Saturday, June 6, 2009

Be Quiet

There was a time many years ago that I was reading A Gradual Awakening, by Stephen Levine. I loved the idea of trying to stop that gnat-like voice in my head and just be in the moment. Try it, it’s not an easy thing to do. I’m not even sure it’s possible, completely.

But what I learned was that through trying to accomplish this, I found that there was a new level of awareness. This particular awareness only happened to me once but I’ll never forget it.

I was alone, waiting for a customer to come in to my mother’s ice cream store. I was sitting in a director’s chair reading this book and putting myself into this other level of consciousness.

Three women came in talking and laughing, paying no attention to me, and I felt like I almost floated over to the counter. All of a sudden one of the women slowly turned to face me and our eyes locked. She recognized me, saw me, and connected with me, though we had never seen each other before. I can’t say anything else about it except that she got it. A word never passed between us. She smiled and nodded.

It was a wonderfully, weird experience.

All that being said, when I saw Dan’s picture on Pictures, Poetry, & Prose of the lighted candles, this is what came to mind.

Photo by Dan Felstead

Go outside. Stand still. Be quiet.

Can you feel them?
The wishes, the dreams, and prayers
Wafting in the air around you
Gently lifted on the wings of wind.

Can you hear them?
The cares, the worries, and concerns
Fretting through the branches of trees
Trying to find a way.

Can you see them?
The tears of sadness
Passing you on the street
Dropping like rain.

Can you sense them?
The smiles of the heart
That passes from one to another
Illuminated like the sun.

Can you imagine them?
Thoughts swirling loosely past
In you, through you, and around you
Filling the air with life.

9 comments:

septembermom said...

I absolutely love this poem! Beautifully written :) Thought provoking post, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post. I agree with the comment above-- the poem is beautiful and beautifully written.

amuse me said...

Beautiful poem.

Also, thanks for posting on Six-Word Caption -- please, please feel free to tell all your friends and family to check it out and come up with captions. I would love to have this take off and watch creativity soar. :) M

Scriptor Senex said...

That meeting of eyes with a stranger happened once when I was about eighteen and crossing a busy road. A girl walking the other way looked into my eyes and we carried on looking into each other's eyes, turning and looking back at each other as we continued walking. We both smiled and that was it. I'd never seen her before or since but we sure connected. A most special experience and great to find womone who has had something similarly memorable happen.

GingerV said...

Yes! very nice blog and even better poem.

Lisa said...

I just happened to visit this morning and am so glad I did! Your poem and blog are beautiful and I thank you for sharing! I am now a follower of yours and look forward to reading your future posts.

Dan Felstead said...

WOW! Shabbygirl...
You hit this one out of the park! The story and the poem are really something to remember. This is a great way to start the week...thanks for the wonderful use of my photo.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Shabbygirl...
Congrats on the PPP win today. As I said earlier...well deserved. Nice one.

Dan

shabby girl said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Flora & Fauna

Books I have known & loved

  • Life of Pi
  • A Hundred Years of Solitude
  • Kite Runner
  • The Way the Crow Flies
  • Fall on Your Knees
  • Poisonwood Bible
  • East of Eden
  • Shantaram
  • I Know This Much is True

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