The Weight of the Unknown

When the news is already bad and then gets even worse, as it did Wednesday and when it is still the main topic in the headlines two days later, I turn to one of my most comforting solaces - poetry - and one of my favorite poets - Ted Kooser.

                                Telescope

This is the pipe that pierces the dam                                                                                        that holds back the universe,

that takes off some of the pressure                                                                                            keeping the weight of the unknown

 from breaking through                                                                                                               and washing us all down the valley.

Because of this small tube,                                                                                                        through which cold light rushes

from the bottom of time,                                                                                                            the depth of the stars stays always constant

and we are able to sleep, at least for now,                                                                               beneath the straining wall of darkness.

This poem happened to fortuitously be where my bookmark was in Kooser's book Delights & Shadows. 

I did happen upon one news story this morning that gives me some hope for our political future. It is about a congressman from New Jersey - Andy Kim. If interested you can read it here:

https://apnews.com/article/andy-kim-cleans-capitol-siege-c5a303337cd63e4312ef7e1a17509371