This poem was written by my dear friend, Bina Benestante. It epitomizes life on Cape Ann to me, so I wanted to share it with all of you. You have to read all the way to the end to catch the magic.
EDGE
(“Whoever is not living on the edge, is taking up too much room!”)
By Sabina Troger Benestante
Out on the edge again
One step away: a deep, steep abyss,
Yawning before my feet.
I’m standing on a towering cliff top,
High above the sea.
Gusts of cold wind whip my face
Spraying white foam on roaring waves
Forever breaking, breaking at the rough rock’s edge.
A carnivorous bird is shooting like an arrow
Down at some hapless creature of the sea
As suddenly the clouds rip open, like a ghoulish wound
A sunbeam crashes through, furrowing
A narrow band of fiery lava
Into the waves, stretching as far as the horizon
The wind is howling…
Other people exist in soft, lush valleys, I complain,
Above them clear blue skies, sweet air, a feathery cloud.
Completely cozy, they listen to the willows’ whispers,
Growing around a calm and shallow pond
Maybe next to a brook, sheltered by elms,
With flimsy butterflies, dancing above unruffled meadows
Of fragrant summer grass…
While I forever find myself just barely hanging in there
My nails like claws, clutching bare rock, and by my teeth’s skin merely holding on: Why me?
Yeah, God answered. But you have the view.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Hi EJ,
I’m not one for poems, but living on the edge for the most part i guess for all, could have a few meanings. taking that one big step could be really good or bad. did he/she explain which way they were leaning? my one big step is coming soon. not saying which way 🙂
thanks for posting this.
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The Edge is about being in the world, but not of it. It is about living a faith walk, which often appears to result in our being left hanging by our fingernails, or the skin of our teeth, over an abyss of certain death or destruction. While others who live life of the world, believing the world, its systems and its things are what keep them safe and happy, live oblivous lives of apparent contentment; but they never have the view, can’t see the big picture, or know the ecstacy of being plucked from the edge at the very last instant and set down on a mountaintop. In the short time I’ve been here, it seems to me that Cape Ann is an edge kind of place, where people have a great deal of faith (I’m not necessarily talking about religion, but faith in that omnipresent power that is greater than our own). That faith will always lead us where we need to be to experience what is our greatest heart’s desire. As the Prophet Kahlil Gibran said: “Your joy can only be as great as your deepest sorrow”. If we’ve never been plunged to the depths, we can never know the mountaintop experiences of life. I’ve learned in life to always give thanks, no matter what appears to be going on, because everything is for the purpose of leading us to our greatest good. I’ve lived through things that really sucked. I’m still alive, and now I’m here, so it was all worth it. You said you had a big step coming up. Everything in life is a choice, and if we let our hearts (love) lead us in the choices we make, they can never be bad.
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One powerful poem ~ to live life well is to ‘live on the edge’ and sometimes I miss what is ‘right in front of my nose’ ~ thinking I am going to fall off the cliff, I guess ~ Wonder if this is okay to copy the poem and maybe use it on my blog> http://artmusedog.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing this wonderful poem ~ hugs and namaste, cz:)
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EJ has made my day once again, with help from her poet friend, Sabina. I have shared this with a dear friend who use to climb the rocks of Annisquam with me, and it definately has brought back great memories of those days gone by. Posted in my office for inspiration when moments become difficult. THANKS HAPPY NEW YEAR
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Hi Carol,
I know Bina would love for you to share her poem on your blog (which I don’t read as often as I’d like, but do enjoy – Joey keeps us very busy with GMG). Bina is my dearest spiritual warrior sister, and we’ve shared more than a few of each other’s life altering skin of the teeth experiences. She and her husband, Vince, now live in Panama, and both are accomplished actors, authors and poets, and Vince is also a great opera singer. We met and shared many great experiences when we all lived in Key Largo, FL. If you facebook, you can see them at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001011949904
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EJ ~ Thanks ~will gladly use her poem on my blog at some point ~ am so glad you have a spiritual warrior sister ~ Panama ~ they are definitely living life well ~ as you seem to be also ~ happy creating and living to you ~ hugs and namaste, cz:)
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beautiful reminder.
well done poetry.
Greetings! Happy 2011.
I invite you to become a participant at Thursday Poets Rally Week 36…
you have until Wednesday to make 18 comments among participants…
Hope to see you in, Happy Monday!
your support is precious! Bless you.
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Hi! Enjoyed the beautiful imagery and the subversive hint of danger with being on the edge!
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