I saw you and became empty.
This emptiness, more beautiful than existence,
it obliterates existence, and yet when it comes,
existence thrives and creates more existence.
To praise is to praise
how one surrenders to the emptiness.
To praise the sun is to praise your own eyes.
Praise, the ocean. What we say, a little ship.
So the sea-journey goes on, and who knows where?
Just to be held by the ocean is the best luck
we could have. It is a total waking-up.
Why should we grieve that we have been sleeping?
It does not matter how long we've been unconscious.
We are groggy, but let the guilt go.
Feel the motions of tenderness
around you, the bouyancy.
Rumi
I don't know why this poem by Rumi is just right for me today, but it is. Sometimes I feel that I've been sleeping, unconscious, and then experience that total waking up. Japan's upheaval had that effect on me. Bless them all. In his compassion, Rumi counsels not guilt about our sleeping but tenderness towards ourselves.
Bouyancy is a gift.
I don't know why this poem by Rumi is just right for me today, but it is. Sometimes I feel that I've been sleeping, unconscious, and then experience that total waking up. Japan's upheaval had that effect on me. Bless them all. In his compassion, Rumi counsels not guilt about our sleeping but tenderness towards ourselves.
Bouyancy is a gift.
I thought you'd written this until I reached the end with Rumi's name. He's the poet of the year right now.
ReplyDeleteOh yes!
ReplyDeleteC.G. I wish! Imagine a 13th century poet still so relevant.
ReplyDeleteRosaria, That's what I said when I read it.
It surely put things in perspective, didn't it?
ReplyDeleteWonderful words.
And what a beautiful picture at the end. I too am needing something to soothe my soul after all that is happening in our world. Thank you for this poem.
ReplyDeleteNanny, Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDJan, The photo is from our balcony. Poetry can soothe like nothing else.