'The moment of change'

 

“The moment of change is the only poem.” –  Adrienne Rich

 

Born in May 1929, Rich was a poet, essayist and feminist called "One of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of the 20th century” in the text accompanying the prestigious MacArthur (Genius) Fellowship, awarded her in 1994.

 

Her works span 7 decades, including dozens of poetry collections, a dozen nonfiction books, and a huge number of essays.  Rich’s collection Diving into the Wreck: Poems 1971-1972  won the National Book Award.  She also earned the Frost Medal and a Lifetime Recognition Award from the Griffin Poetry Prize.           For Saturday’s Poem here is Rich's,

            Prospective Immigrants, Please Note

 

                Either you will
                go through this door
                or you will not go through.

                If you go through
                there is always the risk
                of remembering your name.

                Things look at you doubly
                and you must look back
                and let them happen.

                If you do not go through
                it is possible
                to live worthily

        

                to maintain your attitudes
                to hold your position
                to die bravely

                but much will blind you,
                much will evade you,
                at what cost who knows?

                The door itself
                makes no promises.
                It is only a door.