I take into my arms more than I can bear to hold

I take into my arms more than I can bear to hold
I am toppled by the world
a creation of ladders, pianos, stairs cut into the rock
a devouring world of teeth where even the common snail
eats the heart out of a forest
as you and I do, who are human, at night

yet still I take into my arms more than I can bear to hold

From The Goose Bath Poems, Vintage 2006

I think of this poem often and at times also feel ‘toppled by the world.’ Every day brings good and bad news that overwhelms; emotions that take me by surprise; sights of wonder, beauty, scale. Shedding light and putting into perspective: we are so small, so potent.