Mark Strand

 Today marks the first day of Hanukkah, Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

Happy Hanukkah to All!

Here’s a poem for your consideration by Mark Strand (April 11, 1934 – November 29, 2014), Canadian-born American poet, essayist and translator.

The Coming of Light

Even this late it happens:

the coming of love, the coming of light.

You wake and the candles are lit as if by themselves,

stars gather, dreams pour into your pillows,

sending up warm bouquets of air.

Even this late the bones of the body shine

and tomorrow's dust flares into breath.

--Mark Strand