The Daily Boost (published weekdays) is one of the newsletters of The Raft, the online community of author Phyllis Cole-Dai. We Rafters ride the river of life buoyed by music, poetry, and other arts, plus water-drops of wisdom. Most everything here is free, but patrons (paid subscribers) get some special perks as a gesture of gratitude.
SOUL OF THINGS Sara Groves How is it a stranger Can know you for a moment And call out pretty closely What it takes years to name? Why is it so hard to tell yourself the truth? To see into the soul of things? See your hopes and fears The oughts, the shoulds, the habits The unseen puppeteers That pull you on the stage Why is it so hard to tell yourself the truth? To see into the soul of things? Refrain: What a mystery, your very heart Held inside you and known in part Held inside you and known in part Memory grows rigid Playing in the loops Running my resentments And all my well-worn proofs It's hard to get a witness Even when I'm there To see into the soul of things Refrain Somewhere in the vast Waters of my mind A memory resurfaced And I'm looking in your eyes You are trying to tell me A better way to see Into the soul of things Into the soul of things Into the soul of things
(My thanks to Sara Groves.)
“Traveling at Home” by Wendell Berry
The Gentle Nudge
ANYTIME: Lay a blessing stone here. (Learn about our blessing-stone practice at this link.)
LAST CALL: “Calming the Heart” patron bash with James Crews on Sunday (Zoom, December 15, 6PM CT). Details here.
LAST CALL: 50% OFF THANKSIVERSARY SALE ends on Sunday. Save in my store!
THURSDAY: Poetry Pick-Me-Up (Zoom, 12:00-1:00PM Central, at this link)
THRU 1/31/25: Write a cento for a midwinter cento celebration. Details here.
What a gorgeous musical rendition of this wonderful poem. I am unfamiliar with Sarah Groves and just explored some online. She is awesome. Thank you for the introduction!
Wonderful. R