Poems From The Porch
I planted one zinnia seed, and in less than a month, its stalk has grown six inches.
Every day its momentum is evident.
A woodpecker is drilling expectantly this morning.
He is looking within as the zinnia stalk reaches without.
They are both seeking sustenance — one from the light, the other from the dark places.
This reminds me that within the dark womb of emptiness, the light of beingness is born.
Light and dark are both without substance, yet they are integral to the process of becoming —
my process, your process.
Does it hurt the tree when the woodpecker bores into it?
It seems that pain is necessary, if not comfortable.
I want to remember this when I am being nourished by the darkness.
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 truths to 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