I don’t know a lot about Roger Keyes, but I think we all know a bit about Hokusai.
We’ve all seen his world famous wood block painting called The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
What I’ve been able to crib together about Roger Keyes is that he’s a scholar on Japanese art, focusing on Hokusai and this may be the only poem he’s ever written.
If I’m correct, and this is the only poem he’s written, damn is it an amazing one.
If I’m wrong, and he’s still writing poetry, then he needs a book deal like now.
Take a deep breath, get comfortable, and enjoy this sublime work of art.
Hokusai says Look carefully.
He says pay attention, notice.
He says keep looking, stay curious.
He says there is no end to seeing.
He says Look Forward to getting old.
He says keep changing, you just get more who you really are.
He says get stuck, accept it, repeat yourself as long as it’s interesting.
He says keep doing what you love.
He says keep praying.
He says every one of us is a child, every one of us is ancient, every one of us has a body.
He says every one of us is frightened.
He says every one of us has to find a way to live with fear.
He says everything is alive –shells, buildings, people, fish,mountains, trees.
Wood is alive.
Water is alive.
Everything has its own life.
Everything lives inside us.
He says live with the world inside you.
He says it doesn’t matter if you draw, or write books.
It doesn’t matter if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home and stare at the ants on your verandah
or the shadows of the trees and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.
It matters that you feel.
It matters that you notice.
It matters that life lives through you.
Contentment is Life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength is life living through you.
Peace is life living through you.
He says don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid.
Look, feel, let life take you by the hand.
Let life live through you.
Was I right?
I mean, wow – what a great poem.
So simple, so instructive, so kind, so gentle, so accepting.
Do you think your life would change for the better if you read this poem and perhaps brought some of the suggestions into your own life?
Do you think that you would be calmer, happier, more peaceful?
Perhaps more loving?
More accepting?
We often hear about works of art changing people’s lives.
Maybe this poem could help change yours.
