Poems From The Porch
photo by Sophie Nengel on Unsplash.com
I come not with an empty spoon to greet the day, but with the vastness of an open heart, vulnerable and trusting, tender and innocent.
And I know that this receptive benevolence is necessary to soak up the indigo storm clouds and the excited wind, the delicate hibiscus blossoms and the shy purslane.
The risk of injury is only imagined, for no stray judgment about the rightness of All That Is can do any damage to the purity of soul; no armor can really defend a naked heart because the threat is only illusory.
Pain is a gift of love to all who dare to live fully and without borders.
So I arrive in this moment,
not with some small container or puny utensil,
but as a clear channel of receiving and giving,
every cell vibrating in eager anticipation.
Here I am!
Beloved, pour out your honey.
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