sit, watch, and wait, while
the Universe explains the
scene unfolding, and
the mystery within, as
one moment becomes the next.
In response to the WDYS #76 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
Tanka #10
Tag Archives: .poetry
Gift
Sitting, I ponder the nature of our
existence. Quiet mind, not a noise found
anywhere, silent, stillness, and so much
brilliance.
It fills my entire being with joy, of such
immenseness, at times it’s hard to actually
say more than this.
And, the more I learn, in fact, it seems
it’s in the saying less where we find out
what’s best.
It feels like it’s taken me an eternity to learn
this truth. Yet, it’s really only been one moment
since I was just a youth.
Time is funny that way, wouldn’t you say?
Long and drawn out in times of great stress,
or when we are simply unsure how to handle
life’s continuous tests.
And,
Short and awfully quick, in times when we
are in a hurry, rushing from here to there,
without even giving the scenery a second stare.
There is a third way, however, to see and experience,
all that surrounds you. It’s seen when we slow down,
and are present to each moment,
caring for them as if they were the only gift
that could possibly prevent our descent.
Friends (Repost)
I am reposting this poem, as it was just accepted into Spillwords!
I saw you
That first time
From across
The playground,
Though there were
So many people around,
You
Sure did stand out
They called me shy
Back then,
So as our eyes met,
I turned on my heel
In fret
Of the unknown, which
You conjured
In, my, then
Burgeoning
Imagination
And, the anticipation
Of our first real
Meeting, which
Filled me
With so many
Strange
And never
Felt before feelings
Of mystery
Inside my own
Young history
And, when you did
Approach?
I started for the door,
And you captured
My hand, and
Said, don’t
Be afraid, your
Safe with me
In the shade, of
Our first encounter
And, oh, what a joy
I did feel,
As my heart sped,
And then so did
My head
With thoughts of fancy,
And love
At first sight,
You were such a delight-
-ful being, grace and
Composure, a rock on
My shoulder, countenance
And magic
All rolled into one
For I did shelter in your
Embrace,
For many a year,
Through storms and triumphs,
All given with such grace
And composure
Even through
The most
Difficult
Exposure
To pain,
You were always
At my side, rain or
Shine,
I never did fear
You would slide away
Or hide come what may
Why?
Because you were
The first,
For all the rest
Were measured against,
My true love,
And first real friend
Witness
Journey with me, if you will, a trip
down an unknown street, and into an
unknown land filled with mystery and confusion,
it is a gift of life’s perfusion.
In one hand we can hold, if we are so bold,
this conundrum. A hidden balance, scales
moving back and forth in a dance that requires
special attention to see it’s worn out portension.
It’s like that often, and yet, most can only
hold the one view, a blow to soften.
The myriad of challenges and disappointments
that are part of the movement, seen and unseen,
just like in a dream. How do we then find our preen?
Practice makes the dance more noticeable
to the senses, yes, and also to the part of ourselves
that creates balance between
sensibility and our inner tranquility.
There is much that can be learned from within,
if we learn to quiet our mind, and sit in stillness,
thus becoming a silent witness.
A Blogger’s Diary 4/4/21: On Writing, Reflecting, Travel, and Connection
This past week, I’ve been reflecting upon connection. How we are all connected to each other, yes, and to everything else we see. All of it. Quite beautiful.
Before I write more about connection, let’s take a look at a couple reflections from this past week, and a few ideas I have for next week. Sound good? Okay, here we go.
Writing
This past week, I’ve continued to write quite a bit of poetry. It just happens like that sometimes; and, of late, there’s been much more poetry within me. Fun.
Tanka #9
The Tanka #9 poem, occurred to me one day after meditation. Well, in fact, the concepts found in the poem occur to me all the time these days. That is, existence, and the connection we all have to each other and all that surrounds us.
We have the idea that we are separate, due to socialization and the creation of the ego-self. The separateness we feel, however, is illusory. Not real. Reality lives behind and beyond the concepts we hold of ourselves and all that we see. Beautiful.
Heed
The poem Heed, is a reflection, in part, on my sensitivity; which I’ve written about before, in the post, The Paradox and Gift of Being A Highly Sensitive Person: Clear and Strong, Not Hurt and Damaged.
I didn’t understand my own sensitivity for most of my life. In fact, my sensitivity was something I ran from in many ways. When you are a highly sensitive person and unaware, the world feels more frightening and incomprehensible. The paradox?
When you are a highly sensitive person and aware, the world feels more, well, like you, beautiful, strong, and very comprehensible. Being a highly sensitive person is a true gift.
Travel
Well, in my diary entry last week, I wrote about being on the waitlist for the vaccine; and, I now have an appointment next Friday, which means I will be fully vaccinated by early May.
Now, as many of you know, my whole family lives in Los Angeles, California, where I lived the majority of my life; and, I have a niece graduating from high school this year. The question? Yep, you guessed it; do I travel? Not sure? Me either.
Instead of thinking about the choice, I looked at flights, and found that the quarantine policy for traveling into LA County is still in place, which means that when you are traveling into the County from out of state you must quarantine for 10 days.
