Let’s remake the world with words

Let’s remake the world with words.
Not frivolously, nor
To hide from what we fear,
But with a purpose.

                                  Let’s,
As Wordsworth said, remove
“The dust of custom” so things
Shine again, each object arrayed
In its robe of original light.

And then we’ll see the world
As if for the first time,
As once we gazed at the beloved
Who was gazing at us.

“Let’s remake the world with words” from Concerning the Book That Is the Body of the Beloved by Gregory Orr. Copyright © 2005 by Gregory Orr. Originally published by Copper Canyon Press. Used with the permission of the poet.

This poem was originally read in the On Being episode “Shaping Grief With Language.”

Reflections