(for Marie)
Poems From The Porch
Daisies dancing in the rain.
Chimes ringing out their blessings.
Balm of Love healing my sorrow.
To rest in the arms of Love,
without striving,
is to trust that nothing need be done
but to receive
grace upon grace so generously pouring,
yet tenderly administered,
upon a naked heart.
Only Light,
the Light of Love,
can reveal so fully the fragile beauty
of necessary pain.
A yearning world,
appearing in dualities,
that beg for reconciliation,
is fed again and again
with the assurance that all is well.
It cannot be otherwise,
wholeness is Truth,
only appearances are deceiving.
Pain and comfort are two sides
of the One Coin.
Everything is fodder for grace,
Love’s glory emerging again and again.
Let not your heart be troubled.
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