I could not find a single resource on the flight booking site, nor on the CDC website about traveling once fully vaccinated. So? I called the LA County Public Health Department. The person that answered the phone was super nice, and, to my question, replied, that’s a good question. They didn’t know the answer either.
The LA County employee that helped me is going to do some research and call me back. Thus, my choice on traveling to LA remains, for now, on hold.
Connection
This past week, we had our remote Spring Instructor Forum. These forum’s are a chance for our Community Education Instructors to get to see each other, and to interact with us. In the Community Education program we have over 200 instructors, and they live all over the area, so this is one way we stay connected.
As I prepared my small talk with the Instructors, I pondered this past year, the current year, and the upcoming year. And? What occurred to me was that, yes, so much has changed this past year, and more changes will come.
Yet, one thing that will not change is the connection we have with each other, which is why I am calling next fiscal year (2021/22), The Year of Continued Connection.
There will always be change, and, in many ways, change is wonderful. Terribly hard at times, yes, and also beautiful.
Though we have no idea what the rest of this year will bring, we know that our relationships are strong, and that they will endure through whatever change comes our way. We have proven this this past year.
I’ve written many posts about relationships and connection. I always say, there’s nothing more important than the relationship we have with ourselves, and with those people we surround ourselves with.
Everything starts with us. And, when you have a quality connection with yourself, you will have quality connections with others.
I’ll leave you this week, with two quotes I shared with the Community Education Instructors this past week, as I think they speak very well to the value of connection.
“I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be… This is the interrelated structure of reality.” Martin Luther King Jr
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Brené Brown
habits for well being
Alright, that’s all for now.
Have a beautiful coming week.
Heed
At times I am filled with such deep
Emotion, it’s like my body has stopped
Working and the commotion running through
Me isn’t being sifted, instead I’m being through the
Heavens lifted.
An entirely different plane fills me, and I wonder
What it all means. Just for a second though,
as the tide turns, and the emotion that’s run through me
Is turning the corner, looking for more stormy weather
Out at sea.
The clouds open up, the lightning flashes, and
The thunder rumbles, and the depths pull at me
With such vigor, I become perplexed, and do not
Dither.
Instead I move with the dance, allowing it to cast
Me as is willed. Knowing that the play’s still playing,
And the last act’s not retiring, nay, still moving onto
Another scene, and I start praying.
Softly, silently, asking for guidance, knowing that
It’s always been there, and will forevermore be clear.
Even on stormy days, when the weather continues
On it’s own way, and we continue to play, and, to not
Be led astray.
Be all that you may, my dear, and let life fill you
As needed. It’s all we can do at times, just be, and let
Your soul heed it.
Stability
What lives inside the expected,
Is a river of gold so long for the road,
People often mistake it for their own abode.
When we think we know, we wander into
The scene with a predisposition toward
Contriteness, and not so much politeness.
We get stuck inside our own heads, leaving
Our heart in another’s hands. Walking away from
Heart is sure to give you a start, and a prodding
So don’t be beguiled, nay, keep trotting.
Movement is key, even when we are not
In the scene. We set our course with intention
Of course, and then let loose the heart we’ve been
Waiting for, which is our Source.
Times at an end, my friend, unleash all that is inside
You. Be not afraid of the things lurking in the dark,
For they’re not going to persuade you from your mark.
Even if for a time they chance a succession of events
That causes your mind to spin, be sure to let go
And untether your grin.
And, be at peace with the unexpected. Around every
Twist and turn know there’s a chance for more
Connected pieces. We pick them up as we go, don’t wait
Just recalibrate, and walk into the scene with a fresh
Sense of humility.
For it’s inside of the unexpected, where we can
find tranquility and our own sense
of pliability and stability.
In response to the Saturday RDP Unexpected, by Punam.
Haiku #15
sun rises slow, I
breathe in the last of night, and
wait, the sky aflame.
Unseen
As I close my eyes to the sky,
and breathe in deep, it occurs to me
that time as we understand it has stopped
belaboring me, while the vastness before me
unfolds and expands with a specialness that will
withstand all contrivances that the mind has planned.
Disrupting the pattern created over millennia,
I watch silently, as the breath moves in and out of
my body, and my heart slows down, to match the
hidden, and ever so mysterious criteria.
Listen and believe in the unseen, for even when
in doubt you can be sure that there is clout and
integrity in the system of stars and constellations that
remains, at times, hidden, yet always smitten.
And at others, it’s all we can do to catch a glimpse
of that magical consideration, and watch
as the dance of the cosmos plays out,
and all our dreams come about.
Believe, I say, in the unseen, and dream big right
into that emptiness, knowing all the while that
that vastness is where all of life’s
greatest gifts are awaiting your
focused attention, and future
dissemination.
In response to the WDYS #75 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
Tanka #9
ponder existence,
contemplate and meditate
on the nature that
surrounds you, while moving in
the silent dance of intrigue
and one imagination.
Develop. Inspire. Transform. 