Loss And Gain
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
Little room do I find for pride.
I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
Has fallen short or been turned aside.
But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.
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Reminds me of Dylan's 'the loser now will be later to win', 'the slow one now will later be fast' and 'the first one now will later be last' (The Times They Are A-changing) and 'She knows there's no success like failure' (Love Minus Zero/No Limit).
ReplyDeleteSW,
ReplyDeleteA friend o' the Dylan is a friend o' mine. :)
Peace
"Defeat may be victory in disguise;"
ReplyDeleteThis immediately reminded me of something I wrote awhile back:
". . . I have been overwhelmed with gratitude lately, and the coolest thing about this gratitude is that it has come from the most unexpected places. The gratitude - the thankfullness - has arisen in me in situations that I would not have usually expected. My gratitude has evolved out of my mistakes and failings. This is a totally new and totally amazing experience for me. For the first time in my life I am beginning to understand how to learn from my mistakes. Every time I have messed up this week - and there have been many times, some rather small and some rather big, something clicked inside of me. I've been able to recognize it and then after recognition, I've been able to give some thought as to what I could have said or done better, smarter, easier, more lovingly, etc...
I am full of gratitude for the little things, the beautiful things, the shitty things, and everything in between, and for all of the mistakes I made this week as well. I am full of gratitude for having so many teachable moments and being able to acknowledge them as such. What a gift to have been given!"
Val, thank you for sharing this. You are right on target with these thoughts. May we all learn to respond to life--all of it, "good" and "bad"--with such gratitude.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites from Richard Brautigan:
ReplyDelete"Finding is losing something else.
I think about, perhaps even mourn,
what I lost to find this."
What would it be like to live without measurement and comparison, to live without projections and expectations? What would it be like to simply stay present with what presents itself in each moment? Would that be enough?
ReplyDeleteDharma Bum,
ReplyDeleteRichard Brautigam wrote that? Hmmm, you almost convince me to give Brautigan a second look. :)
Thanks for sharing that very pertinent quote.
Barry,
I would like to think it would be enough.... We both know that the journey to that place is not quick nor easy. :)
Now let's see, where's my zafu? ;)
Peace y'all, and thanks....
Thanks A. Reminded me of
ReplyDeletelet all go-the
big small middling
tall bigger really
the biggest and all
things-let all go
dear
so comes love
ee cummings
and
Barn burned down. Now I can see the moon.
-Masahide
K.,
ReplyDeleteI love both of these! Thank you so much for posting them here.