Art by Amanda Cass
Category Archives: Poetry
There is a place within that cannot be destroyed by flood or fire, by bloodthirsty armies or devastating illness— it this untouchable essence of us that quakes with irrepressible light and bears the intolerable weight of all that must be felt to awaken. When I first remembered myself after surgery, my own name strange, both of my breasts removed— I did not feel loss nor grief, but a love so ferocious it rolled through me like thunder, bringing healing rain. After that, came a knowing of my own wholeness beyond any story, beyond any dismemberment— this revelation of our luminous body that remains intact in spite of all of our sacred shatterings. And yes, now the landscape is unrecognizable— yes, now, there is no old path to go back to— yes, now there is the quivering arrow of this moment piercing the heart— the illusion of invulnerability stripped away, laid bare to this truth. And so it is. And so we are. Before I came to this life, I was shown this world from the distant shores of it— and in that moment, I saw the full arc of my days here, the exquisite range of this embodied dreaming. Oh how beautiful, I cried. Oh how terrible. Oh—This terrible beauty. And the angel who guided me simply pointed and nodded, and said—Yes.
Poem by Laura Weaver
Source: Toko-pa
Street Artist ~ unknown
“Where do I live? If I had no address, as many people do not, I could nevertheless say that I lived in the same town as the lilies of the field, and the still waters. Spring, and all through the neighborhood now there are strong men tending flowers. Beauty without purpose is beauty without virtue. But all beautiful things, inherently, have this function – to excite the viewers toward sublime thought. Glory to the world, that good teacher. Among the swans there is none called the least, or the greatest. I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed. As for the body, it is solid and strong and curious and full of detail; it wants to polish itself; it wants to love another body; it is the only vessel in the world that can hold, in a a mix of power and sweetness: words, song, gesture, passion, ideas, ingenuity, devotion, merriment, vanity, and virtue. Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.” ~Mary Oliver
ON THIS DAY .. May you fall madly in love this year .. in love with someone who unhinges your tired trajectory, in love with a spouse of several years who might be aching for lightning, in love with demanding children and crazy relatives .. in love with the particular pedigree of genius insanity that has perhaps claimed you in spite of your reluctance .. and certainly in love with an animal, a cloud, a redwood, the wild .. these at least once a day. May you fall in love with this fragile jewel of a world, with hard work, real learning, just causes, petitioning and prayers. May you fall in love with wonder itself, with the grand mystery, with all that feeds you in order that you may live .. and with the responsibility that that confers. May you fall in love with heartbreak and seeing how it’s stitched into everything. May you fall in love with the natural order of things and with tears, tenderness and humility. May this be a magnificent year for you. May you fall deeply, madly, hopelessly, inextinguishably in love. ~Poetry by Rachelle Lamb
Artwork: Jackie Morris
Source ~ Poetess
Love this video based on a poem by Max Stossel. A good reminder to slow down and be in the moment… You never know what you might be missing.
“I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable, beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings.” ~Mary Oliver, Owls and Other Fantasies: Poems and Essays
Art by Megatruh
“This place is a dream. Only a sleeper considers it real. Then death comes like dawn, and you wake up laughing at what you thought was your grief.” ~Rumi
Art by Yuko Rabbit
“The time has come to turn your heart into a temple of fire. Your essence is gold hidden in dust. To reveal its splendor you need to burn in the fire of love.” ~Rumi
Art by Robby
“Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.” ~Rumi
Art by Amy Sol
“Something big is coming. It’s still a secret, but arriving everywhere. The atmosphere is charged with longing and searching. The pilgrims and the mystery-lovers know. They are gathering now. The sound of prayer drifts across the dawn. It’s Muslim, Jew, Christian All mingled All religions All this singing One Song. The differences are just illusion and vanity. The sunlight looks a little different on this wall Than it does on that. And a lot different on this other one. But it’s still one light. We have borrowed these clothes These time and place personalities From a Light. And when we praise, We’re pouring them back in.” ~ Rumi
Art by Ronald Feghali
Under The Blue Door 