Octavio Paz wrote this short poem which despite its length I read it in several ways. The poem raises more questions than it answers. Perhaps, he wrote about sleep, a lover, or night itself? Whatever it is, this friendship embraces without being named.
Maybe in sleep this friendship arrives only to be brushed aside as we awake in the morning. Or, is it the waiting for this friendship that makes it more worthwhile? When we are mindful and attentive in living, it pokes through and rewards us with momentary glimpses that are so rewarding.
It is the awaited hour
Over the table falls
Interminably
The lamp’s spread hair
Night turns the window to immensity
There is no one here
Presence without name surrounds me
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About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Teacher as Transformer 
That “presence without name” shouts quietly, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing this Paz.
You are welcome Robert. That is a great way to express silence.
Beautiful piece with a lot to ponder upon.
Then the title; Friendship…
Nice one!
Yes, there is a lot to consider in this poem despite its shortness.
Ofcourse! And I really appreciate every bit of it.
I really like the ambiguity.
It is an interesting and stressful place to be, but usually worthwhile.
“Night turns the window to immensity”
Does darkness expand our mind’s view ? Understanding? Maturity? If the darkness is suffering and grief, I suppose it does.
Suffering and grief crossed my mind. I had not thought about maturity and the understanding it brings. Thank you for adding more Carl.
Unfortunately I do not yet understand this poem of Octavio Paz “Friendship” well.
I want to be able to be understood early.
I think it is asking questions about friendship without any certain answers.
You asked intriguing questions.
Thank you.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
INVITING…INDEED!!!
Thank you for the re-blog Jonathan.
Paz is one of my favourite poets ever… Well no wonder why… he won the Nobel Prize. Beautiful share! Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
Thank you for the comment. I have many favourite poets and he is one of them.
I shall take a few pics of the books I have by him and send them to you via twitter… Some of the covers are beautiful!… ⭐ Love! Aquileana 😀
Thank you. That will be greatly appreciated.