Poems From The Porch
photo by Silvan Schuppisser on Unsplash.com
Late July and a noteworthy breeze is blowing, it’s coolness an unusual contrast to the natural humidity of the South.
Sahara dust haze is filtering the morning rays creating an eggshell-colored sky.
The birds are uncharacteristically silent, and it feels like a hurricane is approaching, though none is present on the horizon.
I am grateful for the breeze and the melody of the chimes.
There is magic in the air.
The gift of this day is the spaciousness of nothing required, a sabbath time of rest and play.
So I am rocking the onyx kitten, who is purring his affection, kissing his furry face, and reveling in our soft love;
and I am struck by the fact that this is his home as much as it is mine, and that I am simply one of his companions on our shared journey.
In this place, at this time, we are traveling together in a moment of the Eternal Now.
How might my experience of this world be different if I viewed each being simply as my fellow traveler?
Would I take their unskillful behavior personally, have so many expectations, or see their presence as an imposition when I am tired?
I have chosen to feed the young feline because I like having him around, and I wonder, if I didn’t offer that sustenance, would he ever visit?
Do we not also feed one another in human relationships and so stick around for more bread?
I know that there are times when no food is offered, yet we stay as if stranded in the desert.
The truth is, however, that we are fed as we offer nourishment from the Internal Spring that never runs dry.
Only our self-referencing and self-cherishing can impede the flow.
So our perpetual invitation, never urgent, but always beckoning, is to tap in, let go, and allow the Living Water to flow.
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