Anyone else like poetry?

These first two poems are by Rumi, a Persian poet who lived in the 1200's. They give me courage.

The first one, "Guest House," is comforting when I'm contending with symptoms that come and go, and at times seem overwhelming.


*Guest House*

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

***********************************


The next poem, "Come, Come," is a beautiful affirmation for those of us who feel somewhat "broken" by our peri experiences, or are harboring any guilts or shames about our pasts - reminding us that we are still valuable and loved and needed.

*Come, Come*

Come, come, whoever you are!
Wonderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.
It doesn't matter.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vow
a thousand times
Come, yet again, come, come.

********************************


Finally, a poem by Mary Oliver called "Wild Geese," that many of you may already know. I like what it has to say about accepting oneself, and one's unique place in the world.

*Wild Geese*

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

********************************


How I love that poem! Sometimes when I'm feeling very lost and alone, I remember that somewhere a wild goose is winging high in the sky, living its dignified, solitary life. Somehow, I feel connected to it, and that's so comforting.

I'd love if you'd share some poems that help you cope with peri, or with any difficult situation.



JJ

JJ, I love poetry too, and the poems you posted are so meaningful. I'm a big fan of Mary Oliver too, and Wild Geese is one of my favorites. Here's a poem by David Wagoner that I recently found, and it's beauty and message really sang to me -- especially the last line. Love it!


LOST by David Wagoner

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you,
If you leave it you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

Wow, Red,

Just in the course of reading that, it's become a favorite new poem, and there are several people I'll be sending it to.

It's lovely.

Thanks so much for sharing.

JJ

JJ, I absolutely LOVE Rumi and another Sufi Mystic (Kabir). There are a lot of his/their poems in Jon Kabat-Zinn's, "Coming to Our Senses". Another favorite Mindfulness book is "A Path With Heart", which inspires me like nothing else I have ever read. The poems you have posted are all favorites of mine, and I thank you for putting them in front of me this morning. Now, here's another one for you and the other "sisters" on this board.

Kindness
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.

-Naomi Shihab Nye

What a beautiful, beautiful poem...

The tears are running down my face....This is so amazing!

Thank you so much for sharing this Aviano (and what a beautiful name)

I would just love to frame this...beautiful and so true!!!!

(((((Hugs))))
Lynda

Hi Che Che:
You're entirely welcome. It is my absolute favorite. I get a lump in my throat every time I read it as well.
Love,
Avi

Avi,

It is beautiful! In fact, I am going over to print it out right now...

Many thanks, and (((HUGS)))

JJ

Thank you all for posting these poems. Rumi is also one of my favorite writers. Funny, how when all the physical and emotional symptoms are accepted, I'm still left with this need for more spiritual understanding. The same need I had when I was in my 20s, before the day to day of taking care of a family took over my life. It was kind of shocking and scary at first. But now I'm realizing that slowing down, and thinking about our place and contribution is ok. It will help make us all "wise women."

Avi, that poem also had me in tears. In my corporate working world, we rarely take the time to express the truth, even though we are all human.

Interesting (boy am I philosophical this morning).

Rendy,

I agree 100%.

Also, in my late teens/early 20's, I, too, was on a spiritual quest. Then as you say, came the daily busy-ness of family and career. Now, as our children have grown, there is time to reflect again.

Really appreciate having you sisters to consider all this with, AND to share the daily difficulties of living with peri.

(((HUGS)))

JJ

Really? Wow. When I was in my teens/early 20's, I was only interested in guys and clothes and the latest haircut! Then, when I divorced my husband at age 31, the cycle began again, LOL.

Spiritualism came late in life for me. I had a severe childhood and think that's why I just wanted to have fun (hard to really do when you live in a depression hangover from childhood) and not look too deeply at anything.

And being in such an awful life situation right now, it is so HARD to think there is anything "out there" to connect to. It all just seems like a collossal joke.

But the poems are ALL great. Thanks.