It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come our real work,

and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

The impeded stream is the one that sings.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Wendell Berry's poem The Real Work

1 Comment

  1. Jim McGowan says:

    “The impeded stream is the one that sings” is a beautiful ending line that somehow finds a new way to express a very tired theme: you can only appreciate your achievements when you have had to overcome obstacles. In this case, it is the water rushing over the rocks that creates the sound that Berry says is singing and the silent stream with no impediments is life without song or achievement. I have been a big fan of Wendell Berry for some time and I connect with his view of humanity through nature.

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