suddenly
I fall into my life again
 
like a vole picked up by a storm
then dropped three valleys
and two mountains away from home.
 
I can find my way back. I know
I will recognize the store
where I used to buy milk and gas.
 
I remember the house and barn,
the rake, the blue cups and plates,
the Russian novels I loved so much,
 
and the black silk nightgown
that he once thrust
into the toe of my Christmas stocking.”
― Jane Kenyon, Collected Poems