broadcast 03.20.05: (another's) self portrait

a poem sent to me by andrew, whose life involves listening to english football on the

radio, downloading the digital edition of the guardian to read later in his tipi, and

riding his horse to peyote ceremonies somewhere in america

Self Portrait

It doesn't interest me if there is one god

or many gods.

I want to know if you belong or feel

abandoned.

If you know despair or can see it in others.

I want to know

If you are prepared to live in the world

with its harsh need

to change you. If you can look back

with firm eyes

saying this is where I stand. I want to know

if you know

how to melt into that fierce heat of living

falling toward

the centre of your longing. I want to know

if you are willing

to live, day by day, with the consequence of love

and the bitter

unwanted passion of your sure defeat.

I have heard, in that fierce embrace, even

the gods speak of god.

-David Whyte

"humans may live forever, and the gods can become mortal, but not both at the same time..."

- best wishes from shenyen