This is an excerpt from today’s “North of the Tension Line from J. F. Riordan” :
“We are here to see * * family, but chose this time very specifically to remove ourselves from the minute speculation and premature prognostications that no one can seem to resist on election night. I have learned how to watch the polls from my husband, but apparently most news organizations either have not, or choose not to acknowledge what they know. So let me offer a tiny bit of amateur advice for your own sanity: 1) Ignore the exit polls. 2) Early percentages of returns before all the precincts are in are meaningless. If you don’t know which precincts lean toward which candidate, and which particular areas have been counted, you cannot rely on a lead for your candidate when only a percentage of the vote is in. 3) The early votes from the east coast may offer hopeful indications, but everything can change with the time zones.
So. Since the craziness is about to commence, here’s a happy little trip down * puppy memory lane. Enjoy. Relax. Eat a brownie. Watch a happy movie (no dystopian dramas tonight). Once you have participated to the best of your ability, it’s out of your hands. Let it go. There will be time to process it all in the morning.“
* her reference to puppies relates to adorable photo collage of all her dogs, past & present, in her blog. 🐶
Years ago I read a word: God (Love) danced the day you were born. Some say we are called to dance with one another through our lives. I notice when I dance I feel so alive it makes me giggle as I fall down to rest.
Thank you for posting this from Pádraig Ó Tuama. I have appreciated it in the past and am grateful for your bringing it forward again, at this juncture.
By some cosmic synchronicity you seem to always chose the perfect offering for my soul, Phyllis. I was at a wake last night (funeral later today) and a dear friend said to me, that she was tired of funerals, and of anger and hatred -- that she wanted to dance and to show love, to be joyful and to celebrate life. I will bring her this poem today and she will love it and cherish it. Once again, BRAVO!!
THIS!! "I sometimes forget that / I was created for joy..." I ALWAYS forget this....some times more than others. I am seeing things online about people being very anxious about today (through January). I am going into this with my opinions and choices intact; however, the outcome will be what it is. I will still wake up each day, work, eat, read, write, wash dishes, do laundry....all of the normal things will not really change. My advice to all lovely beings is to STAY CALM AND WRITE ON!
Yes, dear Katen! The last poem presented on poetry, pick me up today, if I understood it correctly, invites us to scream and cry and rage and honor, true feelings inside, and then Acknowledge the presence of the Now, The autumn colors, the blue sky, and Mozart and Beethoven and the love of friends.
We may wonder whom can I love and serve? Where is the face of God to whom I can pray? The answer is simple. That naked one. That lonely one. That unwanted one is my brother and my sister. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Beautiful! We too are finally getting some much needed rain and it is so good to hear on the roof and the pavement. I hope the surgery goes well and you have some time to dance today.
Someone I know recently said that when they get stressed, their husband says that it must be time for a "dance break" and they put on some music and dance for several minutes. Another friend at the time said that they do this in their office when they need a break. Spotify has many "Dance Mixes" and I usually put them on when cleaning or doing other tasks around the house. As David Bowie sung - "Let's Dance"!!! Here's one, but find one that makes you want to move! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EIfumGmFpHj8i
One person's dancing that is contagious is Gurdeep Pandher. He shares messages of joy and positivity through Bhangra. If you ever need a lift, check out his videos. 🕺🏽
I copied the poem into a pretty card and brought it to my friend, handed it to her as we filed from the sanctuary after the funeral service. Because she was helping at the mercy meal at the home of the family, she was unable to open and read the card until later in the evening. When she did, she was so grateful! She loved the poem, as I knew she would, and sent me a text of gratitude "Perfect! Thank you for this good medicine, Jen!" So - thank you again Phyllis. Good medicine indeed. #Ripples#
Thank you! May we have the courage to live this joy and the wisdom to be grateful for it.
May it be so, Jerome.
