Absolutely wonderful. I think Jan and I love the same lines, which continue, "your white sands, green hills and fresh fish. Shine the lamp on it like the fresh hope of morning, and keep staring at it till you sleep." This morning I woke, went to the bathroom, couldn't understand why there was a spider web across the door (there was!) and a few minutes later a very large spider on the floor. I was horrified and disposed of the spider. Actually this scary moment was, I think now, a kind of paradise. How fortunate I was to have this experience (although it ended badly for the spider, I must say). I will think about him (or her) all day in the fresh hope of morning that I am given rare moments such as this one.
You ask such good questions. Paradise can be unexpected, frightening even and in this case web-sticky. Throws us off balance. And yet here we are, still alive, open to new encounters, examinations, coming close to things unknown and hitherto unseen. Finding different places in the universe, our understanding wider.
Lovely imagery! And a good reminder that the inner paradise is more easily accessed when you withdraw into quietude. The "portable paradise" line reminded me also of a similar bit of Yogananda's: "To work without the peace of God is Hades, and to work with God’s happiness ever bubbling in the soul is to carry a useable, portable Paradise within you wherever you go."
Great poem! Thanks for sharing it with us, Phyllis. I love all of it, but particularly "empty your paradise onto a desk..." (what a great image!).
I have to say that MY desk does NOT look very paradisal!
The power of what we choose to focus on 👍
Thank you for this poem, which is beautiful. It makes me want to go write a poem now. :-)
Woohoo!
Absolutely wonderful. I think Jan and I love the same lines, which continue, "your white sands, green hills and fresh fish. Shine the lamp on it like the fresh hope of morning, and keep staring at it till you sleep." This morning I woke, went to the bathroom, couldn't understand why there was a spider web across the door (there was!) and a few minutes later a very large spider on the floor. I was horrified and disposed of the spider. Actually this scary moment was, I think now, a kind of paradise. How fortunate I was to have this experience (although it ended badly for the spider, I must say). I will think about him (or her) all day in the fresh hope of morning that I am given rare moments such as this one.
Can you say more about the “paradise” of this spider web moment?
You ask such good questions. Paradise can be unexpected, frightening even and in this case web-sticky. Throws us off balance. And yet here we are, still alive, open to new encounters, examinations, coming close to things unknown and hitherto unseen. Finding different places in the universe, our understanding wider.
“Web-sticky paradise.” I’m thinking there’s a poem-in-waiting in those words . . . you up for it?
Wow.....I like this - another take on coping with life's challenges.
Got my paradise tucked away, ready for whatever shows up today!😊
You a poet—did you know it?!
Lovely imagery! And a good reminder that the inner paradise is more easily accessed when you withdraw into quietude. The "portable paradise" line reminded me also of a similar bit of Yogananda's: "To work without the peace of God is Hades, and to work with God’s happiness ever bubbling in the soul is to carry a useable, portable Paradise within you wherever you go."
Ah, that portable Paradise!
I am so moved and opened by this poem. What a concept, to carry paradise with you always. Sweetness!
Isn’t the power of a poem to open us amazing?!