Poems From The Porch
The air is full of sound today– –
bluejay, meadowlark, and mockingbird.
Upright and supple, the young magnolia tree is standing in contrast to the powder blue sky.
Her leaves are the color of my bedroom walls.
Nearby, a gnarly elder is preparing to bud,
his arthritic limbs bare, but strong.
He is offering a place of refuge to a stark, red cardinal.
The brown and white paint horse is grazing leisurely in the bright morning sun.
Nibbling and nudging, he selects the tastiest morsels.
Stubbs, the cat, is sitting quietly on the rustic wood table at my elbow,
and Fozzy and Petey, some of his friends, are snuggled up like a soft and warm blanket on my lap.
Petey is purring, while Fozzy smiles up from her contented black face. Her eyes glow neon when she chances a peek.
Now Stubbs is rumbling his deep purr
as he attempts to find his place amidst the cuddles.
Sadness is present,
a longing for who is missing.
Denial is here, too,
yet the evidence of my senses convicts me.
Gratitude and awe are inviting hope,
and, like my mature tree neighbor,
I feel like I am preparing to bud.
In the meantime, I'd like to be a place of refuge, too.
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
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