To look at any thing,
If you would know that thing,
You must look at it long:
To look at this green and say,
“I have seen spring in these
Woods,” will not do – you must
Be the thing you see:
You must be the dark snakes of
Stems and ferny plumes of leaves,
You must enter in
To the small silences between
The leaves,
You must take your time
And touch the very peace
They issue from.
August 21, 2006
To Look at Any Thing – John Moffitt
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John Moffitt sucks
Comment by John — October 28, 2007 @ 11:13 pm
Thank-you for this. I needed this poem for a homework assignment I’m doing for school but I didn’t have the book =)
Comment by Elisabeth — December 15, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Elisabeth,
I also am doing this poem for school homework, would like any output you may have on it.
Comment by Kim — January 15, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
umm yeah i need to know the theme of this poem for an english thing and i need heeeeeeelp!!!! if anyone reads this and knows the answer please please help me.
xx bella! xx
Comment by please help me!!!! — March 27, 2008 @ 12:42 am
This poem could be about direct apprehension as developed in insight meditation (Vipassana) in the Theraveda Buddhist tradition. The collapse of conceptual thinking(expressed through the negation of the words “I have seen…” is followed by the collapse of duality as the poet and the dark snakes of stems and ferny plumes of leaves become one – the “silences between the leaves” echoes the Vipassana meditation instruction to attend to the “silence between thoughts” – touching the peace they “issue from” is direct apprehension of the mystery of form and emptiness explored in the Heart Suttra.
Comment by Stephen Locher — November 13, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
Thank you, I really needed this for a homework assignment that is due in exactly One week.
Comment by Tasha Holtman — November 17, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
Hey tasha!
I doin’ this 2
well
da
ur in the panthers 2
im just starting to look at my poem
I need a fact aboout him though
Comment by Kaelin — November 20, 2008 @ 12:44 am
hi thank u it helped me
Comment by season — November 23, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
Tis site should have info about John Moffitt! I need that and not just the plain ole’ poem! Also HEY Tasha, kaelin, and Season!
Comment by Lisetta — November 23, 2008 @ 10:54 pm
Omg it tottaly should lisetta ect.
Comment by Olivia — November 23, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Hey evryone I am with lisetta with this website it needs imformation about him Hey everyone Lisetta Olivia Tasha Kaelin and Season
Comment by Morgan — November 24, 2008 @ 1:08 am
omg how did every 1 find dis xacted website!
Comment by Kaelin — November 25, 2008 @ 2:21 am
Yo peeps what up what did you get on the poem it waz boring
Comment by Morgan and Olivia and Lexi — November 26, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
<–

:0
Comment by Morgan and Olivia and Lexi — November 26, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
r u sad or happy huh??????
Comment by Morgan and Olivia and Lexi — November 26, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
i’m doing this stuped friken asinment for school i’m sad
Comment by the sexy man — December 1, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
i whant to kill my self
Comment by the sexy man — December 1, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
becaus this pome makes me whant to kill my self
Comment by the sexy man — December 1, 2009 @ 4:31 pm