“Sabbaths – 1985, I” by Wendell Berry

Loss & Absence

Wendell Berry, a farmer and poet, explores profound themes of loss and absence in his poem "Sabbaths – 1985, I." He reflects on the inevitable passage of time and the fading presence of cherished elements in life, such as old trees and loved ones. Berry poignantly expresses the growing burden of absence and the grief that accompanies it, urging us to "pray for the world's light thus borne away."

Not again in this flesh will I see the old trees stand here as they did, weighty creatures made of light, delight of their making straight in them, and well, whatever blight our blindness was or made, however thought or act might fail.

--- Wendell Berry

His words evoke a sense of longing and a call to remember the beauty that once was, even as it fades from view 1.

   

Nature's Nostalgia

Berry's poem also captures a deep nostalgia for nature, reflecting on its transient beauty and the inevitable changes it undergoes. He paints vivid images of the natural world, invoking a sense of reverence for the "old trees" and "little songs" that once filled the landscape. This nostalgia serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between nature's enduring presence and its gradual disappearance.

Pray for the little songs that wake and move for comfort as these lights depart.

--- Wendell Berry

Through his poetic lens, Berry invites us to cherish the fleeting moments of beauty in the natural world, urging us to hold onto these memories as they slip away 1.