I stumbled upon this poem recently, and I have come back to it again and again. Jane Kenyon sure knew how to say it.
In the Nursing Home
by Jane Kenyon
“She is like a horse grazing
a hill pasture that someone makes
smaller by coming every night
to pull the fences in and in.
She has stopped running wide loops,
stopped even the tight circles.”
click here for the rest of the poem.
The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted this week by Carol Varsalona at her blog . She’s unveiling her most recent autumn gallery, an extravaganza of fall-inspired poetry and imagery. Be sure to stop by and check it out.
Nix the comfort zone 
Just read the full poem. WOW. That’s going to stay with me for a while.
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It’s a powerful one and really resonates with me right now.
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Such a heartbreaking poem. There’s a Kenyon poem about her illness called “The Sick Wife” — for some reason, the image of the dry cleaning in that poem sticks with me.
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I checked out that poem–it really packs a whallop–I see what you mean about that dry cleaning image.
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Heartbreaking indeed. If this is the prayer you need right now, I’m praying it for you.
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Thanks, Mary Lee.
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“Master, come. Master, come. Master come.”
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Oh, geez…that was an unexpected little sob for me. Yes, she does know how to say it. Thanks, Molly.
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That is a perfect poem. So short, so perfect.
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She captures so much in so few words.
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Molly, the poem is so touching. My uncle is in an assisted living home and will move to the memory care unit this month. It is sad but of course, we want what is best for him. Thanks for the time to pause. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
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I’m glad the poem touched you. Every time I read Jane Kenyon I think that I should read more of her work. She was an amazing poet.
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I know that many of us have a connection to this poignant poem, Molly. She knows that life well. Thank you for sharing. I hope you will enjoy your Thanksgiving with family.
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Thanks, Linda. Wishing you a lovely holiday!
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Quite an image! Wishing well to the whole fam.
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Jane never shied away from the hard imagery, shared in beautiful words. My MIL will be going into assisted living soon. Not quite a nursing home, thankfully, but still, we do see the pasture shrinking…
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Thanks for sharing this. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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Hugs, Molly. My heart is hurting with yours. xx
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