Keeping Things Whole - A poem by Mark Strand

Mark Strand - Keeping Things Whole

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

Added: on December 16th, 2005 at 3:32 AM | Viewed: 6398 times | Comments (8)

Keeping Things Whole - Comments and Information
Poet: Mark Strand Poem: Keeping Things Whole Volume: Selected Poems Year: Published/Written in 1980 Comment 8 of 8, added on March 15th, 2006 at 7:30 PM. When you are moving and there is no motive, that movement is Divine! Rao from United States Comment 7 of 8, added on January 17th, 2006 at 10:56 AM. It is bizarre to me that people see this as a sad or negative lyric--it is so freshly zen! As fresh now as when I first read it over two decades ago. This poem so serenely expresses the highly integrated role we each play in the environment/on this plane of existence. That we, in fact, HAVE "place," and a place in this place is so comforting to me. Not in the least bit off-putting or sentimentalized or doldrum-inducing; on the contrary! I read this poem to remember that I, too, have a purpose in moving along in this life, and that my passage is not inconsequential. Very IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE/THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT in message, I think... Bobbie from United States Comment 6 of 8, added on December 16th, 2005 at 3:32 AM. the poet pleads for wholeness and perfection against the usual fragmentation that goes on in life. its such a sad poem and it also has such depth of emotions in it. pannu More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Keeping Things Whole, has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Mark Strand with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Keeping Things Whole Volume: Selected Poems Year: Published/Written in 1980 Last read: 2008-07-04 02:13:32 Viewed 6398 times. Added on December 16th, 2005 at 3:32 AM.

Strand Info
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