Poems From The Porch
So often I have failed to recognize You,
Breath of my breath,
for I have
been enchanted by your love notes
left unashamedly all around me
in the beauty of the Earth
and the comforts of my home;
been distracted by the things that are mine to do each day,
absorbed in the necessary duties
and passionate endeavors.
And You,
I have cherished when it is convenient
or it has served my purposes,
looked for you in some abstraction
or theological concept.
Would that I might recognize You every day
where you have hidden Yourself so unobtrusively
in the face of each person I encounter
and so treat You with the reverence
You deserve.
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