FALLING
Long before daybreak
none of the birds yet awake
rain comes down with the sound
of a huge wind rushing
through the valley trees
it comes down around us
all at the same time
and beyond it there is nothing
it falls without hearing itself
without knowing
there is anyone here
without seeing where it is
or where it is going
like a moment of great
happiness of our own
that we cannot remember
coasting with the lights off
– W.S. Merwin, from his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Shadow of Sirius** (2008, Copper Canyon Press). Used by permission of the publishers. Copyright © 2008 by W. S. Merwin.
**Through September 30th, in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of The Shadow of Sirius and W.S. Merwin’s 91st birthday, receive this book as a free gift for making a donation of $75 or more. Learn more here.
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Featured photo by Ferry Octavian used under Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.