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Mark Strand
Mark Strand
(Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Poems by Mark Strand : 10 / 34
Keeping Things Whole - Poem by Mark Strand
In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.
When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.
We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.
Poems by Mark Strand : 10 / 34
Read this poem in other languages
| 1. | En Tenant Les Choses Completes. ( fr ) | 3/16/2015 |
| 2. | Alles Zusammenhalten ( de ) | 10/27/2015 |
| 3. | सबै कुरा अखण्ड राख्न ( ne ) | 5/11/2016 |
| 4. | समूचा बनाये रखने के लिये (Hindi Translation) ( mr ) | 5/12/2016 |
| 5. | A Translation: ' Tenere Le Cose Insieme ' (A Poem By Mark Strand) ( en ) | 5/28/2016 |
| 6. | সমগ্রতা বজায়ে রাখা ।। মার্ক স্ট্র্যান্ড ( bn ) | 1/23/2018 |
Poem Submitted: Thursday, April 11, 2013
Poem Edited: Tuesday, October 8, 2013
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I have enjoyed reading this fine piece of poetry yet again. The profoundness of the subject inspired me to translate it in Hindi way back- on Dec 5,2016. Thanks. (Report) Reply
This I wether He parts the air or moves us is certainly the One whole in itself and keeps the field whole too. Enjoyed this excellent poetic intake of Upanishadic philosophy. (Report) Reply
I like this even more than I liked it when I first commented on it. Teaches us how simple words can carry an impressive impact and meaningfulness. (Report) Reply
I wonder what, if any, applications Strand had in mind beyond the literal meaning of this poem. -GK (Report) Reply
in Italian:
'Tenere le cose insieme'
In un campo
Io sono l'assenza
del campo.
E'
sempre così.
Ovunque io sia
Sono ciò che manca.
Quando cammino
sposto e separo l'aria
e sempre
l'aria rientra
a riempire lo spazio
che il mio corpo occupava.
Tutti noi abbiamo motivi
per spostarci.
Io mi muovo
per tenere le cose insieme. (Report) Reply
The poem tries to justify the rationale behind what we are and why we are. Enjoyed reading this philosophical poem. Thanks. (Report) Reply
He both believes in keeping it simple [simple words, simple phrases, no meter, no rhyme], and making it as deep and surreal and overflowing with meaning as possible. It's like he has a split personality... come to think about it, so do we all. (Report) Reply
Spaces! Aces; with the muse of life. Nice piece. (Report) Reply
Deeply profound! This poem certainly went through me - not around me! (Report) Reply
It is there when I am not, leaving your mark on a world that hints at your passing
Superb (Report) Reply
Whether we move or don't move, nature always has its own ways of balancing out things and keeping them whole. (Report) Reply
this is one of the greatest poems, written by great writes (Report) Reply
Great write! Yes, there are reasons for every step we take. Our movement should be to make and not to mar. (Report) Reply
Profound...When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.. Nature works so hard to keep things whole.. thanks for sharing (Report) Reply
Defining what can't be defined! Poetry at its best. (Report) Reply
Excellent thought. Indeed, poetry is the beauty of thought. (Report) Reply
The fullness of absence; things are best known, most felt when they are absent, or appear to be. Beautiful, as always, poetry. (Report) Reply