For Mike
Poems From The Porch
photo by Annika Treial on Unsplash.com
To expect a wild horse not to buck a rider is clearly unreasonable.
To think that a dog would not bark when he sees a snake is equally silly.
What else might we say?
There are so many examples.
To call a lion bad because she chases and consumes her prey is to deny the rightness of her inherent nature.
Given the abundant data that is evident in history, it seems that humans are hijacked by their own attachments and aversions, and therefore act unskillfully at times.
To assume that it would be otherwise seems folly.
It is also apparent that many humans aspire to a higher standard, albeit impossible to sustain.
Rather than judging ourselves as flawed, might we marvel at the beauty of the design?
Instead of feeling ourselves unworthy of grace, might we get lost in awe and appreciation of the mind-blowing complexity of life?
There will be egomaniacs, and there will be saints.
In each moment, we are doing the best we can with the knowledge we have; which means that we will all be selfish at times.
How might our experience of life be different if we simply embraced ourselves as we are and said, “Thank you?”
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