Specializing in the Impossible

“What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.” – Theodore Roethke

Poet and writer James Dickey once named Roethke (born on May 25, 1908) as the greatest of all American poets. “I don't see anyone else that has the kind of deep, gut vitality that Roethke's got,” Dickey said.  “Whitman was a great poet, but he's no competition for Roethke.” 

             Roethke won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his book The Waking and shared his many talents both through his writing and as a longtime teacher of aspiring writers.  His legacy, in addition to inspiring and training generations of students, is a diverse and lyrical body of poetry.   For Saturday’s Poem, here is the title poem from his extraordinary book.

The Waking

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

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