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Perfection, Perfection
by Kilian McDonnell
("I will walk the way of perfection." Psalm 101:2)
I have had it with perfection.
I have packed my bags,
I am out of here.
Gone.
As certain as rain
will make you wet,
perfection will do you
in.
It droppeth not as dew
upon the summer grass
to give liberty and green
joy.
Perfection straineth out
the quality of mercy,
withers rapture at its
birth.
Before the battle is half begun,
cold probity thinks
it can't be won, concedes the
war.
I've handed in my notice,
given back my keys,
signed my severance check, I
quit.
(The rest of the poem is at The Writer's Almanac.)
This poem is my new anthem. Those goals I posted a couple of days ago? I'm going for approximation. Baby steps. A little bit at a time. Balance. Perfection might kill me, but the plodding pace of approximation is doable.
Ben, at The Small Nouns, has the roundup today.
This poem is my new anthem. Those goals I posted a couple of days ago? I'm going for approximation. Baby steps. A little bit at a time. Balance. Perfection might kill me, but the plodding pace of approximation is doable.
Ben, at The Small Nouns, has the roundup today.
7 Comments on Poetry Friday -- Approximation, last added: 3/5/2011
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Isn't Writer's Almanac the best??
Since we're talking about perfect, here's a video for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVv_tvEwWQo (Grace Jones: I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You). Grace Jones' comfort with doing her own thing made a big impression on me as a teenager.
Amen! Where'd this perfection thing come from anyway? Approximation is the only way to go!
I should make this my anthem, too. It's all about baby steps (most of the time, anyway). Thank you for sharing this poem! Have a great weekend.
Oh, FREEDOM!!!!
I am right there with you! I need to print this one out and hang it somewhere.
Whoa, I printed this out this week too, Mary Lee. (My one-eyed cat is my favorite one...) A wonderful reminder on so many fronts: teaching, mothering, writing, even leaving blog comments. Happy PF!
Approximation. That's a great word. I needed it this week, too. Thanks.