Poems From The Porch
Coffee prayer in the morning,
front porch or side?
How to choose when every detail of the earth is so enchanting?
Choice made by the wind,
and here I sit entranced
by its caress of the trees and the heavy trailing vines,
adorned with jasmine so sweet and fragrant.
The world in motion,
in contrast to my outward stillness,
reminds me that my heart is steadily beating,
and my blood is coursing
with millions of molecules of metabolism.
No, my body is not still,
yet I feel so calm;
life in all its paradoxes.
Reconciliation is in seeing the both/and of everything,
how singularity and multiplicity
live together in a cosmic dance of Oneness.
Day follows night,
each known by the existence of the other.
Where does one start and the other end?
So it is with me and you.
Engaging With The Poem
Poetry can be a doorway to the soul and your own creativity. Throughout the ages, the written word has been used as a means to access personal truth and as a vehicle for prayer through the practice of sacred reading (lectio divina). I encourage you to try this beautiful practice and let its fruits be self-evident.
How to Practice Sacred Reading
READ
REFLECT
RESPOND
REST
Read the passage through slowly more than once, noticing how it feels in your body and the response of your heart.
Reflect: What word resonates with you? What phrase speaks to you?
What overall personal meaning comes to you? Allow yourself to follow a tangent.
Respond by making space for the prayer of your heart to manifest. Write down the words and/or phrases that resonate with you and allow them to arrange themselves into your own poem or prayer.
Rest with your eyes closed, perhaps using the word that most resonates with you as your mantra for silent meditation.
Dear friend,
May your mind be peaceful and calm,
may your body be relaxed and comfortable,
and may your heart be filled with love.
Thank you for reading.
Blessings and gratitude,
Ani