Keep shining….keep dancing….keep spreading love
🙏 Let us pray for peace 🙏
This is an excerpt from today’s “North of the Tension Line from J. F. Riordan” :
“We are here to see * * family, but chose this time very specifically to remove ourselves from the minute speculation and premature prognostications that no one can seem to resist on election night. I have learned how to watch the polls from my husband, but apparently most news organizations either have not, or choose not to acknowledge what they know. So let me offer a tiny bit of amateur advice for your own sanity: 1) Ignore the exit polls. 2) Early percentages of returns before all the precincts are in are meaningless. If you don’t know which precincts lean toward which candidate, and which particular areas have been counted, you cannot rely on a lead for your candidate when only a percentage of the vote is in. 3) The early votes from the east coast may offer hopeful indications, but everything can change with the time zones.
So. Since the craziness is about to commence, here’s a happy little trip down * puppy memory lane. Enjoy. Relax. Eat a brownie. Watch a happy movie (no dystopian dramas tonight). Once you have participated to the best of your ability, it’s out of your hands. Let it go. There will be time to process it all in the morning.“
* her reference to puppies relates to adorable photo collage of all her dogs, past & present, in her blog. 🐶
** she’s in France visiting family writing this
Wise words. Thank you, Michaele. We wait, AND we dance.
*Michaele. Should be. ( auto correct mishap)
❤️
Exactly!
So wonderful, Mish! And the excerpt is all the more prescient from the vantage point of today, AFTER the election.
Years ago I read a word: God (Love) danced the day you were born. Some say we are called to dance with one another through our lives. I notice when I dance I feel so alive it makes me giggle as I fall down to rest.
Keep the dance in your feet, Lorraine!
Excellent choice for today! Tnank you.
Here is a poem from Pádraig Ó Tuama:
PRAY
So let us pick up the stones
over which we stumble, friends,
and build altars.
Let us listen to the sound of breath in our bodies.
Let us listen to the sounds of our own voices,
of our own names, of our own fears.
Let’s claw ourselves out from the graves we’ve dug.
Let’s lick the earth from our fingers.
Let us look up and out and around.
The world is big and wide and wild
and wonderful and wicked,
and our lives are murky, magnificent,
malleable, and full of meaning.
Oremus.
Let us pray.
~ Pádraig Ó Tuama
Thank you for posting this from Pádraig Ó Tuama. I have appreciated it in the past and am grateful for your bringing it forward again, at this juncture.
By some cosmic synchronicity you seem to always chose the perfect offering for my soul, Phyllis. I was at a wake last night (funeral later today) and a dear friend said to me, that she was tired of funerals, and of anger and hatred -- that she wanted to dance and to show love, to be joyful and to celebrate life. I will bring her this poem today and she will love it and cherish it. Once again, BRAVO!!
Amen, Jennifer. So sorry for the loss!
Well said.
Thank you Annette.
Bravo to the movement of spirit. And may all be well in the midst of grief, which is love with nowhere to go.
She loved the gesture. She loved the poem. She felt the love. Win win. And thank you again.
May all beings be filled with loving kindness. May all be well. May all be peaceful and at ease. May all be happy.
And yes. And now. And now. And now . . .
11-05-2024
Dear God,
Please bless America today.
Thank you,
Amen
All the world is blessed. And yet the world can be a hard place.
THIS!! "I sometimes forget that / I was created for joy..." I ALWAYS forget this....some times more than others. I am seeing things online about people being very anxious about today (through January). I am going into this with my opinions and choices intact; however, the outcome will be what it is. I will still wake up each day, work, eat, read, write, wash dishes, do laundry....all of the normal things will not really change. My advice to all lovely beings is to STAY CALM AND WRITE ON!
Following your advice, Karen. Right now, the calm is there, but no desire to write. It will return once the calm transforms to equanimity.
Yes, dear Katen! The last poem presented on poetry, pick me up today, if I understood it correctly, invites us to scream and cry and rage and honor, true feelings inside, and then Acknowledge the presence of the Now, The autumn colors, the blue sky, and Mozart and Beethoven and the love of friends.
