"Poems, Prayers, & Promises" #22

Featuring Suheir Hammad and Naoko Yoshino

Aug 30, 2023

Welcome to another day of “Poems, Prayers, & Promises”

Remember, you’re the co-creator of this dive. Do as much or as little as you’d like, when you’d like, how you’d like, with the materials I provide. Just keep gentle faith with yourself.

Registered yet for “Rafter Refuge”?

September 5, 6:30-8:00PM Central (7:30 ET, 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT)

As we approach the close of “Poems, Prayers, & Promises,” please register for our final sharing time on Zoom. We’ll reflect together on our experience of this Deep Dive. Please bring something brief to contribute to the free-flowing gathering, such as . . .

“shimmering words” from a poem that especially resonated with you
an insight that broke into your awareness
an excerpt from something you wrote
a promise you made to yourself that you want to speak aloud . . .

☀️ Registration is required for this celebration.

Set your intention

Take a moment to name the primary intention you have for this month-long deep dive and/or this particular session. Take a quiet moment to center yourself in that intention.

Enter the music

Read the poem

I invite you to read this poem twice—aloud, at least once. You may also listen to my reading of the poem (below), perhaps with your eyes closed.

1×

0:00

-1:02

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published


TALISMAN
Suheir Hammad

it is written
the act of writing is
holy words are
sacred and your breath
brings out the
god in them
i write these words
quickly repeat them
softly to myself
this talisman for you
fold this prayer
around your neck fortify
your back with these
whispers
may you walk ever
loved and in love
know the sun
for warmth the moon
for direction
may these words always
remind you your breath
is sacred words
bring out the god
in you


(found at this link)

Contemplate/Create

Use any of these questions however you wish—e.g., as openings for meditation or prayer, as prompts for journaling or poetry-writing, as sparks for drawing or painting, as catalysts for change-making . . . You may also ignore my questions altogether to go off in other directions!

Do you have a “talisman” of some sort—an object that you carry or possess that you consider lucky or sacred? If so, reflect on its significance to you.
This poem invites us to consider that words themselves—poems, prayers, promises, and more—can be talismans. To put it another way, words have immense power. Written words. Spoken words. Words that are heard and received. Even words that are ignored have energy . . . Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced the power of words.
In what way(s) is the act of your own writing “holy”? Do you value your own words as “sacred”?
Do you ever speak aloud what you’ve written? How does that act “bring out the god” in your words?
How willing are you to share with someone else the words that you bring forth from deep inside yourself?
What words of others (e.g., a poem, a quote) do you keep close because “they remind you your breath / is sacred”? That you matter?
Does your consideration of this poem move you to make any kind of promise to yourself or someone else?

Want to visit with other Rafters in the Deep Dive?

Here are two options: either leave a comment on this post using the button, or join the chat thread dedicated to this Deep Dive. (Note: if you haven’t created a Substack profile yet, you’ll be asked to do so before you can comment or chat.)

Join us on September 5 for “Rafter Refuge”!

6:30-8:00PM Central (7:30 ET, 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT)

Let’s close this Deep Dive with a time of sharing. Come and reflect with other Rafters on “Poems, Prayers, & Promises.” Registration is required for this celebration.