Al Purdy Remembered

Al Purdy was a Canadian poet--one with whom I was not terribly familiar for a long time. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 81, and today in Toronto a statue of him was unveiled. They were discussing this, and Purdy's poetry, on CBC radio this morning and the following poem was read. I thought it was absolutely wonderful and had to look for it on the Web, and was overjoyed to find it. I'm sharing it here in hopes that some of you may look up Al Purdy and enjoy more of his writing.

Fragments

I loved being alive
to stand between earth and sky
in springtime
a great organ playing in your bones
when earth moves
under your feet
over the long Sundays of our lives

– to feel your insides changing
and writhe from loss
and knowing the loss has added
to you and what you are
and clinging to life
that makes such gifts

– to feel
that your own absence may be counted
a continual presence
an outward movement
to change the future
where you are entirely unknown

– to feel your brain
lifting to stand on tip-toe
your feet pushing against the clouds

– to climb the steps of your own writing
and fall off at the highest point
and know that in falling far enough
discover what you were climbing for
and fall short of the sun

– to feel your body crumble
as the high places of earth crumble
the Athenian Acropolis and Machu Picchu
and join them as an idea
springing to life
in flesh and stone

© Al Purdy, 2000