We may wonder whom can I love and serve? Where is the face of God to whom I can pray? The answer is simple. That naked one. That lonely one. That unwanted one is my brother and my sister. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Theresa
Bless you, Wayne, for sharing this reminder from Mother Teresa.
Presence by Melissa Shaw-Smith
The year has rocked this world to its roots.
What if for one day each being put down
their burdens, their words of hate, their inhumanity
and breathed in the presence?
Stopped fighting for history, for fears, hopes, dreams
and stood facing the morning sun
letting the warmth of the moment
and the next, the next, accumulate like dust at their feet
Listened instead of spoke, acknowledged truth,
embraced silence.
What if for one day each being acknowledged the fear
and let it go? Suspended beliefs
opened their arms, drew strength
through earth, grass, rock, sand
Found the sparrow singing from a lone bush
the small heart-shaped cloud
Felt the currents of air wash over them, mingle
with the breath, and let the seams unravel
borders blend, walls dissolve
and be
one.
Working on it, Stephanie! Sunshine is a wonder-worker, as is birdsong, and breeze.
I love bird song and breeze. Thank you, Phyllis.
I felt moved to write this poem this morning: (while sitting in a surgery waiting room, ironically, if you read Alison Luterman’s poem in Rattle)
"Rain of Hope"
Light rain veils the yard
washes tension from the air
cleans dirt from yard signs
poked into hard ground, where
earth has cracked apart in places.
Today, gentle rain softens the soil,
gives life to just-planted tulip bulbs.
Each drop of water adds up,
flows together to feed the hope
of next Spring’s blossoms.
Voters today wait in line in the rain,
each vote adds up, as we collect ourselves
to move forward, finally
ending a months-long drought.
Annette Grunseth 11/05/2024 Election Day
Beautiful! We too are finally getting some much needed rain and it is so good to hear on the roof and the pavement. I hope the surgery goes well and you have some time to dance today.
Thank you for sharing your poem, Annette. I hope all is well with your daughter-in-law.
Someone I know recently said that when they get stressed, their husband says that it must be time for a "dance break" and they put on some music and dance for several minutes. Another friend at the time said that they do this in their office when they need a break. Spotify has many "Dance Mixes" and I usually put them on when cleaning or doing other tasks around the house. As David Bowie sung - "Let's Dance"!!! Here's one, but find one that makes you want to move! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EIfumGmFpHj8i
Wonderful! I plan to use that playlist. Thank you, Katharina!
Me, too !!! I will dance with a broom.
One person's dancing that is contagious is Gurdeep Pandher. He shares messages of joy and positivity through Bhangra. If you ever need a lift, check out his videos. 🕺🏽
Thank you, Andrea. Wow, does Gurdeep radiate joy, even when not dancing!
Let Them Not Say by Jane Hirshfield
Let them not say: we did not see it.
We saw.
Let them not say: we did not hear it.
We heard.
Let them not say: they did not taste it.
We ate, we trembled.
Let them not say: it was not spoken, not written.
We spoke,
we witnessed with voices and hands.
Let them not say: they did nothing.
We did not-enough.
Let them say, as they must say something:
A kerosene beauty.
It burned.
Let them say we warmed ourselves by it,
read by its light, praised,
and it burned.
Copyright © 2017 by Jane Hirshfield.
Even now. Let them not say.
Bless you, Kitty.
I copied the poem into a pretty card and brought it to my friend, handed it to her as we filed from the sanctuary after the funeral service. Because she was helping at the mercy meal at the home of the family, she was unable to open and read the card until later in the evening. When she did, she was so grateful! She loved the poem, as I knew she would, and sent me a text of gratitude "Perfect! Thank you for this good medicine, Jen!" So - thank you again Phyllis. Good medicine indeed. #Ripples#
Thank you for being part of the rippling . . .