
A good poem invites us to slow down and reflect on what is truly important. Is there a poem you've read that inspired you to live more simply, healthily, and wisely? Why do you resonate with this piece of poetic writing?
Do remember to indicate in your comment the poet's name and link to the resource!
May you shine with happiness,
Erin
Curator, niàn
It's been way too long that I realized it's been the habit energies that held me back. Finally,
"I walked down another street."
Autobiography In Five Short Chapters | Portia Nelson
I I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk I fall in. I am lost … I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes me forever to find a way out.
II I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in the same place but, it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
III I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in … it’s a habit. my eyes are open I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.
IV I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
V I walk down another street.
Source: https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/autobiography-in-five-short-chapters-portia-nelson/
This a poem I wrote in 2021 and reminded myself again recently as the mind becomes increasingly cluttered in the past 2 weeks. Taking time to be quiet sometimes isn't a luxury, but quite necessary. :)
I Keep Quiet
For two years, I learn to be quiet I must confess it was not a spiritual quest It was myself I feared I, who had forgotten honesty, just so I could impress
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What is truth I really cannot see The emotions we cage The dramas we stage A show specially for me
I see the gushing pain in the heart Longing to be heard Spreading like poison in the blood And it was better I didn’t speak Till I was sure it wasn’t drama I seek
I had to listen; I can’t figure it out Too angry, too jealous, too proud? Quiet was the only way out.
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Before I know it, quiet became a habit Listening too Acknowledging pain Watching the pain And self-love too
As pain dissolves in the love The fear shall too
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Now pain comes and goes as usual It’s ok. It’s free It’s less likely to lunge wildly at people that disagree
Occasionally it still lunges at me Then “shh”.. be quiet Listen and see For it fades on its own when it’s not disowned It likes to know that it is known
In the quiet You will see
The homecoming dramas (for the past month) had not been easy, especially now that I am living a vegan life which I had been practising for the past 12 months. Thanks to this poem that I chanced upon to remind me WHY I had chosen to commence my journey of mindful living.
THE JOURNEY
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,......
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determine to save
the only life you could save.
- Mary Oliver
Source: https://cls.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3019/2016/11/Poetry-and-Videos-2017.pdf
I was recently reminded of this poem, that perhaps instead of safe space, we create a brave space together, to navigate the messiness that is life. AN INVITATION TO A BRAVE SPACE
Together we will create brave space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world.
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow. W
e have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But It will be our brave space together,
And we will work on it side by side.
- Micky Scottbey Jones
Source: https://www.grossmont.edu/faculty-staff/participatory-governance/student-success-and-equity/_resources/assets/pdf/brave-space-poem.pdf
Nothing stays, everything goes. Grasping restlessly, never ending pursue. When will the eternal rest comes, no one knows.
This is the Morning Verse for Happiness by TNH that I will recite everyday.
"Waking up this morning I smile.
I have twenty-four hours to live.
I vow to live them deeply
and learn to look at the beings around me
with the eyes of compassion."
Source: No Mud, No Lotus. The Art of Transforming Suffering.
Here's a piece of writing that I love. Given that I've been rather harsh to myself all my life, I make a point to bring lightness into every moment of my practice.
“It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days…Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me…to throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling…”
– Aldous Huxley, Island
Source: https://wordsfortheyear.com/2016/07/02/its-dark-because-you-are-trying-too-hard-huxley/
This is a poem by Kaveri Patel that got me tearing up the first time I read it. It reminds of how I had neglected myself before, and the moments of transformation I felt when I found my practice.
Dear you, You who always have so many things to do so many places to be your mind spinning like fan blades at high speed each moment always a blur because you’re never still.
I know you’re tired. I also know it’s not your fault. The constant brain-buzz is like a swarm of bees threatening to sting if you close your eyes. You’ve forgotten something again. You need to prepare for that or else. You should have done that differently.
What if you closed your eyes? Would the world fall apart without you? Or would your mind become the open sky flock of thoughts flying across the sunrise as you just watched and smiled.
by Kaveri Patel
Source: https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/dear-you-kaveri-patel/